Good places to get granite worktops, and can I fit them myself?

Daniel_B

Hi there,

we should hopefully soon be completing on a new house, and it needs a bigger newer kitchen.

I have a cost saving idea in mind however, well of sorts.

We plan to put an extendion on the back of the houe, and make the kitchen bigger.

It has some reasonable units in it already, a little dated, but not too bad, plus as my other half's parents are having a new kitchen fitted, we have access to all their old units, wall and floor standing.

My idea is to see if all the units are sound in construction, and if they are, buy new doors and drawere fronts of our choosing, and get new worktops, so that it will to all intents and purposes, be a new kitchen - at least to us, and I'm hoping for a fraction of the price of a brand new one.

I'm also planning to fit it myself, have done bathrooms before etc etc

One question, and technically this isn't moneysaving, but I am tempted to get some nice Granite worktops, and wonder if anyone has any recommendations for good local suppliers (We're in Berkshire) or even ones further afield that are particularly good (Quality AND Value!), as I could always hire a van to pick them up.

My Question is, would I need to get them professionally fitted, or can it be DIY'd?

I look forward to your replies!

Cheers

Dan

debbie42

We have granite worktops in our kitchen: someone else fitted them for us. It's not something I'd care to do, on the scale of our worksurfaces. It's brilliant stuff.

The top was templated by the supplier with plywood, then the granite was cut to fit and returned for fitting a couple of weeks later. We had three lengths of granite, with two sink holes cut out. I think they sealed the two joints with some form of expoxy resin.

One of my friends has had a smaller piece put in her kitchen, which she fitted herself. That was just a small slab she uses for pastry etc.

Snow_Dog

Theres a user on the forum Alan something and his website is https://www.atstone.co.uk (or possibly .com)

he may be able to get you a good quote on granite worktops.

I think its a bit specialised a the holes have to be correctly sized for things like the sinks and they are also a bit heavy. Look good though.

Jack0212_2

Hi,
I work for a company who supply kitchens and have come accross some complete horror stories as I am sure you can imagine.

Although we provide Granite worktops, one of the best suppliers price wise that I have come accross is a company called Diapol on the internet. You can get guide prices from them on their website. They are based in Estonia but have an office in London and will cover alot of the UK. I have several customers who have used them and have been more than happy with their work.

What ever you do, do not fit the granite yourself. The suppliers use specialist tools which cost thousands of pounds to achieve the right results. Also if they make a complete hash of your job, it is up to them to replace it. Granite can crack under its own weight ( I have seen it happen) and some stuff is more likely to crumble when being cut than others.

Don't be fooled either by this cheap thin granite that is lay upon a sheet of chipboard. It doesn't last! It is prone to cracking etc.. With granite you really do get what you pay for.

Hope this helps!

Doozergirl

Diapol are fitting our worktops tomorrow. www.diapol.co.uk Contacted them on 24th July, they were out to measure the followig day and the worktops arrived in uk on Friday I think. The feedback on their site is great and so far I can't complain about anything.

We don't pay anything until the worktops are fitted.

Daniel_B

Lovely stuff, thanks all for those very useful replies :T

I shall file this info away for when I need it, probably in the next few months - I hope!!!

Doozergirl, I guess your getting yours fitted today - hope it all goes well, would be VERY interested to hear your observations, regarding the quality of the product, and of the fitting, and the value as well - bearing in mind the forum we are on :money:

Cheers

Dan

Daniel_B

Hi Doozergirl, is your silence a bad sign regarding your worktops??

I hope not!

Dan

db12345_2

Hi

I got my granite worktop fitted by T&B granite ltd from uxbridge last year and it looks and is great. I would suggest to everyone that they get a granite worktop as is so easy to clean and lasts forever.