Granite Worktops - Truth, Lies and misinformation

Alan_M_2

ettie wrote: »

A potential kitchen supplier has recently told me that if I want black stone worktops with a sparkle then I will have to go for quartz (or similar) not granite but that this manmade material does not join up well, as the joints have to be quite thick. Is this true does anyone know?


Also I read somewhere here that quartz fades in sunlight and this will be a very sunny kitchen!

Part one of your question about the joints is misinformation or "cobblers" if you prefer. The size and quality of the joint is directly related to the skill of mason and not the material.

Granite is available with a fleck the most common types are:-

Star Galaxy (Black Galaxy) - Black granite with a gold/bronze colour fleck - Indian origin - freely available.

Cosmos (aka Stargate) - Black granite with a silver fleck - African origin - not great availability right now

Part two of your question is correct. Quartz worktops will gradually fade over a period of times (years not days!). It doesn't matter what brand - it's just the nature of the material.

The degree of fading is generally very slight and it's generally the more darker colours that are effected.

Alan_M_2

Mamma wrote: »

Hi
We need granite worktop to make an island unit, we want just a plain (no veins, marble etc) white or cream. We've been told its better quality & cheaper to go direct than to the DIY/Kitchen stores. We live in East Yorkshire, near to Hull. Can you recommend someone/where please?

There's no such thing as white or cream granite with no veins - so you're making life a bit difficult there to start with.

Marble you'll get white or cream, it'll look lovely the day it's fitted and will then go downhill from the next day onwards.

A light Quartz is probably the best way for you to go.

Have a chat with these people based in York - not a million miles away from you, Lee will be able to give you colour samples and tell you what's possible and what's not.

http://www.graniteoffers.co.uk

redglass_2

Alan, I'm not buying a granite worktop (although I thought about it recently) but I just want to say you are AMAZING. :T Thank you so much for giving your time and your help like this!

Shaanbles

Can anyone recommend a supplier for quartz in Berkshire. Only ones I found do Silestone which is too expensive.

andy.m_2

What a great article, well done for taking the time and also for sticking around to offer advice to posters!

Alan_M_2

Shaanbles wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a supplier for quartz in Berkshire. Only ones I found do Silestone which is too expensive.

Have a chat with these guys,

http://www.uk-kitchen-worktops.co.uk/

They are based in Kent but will cover the whole South of UK. Berkshire is no problem at all.

They specialise in man made materials - Quartz, solid surface, corian etc.

oldfashionedgirl_3

Alan, firstly thank you for doing so much towards demistifying the world of natural and composite stone for us mortals..

Secondly, I'm hoping you may be kind enough to offer some insight into my current dilema.
My parents are currently in the market for new kitchen worktops. After much deliberation they have decided on granite to go with their coffee strand woven bamboo flooring and cream shaker style cabinets, partly because they have 2 long lengths of worktop and a wide island with some awkward shapes, and partly because it's what they'd really like, but they are on a budget. We've got it down to 2 choices:

Madura Gold (the samples of which look absolutely beautiful)
Green/Madagascan Labradorite (this seems to have many variations in the exact naming)

My question, if you would be kind enough to answer, is two-fold:
1) My mum has fallen in love with the subtle iridescence of the labradorite, but it has been quoted at almost double the price of the madura gold. I know stone prices will vary depending on many factors, but is there any chance of finding it, or an equivalent iridescent stone with those hues within their budget?

2) Some of your advice in this thread made me question how little I know about our second choice of madura gold.. Is it very fragile when being transported? How well is it likely to wear? Is there much variation and will it be important to select the slab? Will it need regular re-sealing? Are there similar alternatives we should be considering that are likely to be more durable or cheaper?

jimjam10

Yes thanks Alan for cutting through all the 'smoke and mirrors' that occurs with granite worktops (its surprising how many industries maintain this act just to charge more money basically...dont get me started).
So, I'm looking to get some Emerald Pearl worktops fitted, nothing too fancy - u-shaped kitchen, usual 600mm width, normal cutouts (not sure if belfast sink add much complexity). So just started getting some quotes and Mistermarble says they dont stock emerald pearl anymore as its brittle - eh? is this right? I thought it wasnt one known for this?

Also any recommendations for companies that could supply/fit between Banbury and Northampton region would be great. TIA, Jim

Alan_M_2

oldfashionedgirl wrote: »

Alan, firstly thank you for doing so much towards demistifying the world of natural and composite stone for us mortals..

Secondly, I'm hoping you may be kind enough to offer some insight into my current dilema.
My parents are currently in the market for new kitchen worktops. After much deliberation they have decided on granite to go with their coffee strand woven bamboo flooring and cream shaker style cabinets, partly because they have 2 long lengths of worktop and a wide island with some awkward shapes, and partly because it's what they'd really like, but they are on a budget. We've got it down to 2 choices:

Madura Gold (the samples of which look absolutely beautiful)
Green/Madagascan Labradorite (this seems to have many variations in the exact naming)

My question, if you would be kind enough to answer, is two-fold:
1) My mum has fallen in love with the subtle iridescence of the labradorite, but it has been quoted at almost double the price of the madura gold. I know stone prices will vary depending on many factors, but is there any chance of finding it, or an equivalent iridescent stone with those hues within their budget?

2) Some of your advice in this thread made me question how little I know about our second choice of madura gold.. Is it very fragile when being transported? How well is it likely to wear? Is there much variation and will it be important to select the slab? Will it need regular re-sealing? Are there similar alternatives we should be considering that are likely to be more durable or cheaper?

1) You're not going to find anything remotely "budget" about this kind of stone. The very nature of the material and the way it's iridescence is formed and the amount of wastage during quarrying and production is always going to govern it's pricing band. Do take a look at Blue Pearl or Emerald Pearl though - they may be slightly less expensive.

2) Madura (or Madurai) Gold is more stable and more consistent than Kashmir Gold - but it is still subject to colour variations slab to slab to slab.

Either of these stones will need sealing when fitting and it would be prudent to seal them annually.

Unless you're going for a black granite you won't find anything else which would be more durable or less maintainance.

Don't be put off by this, compared to say a solid wood worktop, the maintainance of any granite is far less intensive.

Alan_M_2

jimjam10 wrote: »

Yes thanks Alan for cutting through all the 'smoke and mirrors' that occurs with granite worktops (its surprising how many industries maintain this act just to charge more money basically...dont get me started).
So, I'm looking to get some Emerald Pearl worktops fitted, nothing too fancy - u-shaped kitchen, usual 600mm width, normal cutouts (not sure if belfast sink add much complexity). So just started getting some quotes and Mistermarble says they dont stock emerald pearl anymore as its brittle - eh? is this right? I thought it wasnt one known for this?

Also any recommendations for companies that could supply/fit between Banbury and Northampton region would be great. TIA, Jim

Emerald Pearl originates in Norway - a country with a pretty high cost of living. Due to this cost, the blocks are transported to India or China for processing, then exported out to the destination country.

In India you need a licence to process imported blocks, not many companies have this and they can charge pretty much what they want for this material (governed only by market forces).

Emerald Pearl is not particularly "brittle" compared with say Baltic Brown or Kashmir White but it would be more prone to breaking then say Galaxy or Absolute Black.

Ultimately, the afformentioned company probably don't have a decent supply of this particular stone at a price that works for them. It's not something that is produced in pre produced countertops in any volume, it's mainly a traditional slab material. Don't change stone if that's what you want, find someone who can do it for you.

You have an established stone wholesaler in Nothampton - http://www.bstone.co.uk/ pop in and see them, see if they do the stone you're after (they do sell emerald pearl) and get them to recommend a local firm.

There are no companies in Northampton that I have any personal dealings with, as such I'm not really in a postition to recommend any particular one over another.