Granite worktops

[DaveOC]

Hi
can anyone give me any advice on granite worktops, I'm looking to buy some but am not sure of the for's and against's. Any experience anyone has had with them also might help.

Thanks

 

[Majjie]

Granite is:

• beautiful
  hard wearing
  long lasting
  very resistant to chipping and scratching
  water resistant
  heat proof
  beautiful!

but also:

• very expensive (especially for some colours)
  very heavy (units need to be sturdy)
  needs specialist fitting because it's so hard
  can have a pitted looking surface in some lights
  is absorbent - so pale colours can show stains badly (coffee, red wine, curry sauce) unless sealed (and re-sealed regularly)
  dark colours can show water marks, finger prints and dust (especially the plain black Nero Assoluto/African Black)
  can suffer from heat shock (if very hot pans are put on cold granite) so a trivet is still recommended
  cannot have invisible joins

Oh and be very careful washing up your best crystal glasses if you have granite worktops ... the slightest tap on the worktop and they will break (the glasses that is!)

 

[joe-90]

Many people find them unpleasantly cold and noisy.

 

[noseall]

any positives joe?

 

[joe-90]

Yes. It cools your tea down so you can drink it quicker.

 

[Miss G]

I have granites. They look the part.

Remember that they are porous. So go for a darker colour.

Also most granite worktops that you can buy are not solid granite.

 

[Kes]

We have had a run of about 6 mtrs+ of 30mm solid Cosmic black worktop for 18 months or so. Everything Majjie says is true, granite is indeed the dog's. We are not paraniod but we do wipe up the most dangerous stains fairly quickly. I tested a sample before installation with olive oil and lemon juice for 24 hrs with no noticable staining. If you leave water under cups etc overnight there is a water mark, but this can be wiped out with effort or just left to dry away in an hour or so.

It is very heavy, I did estimate ours at around 300 kg, but we have strong units even if they are on the ubiquitous plastic legs. Fit the cabinets as solidly and as level as you can - much screwing back to the walls.

The additional cost of granite was allayed by fitting being included, I certainly couldn't have fitted it or made the proper butt joints.

I believe there are different qualities of stone, ours is Indian and we went to the suppliers/fitters for advice: apparently some can be sourced from China more cheaply, and some can be dyed. I don't know enough to comment on the various quality. The composite granite on chipboard should wear equally well, it's not as if you would wear the surface away.

It is cool to the touch but this is not a problem. We havent broken any plates or glasses on it either (well, perhaps one).

I would absolutely recommend granite. It removes all the worry of damaging a laminate or composite top.

My only regret is that this beautiful stone has laid in the ground for several million years, then it was dug up and shipped to my kitchen, when in twenty years or so the next occupant will smash the lot into a skip. Philistine.

 

[Symptoms]

Dave - get yourself over to Greenwich, seek out a stone yard next to the old power station. Stone Interiors offer a fantastic service - take a rough sketch (with dimenions) & they'll give you a quote, show you around the yard, show you samples, show you their CNC stone cutting machines (very, very impressive!). They'll do a site visit, take templates and return within 10 days to fit.

Granite is fantastic stuff for worktops, go for dark colours - very dark grey or black with grain/flecks. In my opinion jet black (without flecks) can look 'too much in your face'.

They've supplied & fitted half a dozen times for me, including my own home - so I can recommend highly. Granite maintenance isn't really an issue - keep it clean, wipe-up spills, very occasional application of granite w/t polish. I use bio kitchen cleaner spray & wipe over each evening after use.

 

[AjOne]

Hi all

If I wanted to put a new granite worktop on an old kitchen, do I need to reinforce the legs so they can take the weight of the granite or will the old supports do?

Thanks in Advance

AjOne

 

[Symptoms]

Aj - if the existing carcases feel firm & anchored to the wall securely, then I wouldn't worry about your 'old' kitchen bearing the weight. Re-w/topping of existing units is standard/common pratice. Just check that all legs are adjusted so are sitting firmly on the ground; what you need to pay attention to is the carcase tops being absolutely level (no high, or low spots) 'cos that can be a recipe for a cracked top.

If you are still unsure about weight bearing then just slip some 'on edge' boards underneath & alongside the existing legs, to act as additional support (athough I would'nt bother).

 

[P.S.]

Dave - get yourself over to Greenwich, seek out a stone yard next to the old power station. Stone Interiors offer a fantastic service - take a rough sketch (with dimenions) & they'll give you a quote, show you around the yard, show you samples, show you their CNC stone cutting machines (very, very impressive!). They'll do a site visit, take templates and return within 10 days to fit.

just had a quote for this (colour : Nero Assoluto)

how much you recon (all-in, templated, fitted, finished)

 

[Kes]

Hmmm, £4.5k?

 

[P.S.]

not too bad a guess and to be honest it kinda surprised me. There's little saving on doing any of it DIY so having them do the lot is the way to go.

£2,229.72 for the stone
£678.00 for cutting & polishing
£615.00 for templating & installation

£4,139.19 inc

or £3,577.78 for topaz gold

 

[Kes]

Plus Gordon's pension payment, I suppose. That's not too bad, there's not a lot you could do DIY, except for the templating, and sometimes it's best to let the suppliers take the responsibility of that.

 

[P.S.]

the £4,139.19 was all in and inclusive of vat

an other recommended suppliers/fitters ?