Granite worktops or not??

Mackas_view

Hi,

Ive recently bought a new build and I am going to pick my kitchen tomorrow and we are thinking on cream Granite worktops against a Walnut coloured kitchen.

I was wondering what the general thoughts/experience on Granite are.
-Is it worth the money?
-Is it easy kept clean and shiny?
-Are there better alternatives out there?
-Would you cut out space for the draining board considering its 400 euro extra.

Any advice is greatly appreciated as we havent really got anyone to ask about this. We are more or less the first in our group of friends to buy.

Thank you

Graham

Solid worktops will upgrade almost any kitchen so if your budget allows for it, go for it.

We've never had a problem keeping them clean/shiny although we would use a chopping board for prepping veg etc.
Granite or Quartz are both really popular choices, I don't think there's a huge amount (price or durability wise) between the two, whichever you prefer the look of.
I'd definitely go for the cut outs but an extra €400 sounds excessive.

Mackas_view

Graham wrote: »

Solid worktops will upgrade almost any kitchen so if your budget allows for it, go for it.

We've never had a problem keeping them clean/shiny although we would use a chopping board for prepping veg etc.
Granite or Quartz are both really popular choices, I don't think there's a huge amount (price or durability wise) between the two, whichever you prefer the look of.
I'd definitely go for the cut outs but an extra €400 sounds excessive.

Hi,
Thanks for the reply! Ive just heard that its hard to keep would you mind telling me what colour of granite/quartz you have and if you used the excess as splashback?

i71jskz5xu42pb

I went for solid wood on mine - preferred the look of it but primarily because I hate the noise of a stone worktop i.e. everything clangs.

Sure it does not wear as well, and there is maintenance but 10+ years on and I don't regret it.

Obviously that's a personal preference.

Graham

Mackas_view wrote: »

Hi,
Thanks for the reply! Ive just heard that its hard to keep would you mind telling me what colour of granite/quartz you have and if you used the excess as splashback?

Black granite and no problem keeping it clean and shiny. Quick wipe with a damp cloth after use as you'd probably do with any worktop.

yop

We went with Iroko, not working out, so wish I went with granite. What sort of costs are you talking?

Calahonda52

Graham wrote: »

Black granite and no problem keeping it clean and shiny. Quick wipe with a damp cloth after use as you'd probably do with any worktop.

with hard, limey water, black granite streaks easily when wiped, leaving a dull look

Mackas_view wrote: »

Hi,

-Would you cut out space for the draining board considering its 400 euro extra.

Do you mean a hole in the slab for sink c/w draining board, or cutting grooves in the surface to create a draining board effect with say a Bristol type or similar under hung sink?

OUTDOORLASS

We went for granite, black with a gold fleck in it. Not sorry we went for it. Supplier also threw in window ledge, so
we have worktop, a lip of 6 inches behind it, which runs up to window ledge, which is in same stuf. Easy to clean.
Local undertaker, who we are friends with, told us to polish granite with Mr Sheen and a soft cloth. So I would do that
once a week, on weekly big clean. Kitchen is solid ash.

Mackas_view

yop wrote: »

We went with Iroko, not working out, so wish I went with granite. What sort of costs are you talking?

Ours is looking at working out at 2,500

Mackas_view

Calahonda52 wrote: »

with hard, limey water, black granite streaks easily when wiped, leaving a dull look




Do you mean a hole in the slab for sink c/w draining board, or cutting grooves in the surface to create a draining board effect with say a Bristol type or similar under hung sink?

Initially the quote was for 400 for the cut out but we are going with the grooves next to a belfast sink now

Calahonda52

Mackas_view wrote: »

Initially the quote was for 400 for the cut out but we are going with the grooves next to a belfast sink now

Meant Belfast but Lam moving to Bristol has my brain fried:cool:

naughtysmurf

We put in granite worktops along with a Belfast sink, also black with a gold fleck, have granite upstands with a big slab from the hob right up to the expel air, was a bit dubious when ordering but it's a fine finish in fairness

We also got the draining cut outs but they don't actually drain as the granite is level but a nice feature all the same, it will be louder with plates, bowls etc at the start but you get used to it, think it was also around 3k

No problem keeping it clean, soapy water & a cloth,

Mackas_view

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Meant Belfast but Lam moving to Bristol has my brain fried:cool:

Haha Heard him on Newstalk this evening. Gave a heartfelt reason for moving
Done a great job at Connaught

Mackas_view

naughtysmurf wrote: »

We put in granite worktops along with a Belfast sink, also black with a gold fleck, have granite upstands with a big slab from the hob right up to the expel air, was a bit dubious when ordering but it's a fine finish in fairness

We also got the draining cut outs but they don't actually drain as the granite is level but a nice feature all the same, it will be louder with plates, bowls etc at the start but you get used to it, think it was also around 3k

No problem keeping it clean, soapy water & a cloth,

What do you mean by granite upstands as in splash back is it?

caviardreams

Have black granite and find it very easy to keep - you can also get granite cleaner and give it a few sprays every few days if you find wiping with water dulls it.

KFiddles

I've had almost every counter known to man, and went with Dekton this time and I love it. It's as bulletproof as you can get in a surface and it looks amazing. Went with a cream with a slight stone pattern through it because I didn't want a solid that shows everything. Husband hates granite. Wood was a nightmare for me.

KFiddles

Didn't go with the drainboard cut outs as I prefer the flat worktop. I'm always tipping over glasses and shattering them on the drainboards, but that's just me.

d9oiu2wk07blr5

OP, check out the joseph joseph brand of kitchenware. They have dish drainers with run off spouts that drains directly in to the sink. I got granite worktops with up stands, backslab at the cooker hood and grooves at the sink. The granite came in at just under 3k.

pilly

I have a black granite worktop for 10 years now, worth the investment. We got a curved breakfast counter and it looks great. Never marks no matter what you put on, not pots, pans etc. I clean it with glass polish and it gleams. Everyone remarks on it.

naughtysmurf

Mackas_view wrote: »

What do you mean by granite upstands as in splash back is it?

Yes, the whole length of the worktop up to window sill level, we actually replaced the wooden window sill with the granite too,

ednwireland

20 years I've had mine still looks the same as the day it was put in. Black and pink . Can't say I've done anything to keep it shiny apart from normal cleaning . Splashbacks are now rather out of date red metallic tiles