We are trying to look at work surfaces for our going to be new kitchen after our flood and we are in a quandry :)

We have decided that although soldi oak surfaces would be lovely we need some definition as we are going for solid light oak doors. We have looked at black granite work surfaces and so far for 6.2 mtrs the cheapest so far is £1750 It is a tad expensive so anybody got any good ideas as an alternative or a good place to get this ?

Thanks

Lucy
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When we got our new kitchen, just over a year ago, the 'synthetic' granites were as dear or dearer :( The kitchen company that we used had a 'job lot' as they were installing other kitchens in a new development, so we got a good deal - but didn't have any choice in the colour, apart from black. I'd shop around - there are good deals out there :)

Daisy

So why are the synthetics more expensive ? We couldn't understand either :)

Lucy
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Lucy, The granite price sounds expensive if it is a straight run, but what costs the money is the cut outs for sinks, taps, hobs etc.  You then have the edge detail and any upstands.

As a guide price, black granite should retail at around £300 - £350 plus vat a square metre, don't forget if you are measuring a run, that is not a square metre.  A 6.2 metre run of worktop is around 3.75 square metres.

To keep the cost down, go for an over-mounted sink (they don't have to polish the edges), have a square edge detail rather then a rounded one.  Plain black granite should be cheaper then the rest of the granites.

Be very careful of companies selling it cheap, it really needs to be templated and fitted correctly.  To do this they must have modern cutting equipment, all of this costs.

Hope this helps
Sandra

A Tip.......if you can't afford granite with the new kitchen, go for a cheap laminate top and have the granite when you can afford it later on.

Thanks Sandra

We have had the cheapy stuff 18 months ago and within minutes it was knocked into and dinks appeared :rolleyes:

We are trying to get the best deal as much as we can as I know how much you can be ripped off !

Do you think a company who sells it should be fitting it as well or do you think good builders could do that if they had the right tools ?

Lucy
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A good builder could do it if they templated it as well.  They would supply plywood or plastic templates to the granite company who would manufacture to the templates.  The builder would then have to fit it and probably collect it too.

To be honest I would have the same company do the lot, if the fitting isn't correct who do you blame, if it is damaged who do you blame.  By having the same company they are responsible for the lot and you don't pay the final payment until you are 100% happy with it.  No reputable company should ask for more then 50% up front.  Template and fitting usually costs between £500 - £750 depending on the size of the kitchen.  Believe me it is worth every penny to have it done correctly.  Without the correct templates it will all go very pearshape.

Sandra

I see from your profile you are in Oxfordshire, I have pm'd you with a reputable company in Oxford.

Our kitchen people didn't do the granite tops - it was sub-contracted to a specialist company who came out and measured up, then fitted it

Daisy

lucy I think that price sounds about right.  I have 8 metres of granite ( brownish)  and I think it was about £2000 .

I also have the American white oak doors, skirtings and floors throughout the whole house.  Didn't go for black granite this time as fed up polishing the last house espeically when the little spot lights shine on it all the time :-))

Polishing ? Might have to rethink! ;) :)

Although the kitchen surfaces are the only thing in the house that I do tend to keep on top of ! :)

Visons of Lucy, tap-dancing across the kitchen work tops :D :D :D

Margot

:D @ Margot !

You don't have to polish granite, but black does show the dust and smears.  Anyone who has a black granite worktop would do well to invest in an E cloth (the general one).  They are expensive, but not a smear in sight.  Also very good for stainless steel appliances.

I always wash my granite worktops then polish them up with a dry cloth   :-)  how else do you get rid of finger prints etc

Oooh - I hadb't thought of using an E-cloth on the work surfaces - DUH :D :D I've got loads :D

Daisy

  What's an E-cloth?  Electronic duster??

It looks like a coloured dishcloth, but it doesn't leave smear marks and is brilliant at getting off fingerprints.  I wouldn't be without mine especially for the stainless steel appliances.

You can get them in Waitrose and John Lewis, I am sure most good department stores would sell them.  They cost about £4.50 each but last ages, just chuck them in the washing machine like you do a dishcloth.  They also do a window one which is a finer texture and good for polishing mirrors and windows.

I have been thinking about that all day so glad you posted the question ;) :)

Lucy
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:D No point in buying cleaning products if you don't do cleaning very often, is there?  So haven't a clue what new technology is available.  I do just about recognise a yellow duster though, when MIL's about to visit! :D ;)

I agree wholeheartedly ;) :D

Lucy I am a worktop fanatic, always cleaning them. Love the granite I have to say. You know it is really clean with being so smooth.

I did really like the black I do however personally prefer the brown now. Everytime I came in the kitchen I was drawn to grab my teatowel and polish off the finger prints.. I must sound like a right sad cow. :-))  LOL

We have had the highgloss ones a few times and we were the same with the scratches and little dents.

I can imagine someone reading this thinking how often does this woman change her worktops, but we are on house number 4 in 6 years :-) staying put now though. :-)

Hi,

I am thinking of putting Corrrian work tops down (partner cabinet maker) so having oak cupboards.I had thought of Granite but do really like corrian anyone used this in their kitchen??

Briony :-)

What is it like ?

Lucy
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ps hows the little man getting along :)

I think Mike has looked at this stuff and it seems even more expensive than granite ?

Can your OH get this sort of stuff at trade prices :) ;)

Lucy
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Hi Lucy,

Unfortunately no he can't get this at trade,but we are saving because hes doing the rest of the woodwork and fitting in my kitchen.Its not as cold as granite altough granite is excellent for pastry making.Its scratch resistant and im hopefully will have the sink out of it as well so worktop and sink all in one no joins.

Harrison is fine, sleep whats that lol :-D

Briony :-)

Glad Harrison is doing well :) Any photos yet ? Would love to see some :) I must admit I have really struggled since I had my partial hysterectomy as we have both said we would have loved to have had another little monster :)

Have you ever been able to have a good nights kip with all your crew ? We are still struggling with madam Indigo at 18 months ! She has good days and bad days ! :rolleyes:

Mike has now said he hasn't looked at Corrian. ( Mike says is it Corian ?)  Where have you found the best deal ? It is a Dupont product ?

Lucy
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Yes, Corian is made by DuPont. :)

Hi Lucy,

Well with 5 children I have been so lucky I should not complain about lack of sleep.
Number 1 child slept through from 3 wks
           2                                 2  wks
           3                                 2  wks
           4                                  day 1 and bf
           5                                 just once to be different lol

Number 4 is just over 2 yrs completely out of nappies during the day.But i guess if u dont get enough sleep organising 5 children and 4 dogs can be hard but we are surviving these early wks.I'm organising his christening,and sorting out our business.
He loves bf so do i he has his fill then he can scream like he did the other night from 11pm til 4 am.The next night he slept from 11pm - 7-30pm.Obviously there no pattern sometimes its hard to catch up during the day with the children on halfterm.
Last night was alittle better slept from 9-30 - 3-30pm but then took the next 2 hours screaming before he fell asleep again.Once im up and dressed I usually fine .
Alex is really good and does his share.
Back to worktops yes Corrian is made by Dupont they have a website it is expensive but my kitchen is not huge and my worktop areas are in nice straight runs and no corners as im lucky as Alex is making my kitchen and fitting .I'm working on him on a claret classic rangemaster :-D my oven at present is not working properly and is too smallso Ill have to wait and see .

Briony :-)

If you want something a little different, what I did in my first house was go and buy block board wood sheeting and cut it to fit the kitchen base. Next i bought some small one inch square tiles that come on sheets and stick them to the wood. Now here is the crafty bit, use Silver sand and cement mixed as grouting because it goes very hard and wont break out.  I can assure you the effect is stunning and makes the worktops look really expensive and the added bonus is that any joints for corners are completely hidden.

were there any drawbacks? not really the trick is to make sure the board you cut from front to back will take a whole tile as the small tiles get hard to cut being quite thick.

Bazza

Oh forgot to mention for the outside edge use half round wood beading. Think you may be suprised at how cheap it is in comparasion with other work tops yet looks twice as expensive. Also all you do is lay the complete sheet of tiles on the worktop or cut the backing with a knife.
Bazza

Yes Bazza but then I have to spend half my life cleaning the grout :(

If using grout on a kitchen worktop it should be epoxy grout.  It won't crack as it is very flexible which makes it hygienic and easier to clean.

Its not that it has cracked, it just collects dirt!

Epoxy grout is more rubbery, which makes it easier to clean then the gritty type.  If you were a commercial kitchen you would only be allowed to use epoxy for that reason.

Hi All
       the reason I suggested "Silver Sand"+ cement mix is just for those very reasons, it don't crack and can be cleaned without damage. Don't confuse the above with normal 6 inch tiles, these 1 inch tiles come on sheets and are thick hence hard to cut. I did it in my first house when first married as money was very tight, yet everyone thought i had spent a fortune on the work surface.

Bazza  

May come under mosaic tiles if thats any clearer.
Bazza

even may be marketed as  mosaic floor tiles but on sheets and small as in 1 inch square

Bazza

I think your more likely to find them as wall covering , there quite popular in bathrooms .
floor tiles do a type like what you mean but most of the time but they need to be sealed all the time with different oils as there quite pourus . you would need somthing thats varnished :) easy to clean , you will find them in tile shops :) I think there about £10 per square meter but as everything it will range depending on quality .

Hi
The ones I got hold of admittedly it was some yrs ago didn't need sealing they were made for worktops.
Maybe they have gone out of production as it was 30 yrs ago, but its still worth having a look to see if similar tiles are still made. s I said the effect is stunning and all far less cost than a normal worktop for same quality.
Bazza

Hi,

To be honest most professional kitchens would use Corrian,granite, stainless steel or marble.For the ease of cleaning and these surfaces especially granite are ideal for pastry making.
Dust really does collect too  easily in grouting .
As my partner makes and fits alot of kitchens especially bespoke, from this experience for hardwaring ,scratch resistant and looks great weve decided to go for the corrian next choice would be granite.Although at present I have lovely solid oak cupboards and  solid iroco worktops,but because hes a cabinet maker we can afford to change worktops and kitchen because he makes them and we get the various timbers even if the family has to wait get it done as the customers come first.
For anyone interested we have a website www.alexandercward.co.uk

Briony :-)