Granite Worktops - Truth, Lies and misinformation

Stonemason1985

suisidevw wrote: »

Nope, it's not there but glad it sounds similar and you guys do a similar thing!

I think we'll end up going with White Storm, I think the Blanco Zeus is just 'too' white and will show up literally every mark!

Good day SSV. I have a quote from our company coming back at £2,958 + VAT. This includes template, supply and installation.
It includes also the upstands and backsplash.

Like I mentioned we are the most expensive but we are the best. In reflection your quote to me looks very cheap. I cannot comment on there work it wouldn't be fair.

suisidevw

Stonemason1985 wrote: »

Good day SSV. I have a quote from our company coming back at £2,958 + VAT. This includes template, supply and installation.
It includes also the upstands and backsplash.

Like I mentioned we are the most expensive but we are the best. In reflection your quote to me looks very cheap. I cannot comment on there work it wouldn't be fair.

Wow. That's a huge difference!
Thanks for the info. £1560+VAR for WS plus 340 for stands and SB is very reasonable then!

Stonemason1985

mandm65 wrote: »

Hello Stonemason1985
Can I tap on your expertise and find out how would you rate the star galaxy and any tips you would want to share with us while selecting/choosing the star galaxy stone/slab?
Cheers

Hi. First things Star Galaxy is a very desirable material and looks particularly stunning under lights at night. Due to its popularity you should have plenty of options available for sourcing from different suppliers.

What I can say to you is when you go to view the material insist they show you the whole face. Make them lift it out if they have to. I do this many times a day for customers and it is essential that they see it this way. Then pick and reserve your exact slabs. If the company doesn't operate like this or won't do any of the above for any reason or another they aren't worth your money go elsewhere. When viewing it check for the amount of fleck, check for the size of fleck, check the colours of the fleck, check for calcite lines, check for other lines in the material they may appear dark or light, white polishing marks, check for thickness variation through the slab if you have a tape measure make a note of the thickness at both ends it should be within a mm of each other.
Star Galaxy can be beautiful or it can be disappointing. It all depends on the supplier. Ours at the moment is spectacular the best I have seen in a long long time. We bought a whole block from CERESER they are our Italian supplier. The blocks they have at the moment are being labelled as "Star Galaxy Extra" due to the mass amounts of huge gold fleck. We have had it in our yard two weeks -10 slabs- and they are all reserved already that's how much people are loving it.

I do not know which fabricator you are using but you could make sure they source it from CERESER. They are fantastic, we have never had a bad batch from them.

Be careful, take your time and view as much material as you can in person.

If I can help anymore please don't hesitate to ask. I wish you all the best.

suisidevw

I meant to say SM that the supplier offered for me to view the slab when it comes in prior to cutting. That's surely a good thing even thought its Silestone and probably rather 'standard'.

Stonemason1985

suisidevw wrote: »

I meant to say SM that the supplier offered for me to view the slab when it comes in prior to cutting. That's surely a good thing even thought its Silestone and probably rather 'standard'.

Yes of course it is a good thing. It shows that they have nothing to hide and you are getting what you payed for. Like you say it a white quartz not a lot to look at but he open and upfront with you and that in this trade is only a good thing.

Im sure you will be fine with who you are using. It isn't unusual at all for us to be coming out a grand or so more expensive than other companies. Our after sales and dedication to the customer is second to none and therefore people pay a premium. Your quote doesn't seem worryingly cheap in anyway. Just normal. You will still get a good service.

If the company makes a pigs ear of fitting two work tops, a backsplash and some upstands well they must be really really bad. It should be meat and drink for them. It's a straight forward kitchen that you should have no worries or problems with.

I

suisidevw

Yes. Absolutely. Thanks for your confirmation. I'll let you know how we get on. Booked in for templating on 2nd July :-)

cyclonebri1

Just came across this whilst looking for something else, this was Mayfair back in 2011;

"Granite Type: Kashmir Gold Granite = £290.40 per sq/m



Worktop Measurements 1st: 3670mm x 600mm

Worktop Measurements 2nd: 930mm x 600mm

Worktop Measurements 3rd: 1720mm x 600mm

Worktop Measurements 4th: 555mm x 600mm



Worktop Total Area: 4.125 m/sq

Worktop Total Cost: £1197.90



Polished Edges: 6875mm = £123.75

Polished Cut-outs: 1 = £114.00

Unpolished Cut-outs: 1 = £60.00

Tap Holes: 1 = £12.00

Drainer Grooves: 1 = £168.00



Materials & Machining Costs: £1675.65

Templating Costs: £148.06

Fitting & Delivery Costs: £367.88



Total Quotation: £2191.59

Excluding VAT: £1826.33



Please note that if you provisionally book the Monday 25th July 2011, for your template appointment my manager has authorized a £150 discount for being recommended and for booking a provisional date in advance. After this discount has been applied your total quotation based on these measurements = £2041.59 Inc VAT



All I require is an entail 10% deposit of £204 to reserve this price and reserve this provisional template date.





Below is some information in regards to how operate and what standards we work
at to ensure the very best in high quality Granite and Quartz work surfaces
which I thought you might find useful.

All our jobs involve 2 visits, one for a template and the second for
installation, both are required for a high quality granite & quartz work
surface. We only use the best quality granite & quartz which you are welcome to
come and inspect in our bespoke Manufacturing facility, please ring for an
appointment.

As all our granite & quartz worktops are cut from individual large slabs to suit
your kitchen this ensures colour matching, thickness and the same high quality
granite or quartz through out your kitchen. Also this means that we are not
restricted to certain lengths and widths. Unlike many of our competitors who
use pre-cut granite or quartz lengths which they mix and match to suit your
kitchen this results in colour, thickness & quality variation also joints in
unwanted places.

All our worktops are cut and manufactured in our bespoke manufacturing facility
in the UK using the latest precision laser guided CNC machinery. Which ensure a
precise and accurate cutting of the granite for a perfect work surface
installation. With over a million pounds worth of machinery and highly skilled
stone masons/technicians offering over 25 years experience in the stone
industry rest assured you are in the capable hands of experts.



If you have any further questions or quires please don’t hesitate to contact me on my direct office number (01274 ******)"


Just as a rough comparison for anyone interested, and to echo/highlight SM's initial comments.

mandm65

Stonemason1985 wrote: »

Hi. First things Star Galaxy is a very desirable material and looks particularly stunning under lights at night. Due to its popularity you should have plenty of options available for sourcing from different suppliers.

What I can say to you is when you go to view the material insist they show you the whole face. Make them lift it out if they have to. I do this many times a day for customers and it is essential that they see it this way. Then pick and reserve your exact slabs. If the company doesn't operate like this or won't do any of the above for any reason or another they aren't worth your money go elsewhere. When viewing it check for the amount of fleck, check for the size of fleck, check the colours of the fleck, check for calcite lines, check for other lines in the material they may appear dark or light, white polishing marks, check for thickness variation through the slab if you have a tape measure make a note of the thickness at both ends it should be within a mm of each other.
Star Galaxy can be beautiful or it can be disappointing. It all depends on the supplier. Ours at the moment is spectacular the best I have seen in a long long time. We bought a whole block from CERESER they are our Italian supplier. The blocks they have at the moment are being labelled as "Star Galaxy Extra" due to the mass amounts of huge gold fleck. We have had it in our yard two weeks -10 slabs- and they are all reserved already that's how much people are loving it.

I do not know which fabricator you are using but you could make sure they source it from CERESER. They are fantastic, we have never had a bad batch from them.

Be careful, take your time and view as much material as you can in person.

If I can help anymore please don't hesitate to ask. I wish you all the best.

Thanks for the helpful info, while i appreciate that CERESER is a good Italian supplier but believe the stone originates from India?

Secondly i would like to have an island for our kitchen. The size i have in mind is approx. 3Mx1M. The standard kitchen units are 600mm deep so we would have approx. 400mm left for the breakfast bar (over hang). I have a little concern about the total weight of the worktop so was thinking that we better reduce the width to 900mm and have 300mm for the breakfast bar? Appreciate your input.

cyclonebri1

Personally I think you are right to be concerned, plus, you kind of sit up to any bar rather then sit under it so 300mm would be fine.

I know someone who actually tipped a kitchen island. (not granite) His burly sparky mate came round to fit a ceiling fan and put his full weight near the edge of the overhang:eek::eek::eek::eek: He quickly counter balanced it by chucking himself on the counter top, luckily he was watching from that side, but....

Now that ain't going to happen with granite but have you actually looked closely at the plastic adjusters on kitchen units, even the better ones? You would have the majority of the weight on just the rear legs :eek: again. I think any decent installer would insist the island was physically chocked up solidly and not allow there fitting to sit on just the plastic legs, even with a 300mm OH.

Installers do not want the worktops failing in use and certainly not under installation, they won't allow anything that is borderline which is why supplier/installer choice is paramount.;)

Stonemason1985

mandm65 wrote: »

Thanks for the helpful info, while i appreciate that CERESER is a good Italian supplier but believe the stone originates from India?

Secondly i would like to have an island for our kitchen. The size i have in mind is approx. 3Mx1M. The standard kitchen units are 600mm deep so we would have approx. 400mm left for the breakfast bar (over hang). I have a little concern about the total weight of the worktop so was thinking that we better reduce the width to 900mm and have 300mm for the breakfast bar? Appreciate your input.

Sorry I should have been more clear. You are right Star Galaxy is quarried in India. However the Indians ship it to the Italians for polishing and then it is sold on. The Indians do have the means to polish slabs and ship them finished. What they don't have is the knowledge as the Italians. Therefore the finished slab is never as good quality.
As a company like us it is far better for the consumer, that we buy our granite from Italian wholesales. Even tho it costs is twice the price by the ton.

The same applies for nearly all granite that you see as worktops today. A high proportion is quarried in South America (Brazil in particular), India, and Norther Europe. What you have to understand is that these quarries don't polish or resin treat they just cut into slabs with a big gang saw and ship them to wholesalers to finish. Many are in Italy (Cereser for example, Luigi Antolini) however in recent years more and more are popping up in China and India, near to the quarries. Stone can be bought at a better price here but like I mentioned early the quality isn't the same. I hope that makes sense.

As far as the overhang on that island goes. Never in a million years will you get someone to put that in for you without any support. Any sort of support down to the ground is an eye sore and will be seen.
We have done overhangs that big in Quartz. Not granite and we never would. It is just too much of a liability for us.
We fabricated the quartz island for a very wealthy client but they payed through the nose for it. We used carbon fibre reinforcements. They were adhered to the underside and followed the entire width of the island. It gave the impression of it being unsupported however in reality obviously without the carbon it wouldn't hold. We used square carbon fibre 100mm square box tubing. The length was dictated by the width of the island. It cost a fortune for the client to get that suspended big overhang they wanted.

You're best bet is to reduce it by a 100mm like you said. And the piece by 100 too. Even then I believe you will get reluctance from fabricators to do it for you. On a 600 unit it's just not really the done thing. Your base unit really needs to be wider. Could you not have a wider, island unit?

Cheers