Granite Work surfaces

Boff

We are in late stages of planning our new kitchen, fortunatly it's quite a small job, Floor needs digging out new window, false celling complete replaster so no major expense or disruption involved :rotfl:

However we have decided that we want Granite work surfaces. My question is we have had a quote and the price of granite per sq m varies by quite a lot. Is this due to the relative popularities of the various colours or are there actual performance differences, which would be noticable in use, in the different colours. The one that we prefer is actually the cheapest and this doesn't happen very often so I just wondered if there were any hidden pitfalls we should watch out for.

Alan_M_2

What have you been quoted?

The price between materials varies wildly, this has a alot to do with where the stone occurs naturally, how plentiful each stone is and the size and quality of the blocks.

Then the quotes will differ depending on if the company are a traditional stone mason that buy full slabs (scants) of granite and process the tops themselves. Or if they buy preproduced countertops and fabricate partially in a workshop and partially on site.

Is one better than the other?

I could write an essay on this, in fact I might and put it on my webstie to save having to explain it constantly.....

Let me know what you've been quoted for (including material names) and I'll try and explain the differences between the fits in as impartial way as possible.

*Note, I am a granite wholesaler, but I don't get involved in fitting at all, I generally sell to the people who do the fitting.

Meepster

Alan M is spot on - there are so many variables to determine costs of granite, there are no easy way to compare prices, unless the quotes are for exactly the same granite, posting the type of granite and quotes might help...

Atelier

I think you also have to consider the company and whether they are making an honest profit or ripping you off.

From an independent one stop kitchen company I have been quoted £4.5K whilst sourcing from a specialist granite company the price came in at £2.4K. Same quality of product but no greedy middleman

Boff

The company is a Stone Masons they had the slabs on site and took us out in the yard to look at them they have quoted £220 sqm for seaweed green and £300 sqm for Dakota Mahogany. Spent a lot of time talking to us and as far as I could tell answering questions honestly

The total quote for the Dakota Mahogany was about 4K and for the Seaweed Green about £3.4K Magnet quoted us 8K. As I said I was wondering what makes up the price difference for different stones from the same supplier is it to do with rarity and popularity or does durabilty and functionality play a part?

BTW Thanks for your replies

Alan_M_2

The difference in stone prices is purely down to availability of natural resources and popularity.

The seaweed Green is just not popular so it's going to be much more sensibly priced.

Without seeing the kitchen layout, the numbers sound about right for a bespoke installation.

Magnet would simply approach a similar company and then mark it up themselves by 100% or so.....so don't think Magnet would be providing something better for twice the money.