Silestone

[squirrelclub]

We need to decide by Thursday whether to upgrade our laminate worktops to silestone in our newbuild property. I assume we've been given an inflated price for the convenience of having it done before we move in but I have no idea if or by how much.

Is anyone able to share how much they paid for their silestone worktops, please? It is a small kitchen area with a breakfast bar (pictured) and the quote comes to nearly £5k. I wouldn't normally consider it but I just love the sparkle of the Stellar Blanco Silestone.

Assuming it is overpriced, does anyone know how easy it is to replace a laminate worktop with a silestone one after it's been installed?

Thank you!

5k does sound a bit high for that area to be installed in a new build - but probably wont cost less to do later - as the lamjnate ones will have to be removed - sink unplumbed - hob disconnected - tiles adjusted etc

It does sound a little high but agree with Dolly, by the time you pay for laminate, have it installed then taken out etc you aren't going to save any money. Can you look for a local supplier and see if they will quote you to supply and install Silestone then just get the kitchen fitters back to fit the hob and sink?

My kitchen is over 10 years old now and the Silestone is still immaculate and I'm really not careful with it!

Thank you!

If we go for a laminate then do you have any thoughts on this? Photo shows the proposed laminate worktop along with the silestone sample.

My parents have Silestone and love it. Is the new house in a hard water area? Lots of worktops look better if when you wipe them down you then dry them off/buff them up. We have wood and an island top with Tristone, which is a composite like Corian. You'll probably get a better finish if the Silestone is fitted from the off rather than as a replacement. Lighter colours are more forgiving in terms of showing wear.

We had light grey silestone in a previous property and it was a nightmare for stains, you have to catch them straight away or they set. But I know others who have paler (white) silestone and haven't had as many issues, so maybe what a PP says about lighter colours being more forgiving is true. Also, providing you have the right products and are willing to take care of it you should be ok. I have to say the silestone does look nicer to me than the laminate.

We have silestone and it's been perfect. Certainly haven't had any of the issues of the pp. I'd have loved wood but my family are far too messy and it would have been badly stained by now.

We had about double the surface area shown in your picture installed last year. The worktop cost £1200 (got it from a local quartz dealer). Was fitted along with the rest of the kitchen so I don't know how much it was specially to install the surface. We have white with speckles and sparkly bits, in a soft water area, and have had no problems with it. I feel like it's hides the dirt and marks if anything! I love it.

In fact I think we have probably got the same silestone as shown in your photo!

May I ask if you went for the Silestone Stellar Blanco quartz worktop. Trying to decide myself.