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Original poster

Matte finish granite worktops - are they a no-no?

22 replies

CountessDracula · 13/05/2004 14:53

I really really really want a plain back matte finish granite worktop in my new kitchen. People keep putting me off them by saying that they look great in the showroom, if you spill oil on them it looks awful, if I get one one my teeth and hair will fall out and my car will spontanously combust etc etc..

BUT I WANT ONE! Decided to settle for the shiny but the sample came through today and I hate it.

Has anyone got anything good to say about them? (oh and bad I suppose humph)

OP posts:

Soapbox · 13/05/2004 14:57

We went for the shiny one and except for rare occaisions when I can be bothered using some shining up cream, it is matte anyway. The limescale content dulls them down. Given the choice again I would go matte. Can't see why the spills thing will be any worse on matte than shiny - they are both sealed with the same sealant stuff!

Go fo it

Soapbox · 13/05/2004 14:58

That should sat the limescale content of our water dulls them down when you wipe them.

Original poster

CountessDracula · 13/05/2004 14:59

Thanks soapbox - apparantly if you spill oil on the matte finish it goes shiny and so you end up with shiny patches that won't go away - can anyone confim/refute this?

OP posts:

JanZ · 13/05/2004 15:06

Why don't you get a sample of the matt finish and try the "oil" test on it?

Granite is supposed to be totally inert (unlike marble), so I know it shouldn't react to anything. It would surpise me if it were that absorbant!

littlemissbossy · 13/05/2004 15:07

Yes, i've just had shiny ones fitted on my units but have now been told by everyone they're a pain to keep perfectly clean/unmarked, go dull eventually, etc!! why didn't someone tell me that earlier?? They do look nice though, but whether they'll last? who knows? BTW I changed my mind about which colour three times, it's hard to choose from a small sample isn't it?

Original poster

CountessDracula · 13/05/2004 15:07

Good thinking Jan - I don't know that they have one but I will call and see.

OP posts:

Original poster

CountessDracula · 13/05/2004 15:08

LMB if the shiny ones go matte anyway I could just wait for that to happen!

OP posts:

Original poster

CountessDracula · 13/05/2004 15:11

Bum just found this:

(honed is the matte finish btw)

HONED, acid etched, flame textured or bush hammered surfaces or any treatment whereby the polished surface has been removed by abrasion are generally less suitable for work-surfaces. The stone is no longer protected by a polished surface and will become more susceptible to marking and particularly absorption of oils, water and alcohol. (UK Marble does not generally recommend these finishes other than in circumstances where durability is of secondary importance). Treatments such as honing may reveal mica and quartz elements in the surface of the stone which retain their gloss, cannot be honed and frequently present as marks in the material.

OP posts:

littlemissbossy · 13/05/2004 15:16

yes cd good idea!! what colour are you thinking of having?

Sonnet · 13/05/2004 15:19

I had shiny granite surfaces fitted 3 and a hlaf years ago - and they have been great. Havn't dulled (grammer!) and are not a pain to keep clean - they get a polish with lakeland solid surface cleaner once a week and a wipe over with flash or dettox every day.

Original poster

CountessDracula · 13/05/2004 15:19

plain black

OP posts:

twogorgeousboys · 13/05/2004 15:19

Have you looked at the stuff called "corian" by Dupont?

A friend of mine has it (matt v dark grey) in her kitchen and its gorgeous. I know its expensive (not sure if more or less than granite).

My mil used to run a posh kitchen design company and said this was a really good alternative to pure granite - longer lasting, easier to care for etc.

I wanted it for my kitchen but dh said we didn't have enough pennies in our piggy bank.

Sonnet · 13/05/2004 15:20

oh forgot to add - I havn't got black but "Luner gery" which don't look as "shiny" as the black.

littlemissbossy · 13/05/2004 15:23

i've got black too - nero absoluto (i think?)initially chose black with tiny silver flecks, but again from small sample and when advised by professional, told this may appear greyer in patches because of the fleck - so beware.
Yes, Corian is v.nice but more £££ than granite

Babyannabel · 13/05/2004 15:25

My parents have had corian in their kitchen and apparently another benefit of it is that it doesn't chip. It feels and looks like granite but not as shiny. very nice indeed

Crunchie · 13/05/2004 15:27

Corian would do the trick cd, it is about the same price as granite but you could get a dull version. I have the black shiny stuff (so far for 18 months) and it hasn't dulled (I am a slut too!) I wipe it down as usual using whatever random cleaner I have. I do dry it occassionally which brings up the shine. About once a month (or less) I use a special cleaner that came with it. Takes about 15 mins to do the whole lot and is only done when I am doing a big kitchen clean ie wiping cupboard fronts/cleaning out fridge (actually make that every 3 - 6 months then!!) I do love it, but if it isn't the look you want, don't get the matte it isn't that suitable (as you saw) defineatly look at Corian. A company that I used and like are called Whitehall Fabrications, they do Corian and Granite, ot try Sheridan. Don't know if these are trade suppliers but you could try them

www.whitehall-uk.com and www.sheridan-uk.com

Original poster

CountessDracula · 13/05/2004 15:29

Will def look into Corian, sounds brilliant. Thanks y'all

OP posts:

JanZ · 13/05/2004 15:34

I wouldn't recommend Corian in a dark colour if you think it is at all likely that you will scratch the surface. It is much softer that granite and is more reactive - but the beauty of it is that you can "scrub" out (with an abrasive cream) any scratches or stains - but this will involve a wee bit of whitening. You wouldn't see it on a pale colour - but dark colours (unless thay are one of the specific granit effects - but even then it can be an issue) it would be visible.

The beauty of Corain is that it feels like stone (ie cool, not warm/sticky like a plastic) but can be "worked" like wood and joined like plasitc, so you can have a truly seamless kitchen.

YEARS ago I was product manager at ICI of something called Avron, which was going to be a competitor to Corian - with a greater variety of colours. Du Pont were really pissed off, as they thought that we were infringing their patent (we weren't). It did stimualte Corian to produce granite effects (we believed THEY were infringing OUR patent) and other colours. However, there were some production problems, I left, it's no longer owned by ICI and it never seems to have taken off....

Having only just put in a new kitchen, with granite effect laminate work surfaces, as soon as we can afford/justify (?!) it, I want to change them to real granite.

Original poster

CountessDracula · 13/05/2004 17:04

Right have looked at it again and it's not that shiny so am going with original plan

God I'm an arse sometimes

OP posts:

Nimme · 13/05/2004 17:41

We have matte black granite as we liked the "slate" look of it. When they came to fit we were told of it's higher absorbancy rate (thanks). They also said they can come and clean them properly for you every 1 - 2 years or so.

We also have a glass island where we tend to unpack greasy take-aways. We have spilt stuff and can see slight markings, however I still prefer to shiny (we had last time). HTH

willow2 · 14/05/2004 11:41

Cd - you are going to have to host the most enormous Mumsnet dinner party when this blooming kitchen is finally finished - as a thank you to all the designers!

Heathcliffscathy · 14/05/2004 12:46

don't know if anyone has suggested it yet (am lazy) but have you thought of limestone? can get it in darkest grey/black and has fossils in it, cheaper than granite, but like granite can't spill lemon juice/vinegar on it. but heat resistant...and when it gets completely caned, you jsut get someone in to polish it. can get it in a matt finish, is gorgeous...

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