Granite Worktops - Truth, Lies and misinformation

Alan_M_2

I can point people in the right direction - but I don't deal with anything to do with installtions and fabrication etc.

jpsid

Alan: Would be grateful if you could point us in the right direction for granite/quartz worktops - We live just outside Reading in Berkshire. Thanks.

Alan_M_2

Have a chat with Bespoke Surfaces.

They cover all of London and the Home counties, also set up to fabricate corian as well as Granite & Quartz.

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

First thing as always is send them a kitchen plan and an idea of what you'd like.

Think of follwing as you'll be asked for details:-

Material choice
Colour
Sink design
Drainer grooves
Hob/cooker design
Upstands (the 100mm strip aroud the back of the tops)
Splashback (Behind hob or cooker)
Window sills.
Shapes or curves
Anything other than square edge finishes.

If you're clear in your head with most of the above you'll get a pretty accurate quotation.

hotcookie101

Alan M-I have fallen madly in love with Labrador Antique granite (I had no idea it was the one of the most expensive ones )

Are there any disadvantages to it? I have been quoted just over £4k for it, which is templating, fitting, upstands and splashback as per the design in my kitchen thread-does that seem reasonable enough for it? Thats from a local(ish) firm

Alan_M_2

You've just picked an expensive product I'm afraid. It is very attractive though.

It's always worth getting three quotes, it gives you an idea where the baseline is.

It's nice to see people choosing colours other than black and sparkly. There are some extremely attractive stones around that simply get overlooked as people feel they should be buying black granite.

kazd

I have a lovely kitchen and I have no desire to change it apart from the work surface. Would there be a problem having a granite worktop fitted to an existing kitchen.

The kitchen is a dark pine with gun metal handles, one set of wall cupboards actually sits on the work surface at one point where we have spice drawers. This is the main concern my husband has because he is worried about getting the gap absolutely correct. Also the gap between work surface and wall tiles.

We are in the Northampton area any recommendations gratefully received. Most of the kitchen shops are not interested unless its a full kitchen.

hotcookie101

Alan_M wrote: »

You've just picked an expensive product I'm afraid. It is very attractive though.

It's always worth getting three quotes, it gives you an idea where the baseline is.

It's nice to see people choosing colours other than black and sparkly There are some extremely attractive stones around that simply get overlooked as people feel they should be buying black granite.

Thanks Alan, we were never planning on black and sparkly (i'm just not a major fan of black granite, too much work) , the other option is a creamy/browny stone-I can't remember the name of that one, its pretty, but not as beautiful as the labrador-I just love the bright blue bits in it-it's so unexpected. We are waiting on the 3rd quote, but one was £4053 including all upstands/splashback, templating and fitting, one was £3950 before he added on upstands etc, which would take it well above that.

Its typical of me to find the most expensive product available, without trying at all :cool:

hotcookie101

Sorry Alan-another question! We have had a quote for Colonial Cream granite, which we quite liked too, and comes in around £1500 less than the cost of the labrador from the same supplier. Obviously it is a budget granite-but what are your opinions on it? We are having white wash oak flooring and cream painted wood doors-do you think the colonial cream is dark enough in places to pull it off?

cyclonebri1

kazd wrote: »

I have a lovely kitchen and I have no desire to change it apart from the work surface. Would there be a problem having a granite worktop fitted to an existing kitchen.

The kitchen is a dark pine with gun metal handles, one set of wall cupboards actually sits on the work surface at one point where we have spice drawers. This is the main concern my husband has because he is worried about getting the gap absolutely correct. Also the gap between work surface and wall tiles.

We are in the Northampton area any recommendations gratefully received. Most of the kitchen shops are not interested unless its a full kitchen.

Forget the kitchen fitters.

If you read back you will see my earlier posts.

We simply replaced the kitchen door handles, the doors were solid oak, and had the worktops replaced by Mayfair Granite.

I'm not advertising them but I am singing there praises as they have now done my own, and originally my daughters kitchens and they both look great.

It was after seeing the standard of their fitting, re gaps, after visiting other suppliers that we went with them. I do know they travel at least as far south as London from there workshops in Bradford.

Just an option for you.

cyclonebri1

hotcookie101 wrote: »

Sorry Alan-another question! We have had a quote for Colonial Cream granite, which we quite liked too, and comes in around £1500 less than the cost of the labrador from the same supplier. Obviously it is a budget granite-but what are your opinions on it? We are having white wash oak flooring and cream painted wood doors-do you think the colonial cream is dark enough in places to pull it off?

Look I know this is going to sound lik,e advertising but please check out the colour of Kashmir Gold that I'm sure mant outfits have in stock at present.

However I can vouch for the stuff Mayfair Granite have at present, that's what I had fitted and it's the best I've seen. But with some lovely rich gold, purple and reddy brown it may just be too much for you.


Alan has said it before, you need to view the stuff you are buying, the samples are miles off.;)

PS, take a sample out of the waste skip, which todays material rather than the stuff in the showroom.