Hi all Im still trying to sort out a new kitchen and I would Love Granite worktops but OH says they will always look smeared unless I polish them (he knows I wont ever get round to doing this). Im sure that some of you have them, what do you say?

I want Granite worktops! I think they look the nuts!! Would of thought they need the less maintenance with being dark!! Not heard of them looking smeary, Very nice, get them!! :D

Also id like to add that Granite worktops and a stainless steel accessorised kitchen is like apple pie and custard!! :D Mesh together nicely!! :D

I used to sell granite.

The plain black (Zimbabwe) will look smeared unless you follow the wet cloth with a dry one.

I have Star Galaxy, which is black with copper specs in it.  It is more forgiving then the plain one.

Both Blacks will look dusty........especially after the mud had dried off the dogs

If you go for the mottled ones, then you will be fine.

Best cloth to use is an e.cloth.  Expensive but great on granite or stainless steel.

If cost is important, go for an over mounted sink and an arrised or pencil edge rather then a bullnose or fancy one.

Hope this helps

Sandra

Thanks Sandrah It was probably the Star Galaxy or the emerald black (?) that we would go for. It is looking like a cheeper option to corrian, although I am still a little tempted by a bog standard laminate at a fraction of the price, not least because I then wouldnt be paranoid about it and you can guarantee that as soon as I polished up the granite there would be cat paw prints or dog nose prints on it. 

hi sandrah, what is a e cloth?

An e cloth is a special cloth for cleaning.  You can get a general one and a polishing one.  I have one of each, they are great with stainless steel and granite.  Basically I use the general one as a dishcloth and the polishing one to follow the general one on the stainless steel.

You can get them from John Lewis and Waitrose, my kitchen showroom also sold them.  They are around £10 for the two, or you can buy individually.

They do get very smeary, particularly if the light shines on them :) However, they are very easy to clean and if you use a microcloth, they polish up very easily :)

Daisy

Hi Bluebell,

If you have a lot of limescale in your water do not get dark coloured granite, it will develop a white haze eventually anywhere you leave water to dry.  (Comes off with Barkeeper's Helper though.) 

I've got a dark greenish, mottled granite and the only problem areas are right around the sink (limey water).  Otherwise, it's fine and cleans very easily.  Also, you can put hot pans directly on it without worrying that it will burn or mark - can't do that with any other surface.  I don't make a habit of doing it anyway, but in a pinch it's nice.

Stacey

OOh Stacey that is what I was afraid of! We have hard water and the normally 'mr conservative' has decided that it would look really good to have black worksurfaces and cupboards, with stainless steel! I think it must be something to do with being in his mid 40s :0  Must go with the sports car and the flat screen tv.

It looked great in the show rooms...just not sure how it will fit in to our otherwise conservative but busy house :rolleyes:

We were going to go for granite when we had our kitchen done a few months ago then looked at the price compared to the extra tough laminate and guess what we went for :D

It is easy to keep clean and keeps the shine very well and a fraction of the price ! We also decided that we were going to perhaps stay in the house long term as well :)

Send me your e-mail and I will send you a photo if I can find them as not sure where I filed them ! :rolleyes:

Lucy
xx

I have black granite work surfaces they look the mutts nuts when nicely polished and with stainless steel accsessories, only down fall is mine seem to collect dust, so i wipe one section down and end up doing the rest several times a day...and now with the winter months dirty dogs/wet dogs shaking themselves im really not looking forward to trying to keep clean...

shower shine.......works great no smears

Hi,

I was convinced that I was going to have Corrian ,but it scratches something terrible ,You don't immediately see ,but when the light reflects on it in a certain way and depending where your looking,standing and the light, as you glance across it looks awful .As my partner is a cabinet maker and well used to making and fitting bespoke kitchens and fitting the various worktops I now look at thing differently, I could afford the Corrian as obviously he was making my kitchen.

However I've now decided on Granite and believe this to be the better choice now.

Briony :-)

I was always told you can make the best pastry on granite and marble.  Sounds an ideal kitchen to mee.

And I LOVE barkeepers polish!