Advice for kitchen worktops

mudgekin

Hi guys

I jope that someone can help me out here. I am just about to have my kitchen completely redone and we have chosen red high gloss. I would dearly love to have granite worktops fitted but realistically they are out of my budget as it is a fairly large kitchen.

What are hard wearing robust alternatives that have a similar look. I love the dark grey/black quartz type look.

Also, what would the experienced kitchen guys recommend for splashbacks?

This is the biggest most expensive project we have ever undertaken and we are going with independant kitchen fitters rather than from the big sheds. I have 2 companies coming to quote one who was recommended by a MSE'er who is local.

thanks

Innys

Quartz is likely to be as expensive as granite. Corian, or a similar man made solid material, is likely to be cheaper but may not have the visual impact of granite or quartz.

I'm getting a new kitchen in a couple of months and will have glass splashbacks - I think they look better than tiles or conventional upstands.

tugrin

I came across several interesting youtube videos recently (american) about polished concrete as and altenative to granite as it is way cheaper - am even considering my self after I get rid of my horrid tiles - I think they refer to worktops specifically as countertops. May be have a look, its interesting even if you decide not for you

italiastar

I came across this company and saw them on Saturday - the only problem for you is they're in London - http://www.tilesandtops.co.uk/ not sure about delivery to Scotland.

I'm still undecided on Granite though. Black, our favourite colour apparently looks good for 15 minutes after polishing. Granite still needs treatment at least once a year, it can stain, glasses etc dropped on it will smash, and it can chip, and it VERY heavy - I'm thinking of getting decent laminate and fitting it myself.

Hollie_Rose_2

Hi Mudgekin - A while back, a friend recommended a company to me called Maldon Glass. I found them really friendly and reliable. They manufacture their own products in house so I explained what I wanted to them and they met all my requirements. When they come and fitted glass worktops in my kitchen and utility room they were really efficient and cleaned up after themselves and I was really chuffed with the end result. I definitely recommend them to you because when it comes to something like your kitchen you want to know it will be done properly, that's the most important thing I think

And Innys I totally agree with you. I had unfortunately decorated my new kitchen with tiles and couldn't bring myself to tear them down for glass splashbacks - I really wish I had done now!

fraser

cheaper worksurface alternatives

are apollo slab tech - feels similar to corian and earthstone - miles cheaper!

CyCo_2

fraser wrote: »

cheaper worksurface alternatives

are apollo slab tech - feels similar to corian and earthstone - miles cheaper!

No. Seriously. NO. It is terrible!

The dark colours come with a disclaimer stating that they are prone to scratching and are not recommended for high traffic areas. (Which is what a kitchen is after all)

Back to the OP:

Quartz will be cheaper than granite, Corian will be more expensive (and on the dark colours, you get a disclaimer with this too!)

McKneff

Personally I wouldnt go for high gloss, it will be scratched to hell in months, scratched just as much as the others but it just shows much more on a high gloss one. Ive had one for 5 years and am about to have a new kitchen and I cant wait to get rid of it.

gmgmgm

Hollie_Rose wrote: »

Hi Mudgekin - A while back, a friend recommended a company to me called Maldon Glass. I found them really friendly and reliable. They manufacture their own products in house so I explained what I wanted to them and they met all my requirements. When they come and fitted glass worktops in my kitchen and utility room they were really efficient and cleaned up after themselves and I was really chuffed with the end result. I definitely recommend them to you because when it comes to something like your kitchen you want to know it will be done properly, that's the most important thing I think

And Innys I totally agree with you. I had unfortunately decorated my new kitchen with tiles and couldn't bring myself to tear them down for glass splashbacks - I really wish I had done now!

This response looks like SEO paid-for spam (keywords in the hyperlink), so I really wouldn't trust this recommendation.

fraser

CyCo wrote: »

No. Seriously. NO. It is terrible!

The dark colours come with a disclaimer stating that they are prone to scratching and are not recommended for high traffic areas. (Which is what a kitchen is after all)

Back to the OP:

Quartz will be cheaper than granite, Corian will be more expensive (and on the dark colours, you get a disclaimer with this too!)

not heard this opinon of apollo before, we are looking at it.

our kitchen indy seems to rate it - will have a wider read on it

CyCo_2

fraser wrote: »

not heard this opinon of apollo before, we are looking at it.

our kitchen indy seems to rate it - will have a wider read on it

The lighter colours are fine, it's the darker ones you need to worry about. Despite the disclaimer, I've had to rip out 3 sets of the black slab tech as they were marking far too easily.

Bear in mind that Apollo is the name that Sheridans gives to all its products. (i.e. Apollo wood, quartz, granite, slab tech etc etc)

Does the independent have a full display of the product, or is it just the 4" samples he has? And if it is a full display, what colour is it?