Granite Worktops - Truth, Lies and misinformation

phoebe1989seb

phoebe1989seb wrote: »

Well after Alan's advice we decided to rule out the Marron marble but although we are prepared to pay the £2000 for the Lapponia for our island unit, I'm still not convinced the colour is right!

Let's face it, it is rather a lot to spend if we're going to end up regretting it, so we decided to look at some alternatives. DH fell in love with Labrador Antique, which is not cheap either but he feels is a better colour choice to go with our mix of bluey/green (celadon) painted units and free-standing painted cream cupboards as well as the limestone floor tiles and pale stone walls. DH thinks we need a darker colour to 'anchor' the scheme and that the blue lights in the Labrador will tie in nicely with our units.......but for me, even under our newly fitted down lighters the Labrador looks dark and a bit boring and the blues are not very visible on the sample we have

So now I'm stuck - unfortunately we don't have a sample of the Lapponia (which i remember as being much more full of interest than the Labrador) as the supplier hadn't had any cut yet when we visited, but hopefully they can get one to us by Friday and then we can see it in the context of the room with all the different components.

In the meantime, does anyone have either any suggestions for alternative brown granites or experience of putting bluey/green granites in a similarly colour-schemed room please?

Many thanks,

Phoebe x

Ps cyclonebri1, I'm loving your granite - it looks fab!

Just a quick update on this........after getting a sample of the Labrador Antique and putting together a story board of the colours/materials to be used in our kitchen and breakfast rooms, we decided that DH was right as this would be a good match with all our other components. We obtained a quote (£1500) from our first choice of supplier, then by chance happened upon another yard that had a large piece with no defects left over from a recent job. They were able to cut and supply our (large) island piece for half the cost of the other company - and deliver it just in time for Christmas, so all's well that ends well

jazminkennedy

Hiya, i wonder if anybody can help me plz, i'm after the sparkly granite/quartz worktop. Anybody know where the cheapest place is in the Northwest? I'm in Manchester.

I've found a company on Ebay who are selling the worktops for a very cheap price but they've only got 1 feedback :-s Its Item number: 320823356566

cyclonebri1

Hi,
I think it's pretty obvious that your going to be on your own with this one, no one would recommend an Ebay "service" from a supplier that is effectively brand new, and I'm the biggest of ebay fans.

They may well be perfectly genuine and skilled but how will you know??

I would say as a layman take the advice and choose one of the proven supplier/fitters recomended in this thread, after all that's what this topic is all about, ie, trying to avoid pitfalls, take care.;)

jazminkennedy

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Hi,
I think it's pretty obvious that your going to be on your own with this one, no one would recommend an Ebay "service" from a supplier that is effectively brand new, and I'm the biggest of ebay fans.

They may well be perfectly genuine and skilled but how will you know??

I would say as a layman take the advice and choose one of the proven supplier/fitters recomended in this thread, after all that's what this topic is all about, ie, trying to avoid pitfalls, take care.;)

Thank you for the advice, i've had a look but can't seem to find any places in the North West. I found a very cheap bouble basin belfast sink but been told i need a solid worktop and i love the sparkly quartz. I have a very tight budget of £1200 max.

Can someone plz recommend a place up North? I'm in South Manchester, Thank you:T:T

Alan_M_2

Manchester is full of Granite firms, some of whom have posted on this forum. However in that neck of the woods I'd recommend these folks.

http://agandm.co.uk/

They are an established firm that import their own product, manufacture deliver and fit. If you have time to drive over and see them, do, they have a huge set up and are very ameanable.

Pretty much all the other Northern firms buy from them (despite what they say about importing themselves), so you may as well go to the source yourself.

homemakeover

Whatever you do DONT use Sheridans. I have had the most diabolical service. They are beyond incompetent. First they arrived and couldnt bring the granite inside. I had to get two extra people to assist. Then once in, they realised that they had cut the incorrect holes for my sink. They needed to bring me a new sink. A month later they arrived with new slabs!! No sink. This morning I expect them to arrive, now that i have helped them source a new sink to fit their wrong cutout. The guy arrives without the sink!!! Pathetic, incompetent. They were part of my kitchen purchase from Wickes in West Hampstead. DO NOT USE!!!

jazminkennedy

Alan_M wrote: »

Manchester is full of Granite firms, some of whom have posted on this forum. However in that neck of the woods I'd recommend these folks.

http://agandm.co.uk/

They are an established firm that import their own product, manufacture deliver and fit. If you have time to drive over and see them, do, they have a huge set up and are very ameanable.

Pretty much all the other Northern firms buy from them (despite what they say about importing themselves), so you may as well go to the source yourself.

Thank you very much :j

DORA_THE_EXPLORER_2

hi can anyone recommend a good supplier in the Tyne and Wear area i am wanting the black quartz with the mirror fleck.

Cheers

Dora x

Alan_M_2

DORA_THE_EXPLORER wrote: »

hi can anyone recommend a good supplier in the Tyne and Wear area i am wanting the black quartz with the mirror fleck.

Cheers

Dora x

The closest Firm to you that I know will do a decent job are Nothern Granite Specialists

Probably Lee you'll deal with. They predominantly deal in Cimstone which is pretty decent stuff as far as Black Mirror Quartz goes. From memory it's Cimstone SAVANA you'll be looking for. (or similar).

Ems112

Hi Alan

I am wondering whether you assist on a quick query. We are looking into installing either Granite or Quartz worktops in our new kitchen. We don't want to spend a fortune - is around £1,500 - £2,000 a realistic aim? Our room our kitchen is located in is about 13ft x 13 ft. We live in South Devon - are you able to recommend somewhere near to where we live that could help us out?

thanks