Choosing the perfect granite worktop can be a big decision, understandably it is to no surprise that customers want to have as much information as possible about a granite investment. Below are the most frequently asked questions:

What is the difference between Granite, Marble and Quartz?

Granite is a natural, durable material formed from the molten lava through heat pressure and cooling over billions of years and then mined from the ground. Granite is perfect for Kitchen Worktops.

Marble is a much softer natural material. It is a calcium based rock which is not suitable for kitchen work surfaces because of its porous properties. It is however placed into the same category as the ‘granite’ category.

Quartz is a man-made stone which is formed from ground-up quartz and mixed with other chemicals. The produced combination makes Quartz a highly durable material which is resilient to most staining, and It can also withstand high temperatures.

Why is granite so cheap these days?

Granite and Quartz worktops have drastically dropped in price over the last 10 years. This is mainly due to the importation of vast number of quantities of materials, as well as modern techniques which are being used to process the stone and install the work surfaces.

How would up-stands and splashbacks be fixed to the wall?

Both of these would be fixed into place using the silicone resin. Also granite is joined to worktops and walls using the same products. Make sure to tell the contractors about the colour of resin being used. Some prefer the silicone to be matched to the colour of the worktop or up-stand, others prefer the colour of the wall and others prefer it to be clear. If you do not say anything then the contractors will use the colour resin that gives the best finish.

What are the usual height dimensions of a granite worktop?

The default manufacturing of granite worktops thickness is about 30mm. Other companies may sell the worktops at 20mm or 12mm thickness.

What are the edges of the worktops like? 

As standard with all stone worktops have a double-chamfer edge profile. This specific profile provides a stylish completion to the design to suit both the modern and traditional kitchen units. Nowadays, most of the other profiles seem to look outdated.

What are the usual width dimensions for granite worktops?

The width of granite worktops tend to start from about 600mm and go upwards from there. The worktops can be trimmed or cut to any size you may want.

Are sinks and cookers installed as well?

During the installation process of granite kitchen surfaces, under mount sinks are placed onto the underside of worktops. The inset sinks and cookers are cut out to the required size and are tested for fitting only, however they are not fixed into place.

You would then need to contract the necessary tradesmen to fix the sink and taps into place and get the cooker connected to the gas as well as complete any other tasks that are deemed necessary.

What are the longest and widest worktop dimensions available?

Sizes tend to vary, though in general you should have a maximum length in mind of about 3m, however certain product ranges are available up to 3.5m subject to stock. Widths are available from 1.2m up to 1.6m again this would depend on the product range and stock availability.

Are stone worktops sealed?

Natural granite should be sealed, sealing aids in protecting granite surfaces from damage and staining. Quartz on the other hand, does not require sealing and would be a waste of time and your hard earned money as it is completely non-porous

Will you be able to see the joints in the worktop?

Where-ever 2 solid stone worktops meet a visible join must be created nonetheless these are treated so that they do not take away from the elegance and beauty of the worktops. A large majority of the worktops within the UK have the double chamfer profile fitted, therefore where the edges come together they form a V-shape. These gaps are then filled, using a resin compound or silicone it is then scraped away, cleaned and left to dry.

Why choose to go with a company rather than a direct installer?

To summarise in as few words as possible, confidence and trust. With a company you are always able to pick up the phone and talk to someone before, during and after the installation to get the information you need. Also if issues do arise you can talk to someone for a quick, direct and immediate response instead of those “I’ll do it later” responses you would receive from a direct installer.