Granite worktops: any advice please?

[JB]

Having decided to revamp the kitchen my wife has 'decided' on granite worktops. Sourcing, specifying, installing? Can you get different colours? Any advice on typical pricing much appreciated. thanks, JB

[Christian McArdle]

You can get loads of different colours and patterns. You can also get synthetic patterns, at about 2/3 the price.

Rob a bank.

Christian.

[JB]

Sell the wife?

-seriously, what sort of pricing are we looking at here (perM? or M^2) cheers, JB

[fred]

In article , JB writes

250-350GBP/m :-) (colours) & (prices)

[Angela]

...............and marry me ....................I would love granite worktops I just need a husband who is willing to pay for them!

What's that old saying - "if you need to ask the price you can't afford it" !!!!

God I am envious

Angela

[Jonathan Pearson]

We're just in the same process, and am busy getting quotes, but it very much depends upon the amount of work involved, just so you've got a rough idea, I've put a pdf of our kitchen plan here

(next few days only) and the quotes so far for Nero Assoluto / Zimbabwe Black 30mm granite are £2020 +VAT from a supplier in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and £2400 + VAT from our slate floor supplier based in Paddock Wood, Kent.

These are supply only and templating will be provided by myself. Not as bad as I was expecting as Ikea want around £1000 for custom-made laminated worktop for the same kitchen.

Hope this helps a little bit

Jon

[Tony Wood]

In message , JB writes

Where are you? I can recommend a place in Bristol where we got ours from

- very nice and competitively priced.

Tony.

[JB]

Excellent info thanks Jon. Double your layout lengths, add a larger island, and that is what I'm up for! Thanks again. JB

[Jonathan Pearson]

Thats one ell of a kitchen!!, Sadly I don't have a breakdown of costs, but based of the quotes I had, and assuming that you need the same sink / hob cut outs, I reckon about an extra 150 - 200 quid per linear metre of worktop (a bit less than the guide price referred to in freds post), so in your case its gonna be around 4k - ouch!

Incidentally the quotes were from

and (who supplied our slate floor - excellent service on the flooring!)

Jon

[JB]

*Tell me about it*!

Already checking them out. thanks again, JB

[JB]

You tell that to the missus! I even mention "Crystalstone" (quartz granules sintered with binders) or concrete, the reply comes back "but that's not granite!". When we get the quotes things may change. cheers to one and all.

God how I wish these bloody women's mags didn't do features on "Your Dream Kitchen" every month or two.

JB

[Mike Hibbert]

Have you thought about using Corian?

[Andy Hall]

Why would anybody want a kitchen that looks like McDonalds?

.andy

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[JB]

What is Corian? Never heard of that material. I'll have a search. thanks, JB

[Andy Hall]

I can recommend Stonell for slate flooring - excellent quality materials and little waste.

We also bought tumbled marble wall tiles from them and are pretty pleased with them.

Regarding the granite worktops, there is a large range available. Costs depend in part on where they are from (transportation) and the amount of machining and cutting.

Don't be surprised if you are quoted £3-4k depending on what you select.

One thing that I would strongly advise is to select a supplier who will do a complete turnkey job.

This would include templating and measuring the tops, machining and finishing them and fitting. Then if there is a screw up, the buck stops in one place.

Fitting is not difficult at all, but it makes much more sense for one outfit to own the complete exercise. Typically it takes 1-2 weeks from measurement to completion. In this time you can fit some temporary worktop.

.andy

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[Steve]

Why not look at decorative concrete tops too ?

Steve

[Andy Hall]

I wouldn't bother. It is not a substitute for the real thing and is widely used in fast food places.

.andy

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[JB]

Agreed. I don't think it would go down too well with 'the boss' either! If one of her mates mentioned "that's lovely, that's just like the Burger King worktop" she would *totally* freak. cheers, JB

[Andrew Gabriel]

I needed lots of worktops custom made for a computer room (far more than you would ever have in a kitchen unless you stack your worktops 3 high). I used a kitchen installation company in Cambridge who had their own worktop postforming factory, and the whole lot was under £1000. Sorry, but I haven't kept a note of their name.

[Steve]

Oh alright, but why not get the book - hell it might work, and its a lot cheaper than granite if it works....