Granite worktops

goodwithsaving

I'm looking at getting a new kitchen at some point in the next year and have always been keen on granite (or quartz) worktops. I know they're expensive, but sometimes it's worth paying the extra for quality.
What do people think - are they worth it? I suppose it might be cheaper if getting a basic kitchen from one company and the worktop from another.

There's also a product called Corian, which I think is acrylic?

I really don't like laminate. I don't mind the maintenance of a granite worktop - I'm always scrubbing ours! It does add a lot on to the cost of a kitchen however.

Thank you for your thoughts

Davesnave

I don't feel they are worth fitting in a cheap kitchen. It's like putting alloy wheels and low profile tyres on a small runabout car.

A granite worktop might improve the look of a middle range kitchen, however. I didn't think it was worth fitting them to my new kitchen, as I preferred to spend the money on good appliances instead

There are different qualities of laminate even within the brands themselves, such as Duropal. The more expensive ones are very good and durable, but still cheaper than granite.

It also matters who fits your worktop. The guy who did mine had done hundreds and I felt confident I'd find nothing wrong.....and I haven't.

EssexExile

We've had our quartz in for about 10 years, it's great, no maintenance.

squeeks

Most kitchen companies don't actually fit granite themselves, but will subcontract to a stone specialist. Might be worth going direct to the stone specialist and see what products they offer and how much it will cost direct.

redmalc

Squeaks is correct we went direct to the supplier and saved £700

marco1dog

I love my quartz tops. Well worth paying the extra for them. Everyone mentions mine and I find them really easy to keep clean.
I was terrified they would chip when I first got them but they are great.

wymondham

We looked hard at all the different worktops when we had our new kitchen. We decided on wood in the end due to:

Reasonable cost (middle of the road really)
looks - looks quality!
maintenance - easy to keep looking good. just apply wax a few times a year... this brings it to life all over again!
easy to repair!
not 'hard' - if you drop something it does not necessarily break it!
it will age and improve...
it can be fitted by you! - we purchased ours ready cut with mitre cuts etc already made.. no expensive installation costs...

people will have differing opinion, including those who say wood is a problem to maintain, but we've found it to be great!

We decided against granite etc due to it chipping and the cost of repairs, along with the high cost of install.

Furts

With any laminate you can touch, feel and inspect the quality. Good worktops such as those by Duropal are excellent. Once you move up market to quartz you are into cowboy territory and the consumer has to be careful on what is supplied, and the details of fitting. Then there is the actual fitting to be considered.

Countless quartz worktops are dire, but the consumer does not know this, or does not care. But if the consumer does the necessary due diligence then a satisfactory quartz worktop can be sourced, it can be templated and it can be fitted and all to an acceptable standard.

EssexExile

Furts wrote: »

Countless quartz worktops are dire, but the consumer does not know this, or does not care

Do you mean they don't know they are dire until they are fitted, when they find out?

dirty_magic

We decided against granite because we wanted light worktops and granite is porous. I didn't want the hassle of sealing and maintaining it, and I don't want curry stains on an expensive worktop. We're going with quartz from a local supplier.

I didn't want laminate because we've saved to get an nice kitchen and I didn't want to compromise on worktops. I'd always regret getting laminate instead of waiting till we could afford what we really want.

Davesnave

dirty_magic wrote: »

I didn't want laminate because we've saved to get an nice kitchen and I didn't want to compromise on worktops. I'd always regret getting laminate instead of waiting till we could afford what we really want.

I think people should have what they want, if it's that important to them, including alloy wheels on a shopping car.

For me, a Duropal worktop was the best option, because the kitchen co could supply that themselves. I wanted to match all the components in terms of quality and have the one fitter, whom I trusted.

I just didn't value a natural worktop highly enough. To me, compromise is essential to achieve balance, but not everyone wants balance.