Kitchen worktops

[birdybirdy21]

Kitchen project is underway! We have had a quote from Wickes which is £2k over our budget and that's with their sale prices. Got Benchmarx coming out tomorrow. They sell what looks to be an identical kitchen.

We had opted for earthstone worktops through Wickes which came in at over £1k. I've subsequently read that people were not overly happy with them and that they are high maintenance. We are going to have to cut back on these and shop around for the appliances.

Can anyone recommend where to get worktops from. I wanted something with a black granite look that's better than a laminate worktop.

Thanks

Why not get laminate for the short term - with a view to either replacing them or having them resurfaced at a later date ?!

I have done the same, once you have the template it is easier apparently to get something better when you have the money.

Coroline worktops are meant to be very good - still quite expensive though, but not so much as granite (oh i SO want a granite work top).

Are you using wickes or benchmark fitters? I would strongly recommend you employ your own fitters, it will be much much cheaper, i mean, it could take it back to within your budget!

Hey birdybirdy21 I found a good company to fit in my kitchen worktops along with my bathroom tiles - granitequartzstore.com/ they were pretty quick and didn't have any issues. I downloaded their maintenance PDF which has helped me immensely and they also gave me advice on the day.

I hope this helps!

Thanks

I'm using my own fitter but still over budget. I may have to get laminate for now. Just a case of finding a decent one.

A recent programme of Sarah Beeny's programme showed a couple who was desperate for a shimmery black granite worktop, but their budget couldn't stretch to it at all. Sarah Beeny took them to a company that specialised in a thinner granite covering - same effect, same durability, but without the same cost and without having to have reinforced cupboards beneath the worktop to support the mammoth weight of true granite.

The effects were spectacular. I can't remember the name though - but it may still be on my sky+! I think the programme is called 'Double your property for half the money'.

Try this company - they have various branches so may be one near you

www.granitetransformations.co.uk

We wanted granite and looked at Granite Transformations and then got a quote from a local stonemason for proper granite worktops. The two quotes were almost idebtical.

If you were just replacing your worktops and not your cupboards then Granite Transformations might be suitable (although we were very unimpressed with the quality of the product). If you are having a new kitchen then I would definitely suggest you get a quote from a local stonemason.