Granite worktops

[Ruthiebabes]

We are considering granite worktops in our new kitchen extension. But......very pricey!! Do you think they are worth the money?

Can anyone recommend a reliable granite company that are not too expensive in the Herts area? (or a Nationwide company happy to travel)

Thanks for your help.

Definately worth it. Not just hardwearing but hygienic too. The other huge benefit IMO is that you can put hot pans etc straight onto the surface without causing any damage.

We lived in Surrey until last summer and we used Affordable Granite-in Brighton, I think. Very good value and they did a lovely job too! Google them.

Careful when you put glasses down though!

DON'T whatever you do use Granite UK. We had a John Lewis kitchen fitted recently and they are the suppliers they use. They either measured or cut the granite wrong and one piece didn't fit properly.

Mistakes happen, but instead of telling me, they stood outside the front of my house (on a main road) cutting another bit of granite without my knowledge (was looking after DS), stuck it behind the wrongly-cut one and polished over it in the hope I wouldn't notice. Looked all very nice at first glance when they said they were finished. Obviously once DS was in bed and they'd gone I inspected it carefully, found that piece stuck together plus loads of chips in one of the other pieces.

I was disappointed in the workmanship and piece not fitting, but absolutely fuming at the attempt to cover it up. They obviously thought mum with new baby, won't be paying attention, we can get away with it.

Sorry for ramble, felt the need to warn you and then it all came flooding out!

I think granite, especially, black granite is looking a bit overdone now - it's kind of been devalued by turning up in every Barratt starter flat. Slate much nicer or Corian.

god yes .. worth it on many levels .. I often stroke mine appreciatively

I've got a granite worktop on the kitchen's centre 'island' (strong colour/pattern that would be overwhelming if used on all kitchen work surfaces), and a neutral corian on other worktops. Both are great - look nice, hard wearing, and easy to maintain.

flowerybeanbag - that is a terrible story! What happened when you complained? Hopefully they're going to replace the granite?

lalalonglegs - agree completely about the black granite being 'everywhere' now and over-used. I've never heard of slate as a worktop surface- interesting thought.

And whether for economic reasons, or simply for a different look - I'm starting to see highly polished concrete work tops in kitchens. Don't know what type it is, or what it's sealed with, but it looks very nice.

how much would it cost for a smallish kitchen ?

Ooh, polished concrete - I like but you have to have really sturdy cabinets because it is even heavier than granite, especially if cast in situ.

AGBU - very, very roughly about £600 per meter length.

Corian is fab!