Granite Worktops -what do you think.

Mrs_Grey

For those of you with granite worktops in the kitchen, what do you think? What can you put on them and what will mark?

Will teacups be ok or not. I wouldn't put pans down on them anyway but I would like a bit more of an idea about looking after them- do's and don'ts - that sort of thing. What do you clean them with that doesn't cost a fortune?

Please don't say ' don't get granite' cos they are in now and cost a bl###y fortune and they are going to have to last a lifetime. They do look fab though. Black and sparkly and pristine and just how I'd like to keep them.

-taff

I wouldn't have thought there was much in the normal day to day cooking and use in a kitchen that would damage a worktop bar dropping something on it. The black ones are not going to show stains unless you use something really chemcical based or an acid of some kind, which as I said, in a normal kitchen, you just wouldn't....

But in case...
http://www.craftsmanltd.co.uk/granite_care.php

zippychick

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Jaynne

We have quartz worktops, though my parents have granite in their kitchen but the same care rules apply to both. Basically don't put anything that has just come out the oven or off the hob directly on them and you'll be fine.

In the case of our quartz while the material itself can take the high temperatures it has sparkly crystals that can scorch under very high temperatures. My parents dark granite on the other hand fairly often had hot stuff on it without a problem but I wouldn't put things you can't at least tap with your hand on it.

I think the very white granite can have some staining problems if you leave things like beetroot or tomatoe on them but whoever is selling you the tops can better advise on that. Ours still looks completely new after a year and my parents after 15+ years looks great - some of the edges have very small chips off them but because granite is the same all the way through you don't notice unless you are looking for them.

Personally I'd get the same again unless I didn't plan on staying somewhere long as they look great, stay looking great and are easy to clean.

Leif

I have pale quartz worktops (Silestone blanco capri), and I have put hot mugs on without issues, though I prefer not to leave them on the top. It can take more abuse, but I take care. It has not stained yet, but granite is more porous and (sometimes, always?) needs sealing. Like Jaynne, I'd get the same again. When the curtain women came to measure up a window, she went into the kitchen and exclaimed "Oooh, I love that" on seeing the tops. I think it looks really special and lifts a kitchen. If you have young children who are likely to drop a pan on a top, then perhaps stone is not the best choice.

I suspect granite would survive a hot pan for a short while, but prolonged contact might cause local expansion and cracking. Quartz is more sensitive to heat as it includes resins with the quartz.

SuzieSue

I went for quartz instead of granite because quartz doesn't need to be sealed.

Itismehonest

I've had polished black granite (well it has flecks in it so not completely black) worktops for over 10 years now & wouldn't change them for anything else. Obviously, don't go for thin ones, though. Ours are just over an inch thick, I reckon.

They're practically indestructible under normal household conditions. No, cups won't mark, nor hot pans.

foxymum1977_2

I use a microfibre cloth that washes/wipes the work tops down as well as drying and shining them, they are fab a new product that 5 years after having black granite put in our kitchen I now could not be without,saves me hours over the course of say a month where I would of had to dry and polish the work tops after cleaning! Very time consuming,

The cloths are by Spontex called microfibre are yellow pack of 2 I got mine this week in tesco for £1!! Hth

nearlyrich

We had red granite installed about 8 years ago and it still looks as good as it did the day it went in, I was told to take care with lemon as it can erode it but we have had no marks or stains so far. A quick wipe over with a damp cloth keeps it gleaming I love it.

Mrs_Grey

Thanks for all the replies. I feel much better about them now. I was pretty sure they were a good choice but then there's always someone who's had problems with red wine or whatever.

We went to stay with friends at the weekend who have had wood worktops for five years (which was a close second choice) and they are badly marked around the sink area with water and black mould type stuff. She's going to replace them with granite eventually.

I'm off to Tescos tomorrow to get the cleaning cloths.

Threebabes

We have black granite. I wouldnt put a hot pan on it, but I wouldnt put a hot pan on any worktop. Saying that the people who applied the worktop also supplied a matching cutting board and I put hot items on that, also cut on it etc and its been fine. No tea stains due to being black. I dont polish it up to shine, Im forever wiping the bench down. Ive found it to be hardwearing. :-)