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Original poster

Granite or Wood worktops

63 replies

VeryHungryKatypillar · 21/08/2010 13:28

We are finally getting a new kitchen! Hurrah! We were sold on the idea of black granite worktops (cream kitchen) until we saw the price... solid wood is half the price at least.

WWYD?

OP posts:

traceybath · 23/08/2010 17:58

Friend has matt black granite which looks lovely.

Original poster

VeryHungryKatypillar · 24/08/2010 08:40

Argh! Just when I think I've made a decision you're swinging the balance back in favour of granite again! Eek!

I think the cost is going to rule granite out for us though, and the composite stuff just doesn't quite look the same although it is pretty impressive...

But I am such a domestic slattern, I worry that I am going to ruin the wood. Perhaps this will cure me of this though???

OP posts:

Original poster

VeryHungryKatypillar · 24/08/2010 08:41

Sorry, very rude of me, also meant to say thanks all for responding, all very helpful!

OP posts:

frostyfingers · 24/08/2010 08:59

Have you looked at granite from a stonemason/funeral headstone place. We have one near us which also does kitchen tops, and is heaps cheaper than the stuff from kitchen places.

We couldn't afford granite or wood last time round and went for black laminate, which only 4.5 years later is looking pretty tatty, so if I do another kitchen I'd go for granite, although not necessarily black.

Bunbaker · 24/08/2010 09:18

I have wood and I hate it. It was already in my kitchen when we moved in 7 years ago. I'm sure it looked lovely when it was new, but now it is stained, has ring marks on it, has gone black around the sink and it scratches easily. I would never have a wood surface again.

OkieCokie · 24/08/2010 09:38

Have you considered quartz to granite? Quartz looks the same and has same properties but comes in a lot more colours. We have it in like a biege colour which looks fab against white gloss units. I think some of the darker (black) granites look about dated now (IMHO - sorry!)

KathleenMay · 24/08/2010 11:04

sorry to hyjack thread a bit - spiderwilliam, how do you find your high gloss cabinets? Are they high maintenance or do you find them handy enough...

hobnob · 25/08/2010 00:36

Hello Katypillar again. You see I can't keep away from a kitchen thread.

I have lovely oak worktops from Barncrest (an online company) recommended by cece, I think, on good old MNet. They are the 'Butcher's block' sort and are utterly lovely. If you Danish oil them regularly to begin with (but it's so easy - even I found that) then from time to time after that, they'll really look fab. You have to use trivets and mats for hot pots, but well worth it in my view.

Oh, and Barncrest are very good value! There are lots of these places, I'm sure, but it was useful for me to have the personal recommendation.

Original poster

VeryHungryKatypillar · 25/08/2010 17:45

@hobnob

V useful, thank you again all. As I've mentioned in another thread, I'm not sure I've got the skill set to manage purchasing from different suppliers. I guess I'm one of those who is prepared to pay a reasonable amount more for convenience.. but don't want to get ripped off so will investigate these.

Thanks for responding.

OP posts:

missedith01 · 26/08/2010 12:12

Don't have a wood drainer unless you do absolutely no washing up at all ... it will go manky no matter how much you oil it.

moragbellingham · 27/08/2010 10:16

I love wooden worktops but the look is ruined by one hot pan and something red I cooked!

Lots of staining and mankiness around the sink from water as missedith said.

Granite is much better I think and I like to see what I'm cleaning so am not too keen on black.
The granite for our kitchen cost more than the actual kitchen itself but you would never know.

Virtually no maintenance for hi gloss units either.

TDaDa · 29/08/2010 10:52

...And you can get drainer etched out in granite at extra cost ofcourse

Original poster

VeryHungryKatypillar · 30/08/2010 12:18

Thanks all. Just logged back in to see if there were any further wise words.

Still debating here...

Those of you with wood worktops that are stained around the sink - can you say hand on heart that you've oiled etc. as instructed? Sounds like a right old faff to me and I'm not sure that I'll manage to keep it up but would be interesting to know...

tvm

OP posts:

WhatsWrongWithYou · 30/08/2010 12:23

Haven't read the whole thread, but I went for iroko three years ago and your thread has reminded me that I meant to oil it (for the first time) this weekend!

We went for wood as granite would have added £3k onto the price of the kitchen - and I didn't want to sacrifice my Aga!

But it does look rather worn, and is quite faded around the taps now, although I'm pretty good about avoiding hot pans and the like.

vttime · 31/08/2010 20:22

Have had wood in the past and regularly oiled at least every 6 months but was ruined by oven cleaner spill so no amount of oiling saved it. We now have black honed granite - so not shiny and footballer wifey more suedey looking with a slight grey/blue/black tinge. Very happy with it. Not as much maintenance as wood but you have to be careful with anything acidic sitting on it for too long. I love mine and people often comment on how lovely it looks.

azazello · 31/08/2010 20:25

I had wood in my old flat and loved it but it would definitely have needed replacing this year [we've moved so not an issue]. It was starting to look very very shabby. I had oiled it carefully at least every six months but wasn't sufficiently careful about mopping up spills, it was very grim behind the taps.

I'm just about to get the kitchen done in our new place and will definitely be going for honed granite. There is no way on earth we'll be able to keep wood looking nice.

warthog · 31/08/2010 20:27

granite granite granite!!!!

i have off-white cabonets and bought a very dark brown granite. souds awful but looks lovely!

warthog · 31/08/2010 20:27

harumph cabinets

Original poster

VeryHungryKatypillar · 31/08/2010 20:29

Thanks both.

I've started looking at laminates again.... I definitely can't afford granite or a composite thing.

Also got a sample from Barncrest and they are nicer than the Wickes options...

OP posts:

MadameGazelle · 31/08/2010 20:55

We've got solid wood worktops and I love them, only been in about 4 months so still pretty new, but when we had them installed the kitchen fitter said to put as many coats of oil as possible on them before using (we put 7 on) and said to be very careful not to let water spillages sit on the worktops for too long so we are careful about drying the worktops off once we've washed up, which I used to do with our old laminate worktops anyway.

My aunt has granite worktops and seems to spend half her life polishing them

Original poster

VeryHungryKatypillar · 01/09/2010 07:59

ooh, Warthog where are you getting your dark brown granite from?? Not that I can afford it but colour was one of the things putting me off (I thought black might look a little stark against the off white units whereas dark brown wood helps warm it up a bit).

And thanks MG, that is useful! Barncrest will pre-oil them for me which is useful based on what you've said.

OP posts:

warthog · 01/09/2010 08:30

it was called antique brown. i bought it through the kitchen shop we used but i believe you can buy it through lots of places.

QuickLookBusy · 01/09/2010 10:45

We wanted wood and I very nearly went for granite because lots of people kept saying how difficult wood was to keep.

Eventually a kitchen fitter said NO, WOOD IS GOOD!!

Went with it 3 years ago and we LOVE it.

Have only oiled it 3 times, just remember to keep around the sink dry and go for a proper sink with draining board.

My friend has granite and comes round to stroke my worktops. She hates all the polishing, and granite is cold to touch where as wood is lovely and warm.

QuickLookBusy · 01/09/2010 10:45

We wanted wood and I very nearly went for granite because lots of people kept saying how difficult wood was to keep.

Eventually a kitchen fitter said NO, WOOD IS GOOD!!

Went with it 3 years ago and we LOVE it.

Have only oiled it 3 times, just remember to keep around the sink dry and go for a proper sink with draining board.

My friend has granite and comes round to stroke my worktops. She hates all the polishing, and granite is cold to touch where as wood is lovely and warm.

QuickLookBusy · 01/09/2010 11:02

Sorry about that!

Also just add, if you do get a stain you can sand it away.

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