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Original poster

laminate, granite or quartz worktops?

32 replies

ThatVikRinA22 · 31/01/2010 21:14

p-l-e-a-s-e help me!

joiner quoted stupid money for inexpensive laminate worktops- 1400 pounds!

granite would cost 1800, and quartz is on offer - quote coming tomorrow, but will be less than granite as its on special offer

which to go for? its gonna be granite or quartz.

salesman said quartz is tougher for a working family kitchen than granite, and as its on offer it will be cheaper with free upstands. am off to view both on Wednesday.

help! does anyone have granite or quartz? not sure which to go for.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatVikRinA22 · 01/02/2010 11:56

bump.

am off to look for similar threads in the hope that i can make a decision.

im lonely all by myself...

OP posts:
mumof2222222222222222boys · 01/02/2010 12:26

We had granite composite put on top of existing laminate. It was fantastic and a relatively simple job. I would do it again.
Granite Transformations did the job. I am sure you can google them. Because it is a composite it is tougher than granite which can stain...our kitchen got a lot of use and we had no problems at all.

Original poster
ThatVikRinA22 · 01/02/2010 12:35

id have been really interested in that but ive got to renew my worktops anyway - got a new sink that wont fit the cut out for the old one which has come loose, so has to be replaced.

else id have gone for that granite transformations thingy.

OP posts:
Helennn · 01/02/2010 12:38

We've just had a Busboard encore solid surface worktop in Cinammon put in -www.bushboard.co.uk/range.asp?range=encore Looks lovely, very hard-waring, can be sanded if chipped,cheaper than granite and quartz but dearer than laminate. Joins are seamless (doesn't say invisible but they virtually are if put in by an experienced fitter) and warmer to the touch than granite.

Just another one to add to the mix .

Original poster
ThatVikRinA22 · 02/02/2010 23:16

oh dont give me anything else to look at....im confused enough as it is!

actually the quartz price is really good. am gonna go look at it tomorrow and compare it to granite.

the granite worked out about £450 more than the quartz....so im really hoping i like the quartz!

OP posts:
Rollmops · 03/02/2010 08:49

Buy your own worktops online, save ££££.
Google is your friend, many ship for free and fit them for decent price.

Elibean · 03/02/2010 10:54

Quartz. Harder wearing, contemporary, looks warmer than the granite I've seen.

I do love glass...but its totally out of the question for us, not tough enough! So we're going for quartz, and it looks lovely in the samples.

Original poster
ThatVikRinA22 · 03/02/2010 19:06

went to see samples today - really really wanted to love the quartz but actually hated it. it just didnt look either shiny or matt and i think it would drive me mad

ended up bringing home 3 different samples of granite home. absolutely loved the depth to the granite, absolutely beautiful. so thats a decision made then....now ive got to find £££££!

OP posts:
Elibean · 03/02/2010 19:34

Sods law, if you're trying to like one you won't! Well done on making a decision. Me, I don't like granite at all...but the compressed quartz I like is the same price as the granite, so no benefit there

Original poster
ThatVikRinA22 · 03/02/2010 20:03

i think if id been looking for a different colour i might have opted for something other than granite - but the quartz in black just looked dull.

im gonna put the samples away and look again tomorrow. my head hurts...!

OP posts:
FiveGoMadInDorset · 03/02/2010 20:05

We have just had polished concrete work surfaces put in. They are great.

warthog · 03/02/2010 20:07

ihave granite - looks stunning. have had granite for years and never stained or scratched. very hard wearing and i'm not very careful.

Original poster
ThatVikRinA22 · 03/02/2010 21:03

thanks all.

not heard of polished concrete? sounds interesting, is it light coloured?

ive not seen anything else in black that beats granite, so just have to decide which one to get now.

love angola gold, pics on net dont do it justice though. love the subtle gold flecks in it. pretty!

now ive got to sort out the sink dilemma...

OP posts:
Elibean · 04/02/2010 09:48

Ah yes, black looks great in granite, thats true. We're having brown (sounds boring, but very warm looking) quartz with matt cream units and oak. Its a north facing room, so warm is good - currently got black granite in it with off-white units, and is rather gloomy.

Original poster
ThatVikRinA22 · 04/02/2010 10:45

oh that sounds lovely!

my kitchen is south facing with light coloured maple units, so looks quite 'warm', so could take black granite i think (hope!)

plus it would go with the slate (coloured) floor tiles. and im assured i could keep my worktops even if i change the kitchen units. (which i probably will at some point)

OP posts:
FiveGoMadInDorset · 04/02/2010 10:48

We have brown concrete, but it came in all sort of colours, they mix in a pigment.

sis · 04/02/2010 10:57

we have quartz composite and it is beautiful - I love it! It has little bits of glass and mirror init so it shoots mini rainbows on the wall and ceiling if the sunlight hits it at the right angle. It is supposed to be more forgiving if you drop things on it than granite.

Original poster
ThatVikRinA22 · 04/02/2010 11:38

im so worried ill make the wrong choice - this is scary money for me.

im wittering like mad over the bloody sink now.(see other wittery sink related thread and please feel free to give me opinions - my heads had it i think so id appreciate it.)

from what i saw my gut reaction was that i loved the granites in black more than the quartz - but i know ill be polishing worktops for the rest of housewifey days. i am so worried ill get it wrong. the money its gonna cost means ive got to want to marry my work tops and have its babies...ive got to love it that much!

OP posts:
Elibean · 04/02/2010 12:14

I know that feeling. Don't worry, go with your gut, then let go...it all seems life and death at the time, doesn't it?

South facing kitchen will be fine with granite, I'm sure. Just give it a big kiss every time you wipe it down and try not to think about the money

Sis, the one we're choosing is a composite, I like the glass feel to it too.

Original poster
ThatVikRinA22 · 04/02/2010 20:48

ta, feeling a bit happier now. still got to narrow it down from 2 but am getting there and feel a bit less stressed out over the sink cos ive made a decision. so thats good!

cost has gone up a wee bit cos of the sink issue, but hey ho - its only money as DH says. (bang goes my patio...but as someone today at work pointed out - we could build a patio outselves, we couldnt fit granite. so i think the granite wins.) ill have a fab kitchen and a messy garden. so DH is really struck with angola gold and it looks a bit deeper than a totally black one.

now am i deluding myself that granite is hard wearing? i really just arnt struck on the quartz and i just cant make myself like it. what are the pitfalls with granite? im was sort of thinking if its survived 500million years it can surely survive my kids?

OP posts:
Elibean · 04/02/2010 22:11

Yes, its hard wearing, yes, it'll survive your kids.

Now sleep well!

druduk · 25/04/2014 13:36

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Saijaf · 16/07/2014 12:30

try reemstone.co.uk - they are a lot cheaper and good at their job.. my only nightmare would be to polish it everyday - any suggestions?

burnishedsilver · 16/07/2014 14:40

If its black then either granite or quartz will be very hardwearing. Lighter granites are more porous. If you're looking for a lighter colour I'd say go with quartz. However, all brands of quartz are not equal. I'd suggest getting a sample of the one you like and seeing how it holds up to stains left overnight. In theory it doesn't stain but some of the cheaper brand samples I had did stain.

valerieval1977 · 12/04/2016 11:28

I Have Karonia mistral and its awful I do spend my life cleaning it, actually i can live with cleaning it but its the buffing.. and if you put anything on it.. buff again! its got lots of scratches and I think we are careful.