Granite Worktops for Kitchen & Flooring London, UK

Quartz is considered nearly indestructible, as the surface is not porous like granite. But granite is not as fragile as some people may think due to its porous nature. Granite is also a strong and sturdy worktop material that most homeowners prefer to enhance real estate value of their residence.

Even some granite worktops don’t require sealing due to their denser layout. Granite is also available in several natural colour and pattern variation. Each granite slab bears a unique pattern, so granite in your house will not be present at any other household or property.

While quartz is also available in endless colours and designs, this man-made stone is not unique in its patterns and there are more replicas of the same copy.

Nonetheless, both granite and quartz are the most preferred kitchen worktops in modern homes. The best countertop for your kitchen completely depends on your personal preference and taste.

Earlier granite was more expensive than quartz. But since it’s competing against quartz for the past 15 years, its price has fallen. Now, the price of granite worktop is around £270 per square meter, whereas the high-end granite worktops are priced at £450 per square metre.

On the other hand, the average price of a quartz countertop is around £475 per square metre. However, some quartz may even cost half the price for just £225 per square meter. But its quality may not be as good as the pricier quartz versions.

Granite is reasonably priced even when it’s compared to marble worktops, which are priced at £315 per square metre and also require much more attention and maintenance than granite.

Keeping these comparisons in mind, granite is not a very expensive material as most homeowners may think. But its prices may vary depending on the quality, density and how much material is required to cover your small or large kitchen countertop.

Granite is a very popular and safe choice for kitchen worktops. Granite boasts a rich beauty with a timeless aura that adds aesthetic charm into any interior. This natural stone can take any kitchen worktop from ordinary to become a centrepiece of the entire room.

Homeowners get to choose from over 20 shades of granite. This means it’s easier to blend with any style of kitchen cabinets, walls and flooring. It is also a hard substance and not quite susceptible to scratching. Still, it’s not recommended to work with knives directly on its surface. However, it can take the usual wear and tear quite well.

Granite is also resistant to heat, so it can be used near a cooktop without an issue. But when you have to set down any hot pan or pot on granite, you must place a trivet or hot pad on its surface to prevent it from weakening or heat damage over time.

Granite also can be resistant to staining when it’s sealed properly. A good professional granite installer would be able to seal its surface accurately so that it remains attractive for years to come.

The choice of a kitchen worktop material depends on one’s personal preference and how busy their kitchen is on a day-to-day basis. But considering natural aesthetics and durability, granite is quite a good choice for busy kitchens. Each granite slab is unique and bears rare colours and veining, making your kitchen standout.

It can even bear cuts, heat and scratches to a great extent without damaging its surface. Both polished and matte finishes of granite can resist stains. However, you may require sealing granite to make it complete stain or scratch resistant.

Many people prefer quartz over granite due to its non-porous surface. But if chipped or cracked due to extremely high pressure or impact, quartz is difficult to repair. But if granite is cracked or chipped, it can be easily repaired. So, choosing granite worktops is a good lifetime investment, provided you seal it annually without a fail.

Granite is a durable material and also resistant to heat and other kitchen elements. But due to its porous nature, there can be staining issues if liquids spill on its surface or if it receives a high-impact blow. Quartz, on the other hand, is harder than granite and also stain-resistant due to its non-porous surface that doesn’t absorb moisture.

However, you can also make granite resistant to stains with proper sealing after every 12 months. If you maintain the annual sealing of granite worktops, these can resist staining to a great extent. But you need to wipe off any spillages immediately to avoid any chances of liquid seeping into its porous.

Although quartz is better than granite, it’s also not recommended to keep spillage on its surface for a longer duration. Always keep a dishrag handy for cleaning either of these worktops. Don’t leave dirty or wet dishes on them. Pour juice or wine into glasses while holding the glasses over a table or sink, not on these countertops. With little extra care, you can maintain the beauty of either of these worktops for several years.

Generally, the cost of granite in the UK in 2020 starts at £90 per square meter. However, the high-end and some of the rare granite types may cost up to £720 per square meter. For calculating the cost, you can contact a reliable stone supplier and fabricator for efficiently estimating the entire cost of a new kitchen.

If you're seeking a spontaneous quotation, you can submit the dimensions of your worktops and select the desired product, including its finish and thickness.

Estimated Installation Cost of Granite:

For template services of granite purchase, you would generally need to pay somewhere around £240. And, a similar cost will go for its installation. The cost of any standard edging, tear-out, modifications, drainer grooves, hob cut out, sealing, and sinks are also included in the actual price of granite installation.

It is essential to make sure that the template and installation are done simultaneously by the same fabricator or professional team for achieving the best finishing level. When the same fabrication team does installation and finishing work of granite, you can get quality kitchen without much hassle. Besides this allocates full responsibility to the company carrying out both tasks as opposed to two different teams trying to allocate if a mistake was made by one or the other, which can be complex.

Following are different edges for granite worktops:

• Straight Edge: It is a clean-lined edge design that looks good on both thin and thick granite worktop slabs. It is perfect for adding an elegant touch to your slab.
• Square Edge: For a modern design or a sleek yet simple layout, square granite worktop edge profile is a great option.
• Eased Edge: The eased edge is an elegant and simple edge profile that's neither too rounded not too sharp. It is a square 90-degree edge that's slightly handled at the corners to be safer for homeowners.
• Beveled Edge: It has a clipped flat corner at 45-degree angle that's ideal for contemporary and elegant worktop designs.
• Double Bevel Edge: Looking for extra dimension and significant impact on granite? If so, the double bevel is a perfect option. This edge profile has two 45-degree angles at the top and bottom.
• Quarter Round Edge: A pencil quarter round edge on both sides of granite slab give a cleaner and thinner look to your worktop.

There are also more intricate edges which are considered to be premium. These carry additional costs to a kitchen worktop installation. Some of these edge profiles may be mitered edging, half bullnose, full bullnose, shark nose, etc.

The cleaning of the granite worktop is necessary before polishing. You need to make sure that any stubborn crumbs or sticky films appropriately clear out. You may use a soft sponge or clean cloth and good granite cleaner to clean its surface.

Sometimes dullness on granite worktop could be due to soap build-up. So, you need to make sure that soap film and mineral build-up are correctly removed from the surface to restore its shine. If the slab still lacks shine, you need to give your granite worktop a good polish.

You may find various granite polishes at any nearby home improvement store. However, make sure that you invest in a finish that's granite safe. If you use a too acidic polish, it could damage your worktop by harming its sealant and even lead to stains. The granite polishes are available in dry and wet varieties. You may choose anyone depending on your preference.

When installing a granite worktop, it must be seamless. The process begins with the selection of proper stone. First, you may look for dark coloured granite, as it's easier to hide seams on dark surfaces. If you're doubtful, absolute black is a great option. For, it gives a sophisticated look to the worktop and makes seams nearly invisible.

The pattern on the granite worktop is also essential to hide seams. The sporadic designs make it easy to spot seam lines. The decorations may be appealing but it could make it difficult to match two slabs together. In that case, it's best to go with a block of consistent hue.

One of the best techniques is "book matching." To minimize complication of matching patterns, worktop slabs are cut out of two blocks from the same area. These are sealed together for entirely concealing any trace of seams. Furthermore, seams could be tighter, and a colorant will help blend the space more evenly.

Here are some fantastic combinations for granite worktops:

Complement or Contrast:

A complementing kitchen countertop and cabinetry boast similar shades that complement each other. For instance, light maple cabinet and new Venetian gold granite are perfect complementary colour combinations. On the other hand, the contrasting combination has different shades that contrast each other, such as black and white. Likewise, you may choose endless kitchen countertop, and cabinet designs that either complement or contrast each other while sprucing up your kitchen interior.

Playing with specific colours:

The best way to match granite worktops and cabinets is looking for a cabinet material that highlights hue on your worktop. A granite worktop is a natural stone containing many minerals, thus boasts different colours. Therefore, you can easily hold different cabinet samples up to your granite worktop to see which one complements your selected colour on the countertop. This way, you can see which specific cabinet options could make the colours on the granite worktop hidden, prominent or stand out.

Your granite worktop may be the focal point of your kitchen for many years. But sooner or later it's going to look dull and show scratches. That's the time when you need to refurbish it to restore its aesthetic appeal. Here's what you need to know about granite worktops to maintain its stunning appeal:

Reseal: Usually, experts recommend resealing the granite surface once a year or every two years, depending on how you maintain the worktop. You may need the help of professional fabricators to reseal the surface of your granite countertop.

Repair: If you want to repair scratches or tiny dings on granite worktops, you need to fill dents with colour-matching resin or epoxy that you can buy from any home improvement store near you. After applying resin or epoxy, you need to let it dry, sand it and reseal the worktop area. This is usually best achieved by a professional granite technician, since they can mix-and-match the resin to perfection.

Refinishing: If resealing and polishing don't restore the look of your worktop, you need to consider refinishing it with the help of a professional.

Here's how you can maintain the natural appeal of your kitchen:

Using a sealer:

You can apply a sealer on the granite worktop to enhance its natural shine and eliminate stains. When the sealer dries out, it must be buffed using a rough cloth. If there's any spillage, you need to clean it before the liquid absorbs deep into its top layer.

Cleaning & Caring:

You may use a soap and water solution for cleaning your worktop surface gently without using any harsh sealers. After cleaning the surface with this mixture, you need to dry the surface using a dry cloth.

You should try to avoid placing acidic food items (like oranges, lemons, or nectarines) on the granite surface. It is because acidity could stain the worktop surface. Even oil can stain the surface or tend to discolor the worktop. So, you need to be careful while placing such food items on its surface.

Granith is a brand name for a range of protected granite materials by The Size. The Size is a quarry producer and maker of natural and engineered stone materials, including the popular Neolith Sintered stone. Granith stones represent strength yet elegance and distinction, granting exquisite perspectives to convert any available space into a work of art with its exotics, strength and purity. In contrast with unbranded granite, Granith offers a 10-year available warranty against defects and faults on the stones. Branded granite may be preferred by those who wish to protect their investment by having a manufacturers’ warranty in place for their purchase.

Granite, on the other hand, itself is one of the hardest natural stones on the earth. It is quarried across the globe in the form of large blocks from the earth's crust. The blocks further go through a rigorous process of being cut down into precise slabs and further polished to show off its natural beauty.

Experts recommend granite worktops need sealing on installation. Granite is minimally porous, so you need to be careful of dropping any acidic food or wine on its worktop, as it can leave stains or marks on its surface. Therefore, the worktop does require resealing every year or every two years, to prevent liquid from absorbing into its surface.