View below some of our frequently asked questions and most common enquiries if your question is not answered below please do get in touch with us on our contact page here
Question: What is the process of placing my order and how long is the timescale up until installation?
Once you have selected your stone, the first stage in the process is to book in an appointment for templating, where the measurements will be taken for your work-surface. We require a minimum of between 3-4 working days notice before a template and appointments can be made over the phone, via email or at the time of coming into the showroom. Advance bookings are welcome and dates remain flexible up until the day prior, when a member of our team will call to confirm a time slot. Templating takes on average around 2 hours, but this can vary depending on the size and specification of the kitchen. After templating a technical drawing will be sent to you for confirmation, to ensure that everything is correct down to the last detail. Your worktop will then be placed into fabrication and a date for installation will be arranged. The standard lead time between the date of templating and the time of fit is 7-10 working days. Installations take around 3 hours on average, but again this is entirely dependent on the size of the kitchen and the finishing’s of the worktop.
Question: What are the different types of materials available and what are their main differences?
There are four main materials on the market: Quartz, Granite, Marble and Ultra-Compact Surfaces.
Granite and Marble are both entirely natural materials. Quartz and Ultra-Compact Surfaces are engineered composite materials, containing a high proportion of natural stone minerals. This is more true for quartz stone, which contains 93% natural quartz mineral and 7% resin. The Ultra-Compact surfaces are made from a mixture of quartz, porcelain, glass and ceramic minerals.
Ultra-Compact surfaces are the newest and most durable product on the market. On their face they are stain, scratch and heat-proof, and can be used to clad building exteriors, for flooring and worktops.
Quartz is currently the most popular material on the market, with the largest range of brands and colours. It is an extremely durable material, being highly resistant to staining and scratching. It is heat-proof up to 80 degrees, so it is not suitable to place hot pans straight from the hob or oven on the surface.
Granite is the most suitable natural stone for kitchen worktops. It is highly durable, resistant to stains and scratching and is completely heat proof. Due to the natural occurrence of the stone, there can be a lot of variation between slabs, so it is always recommended that you visit one of our stone suppliers to handpick those slabs that will be used for your works.
Marble is also a natural stone, however it occurs as a very soft and porous material, making it prone to scratching and staining. It is therefore not suitable for use on a kitchen worktop, and is much better suited for use in a bathroom or as interior wall cladding.
Question: What are the different finishes available?
Most Quartz’s are available in a polished and a matte finish. The polished finish acts as an extra barrier of protection from staining, so has a practical function. The matte finish does not create this barrier, so is more porous and prone to staining and smearing. The matte finish also sits at a marginally higher price than their polished counterparts.
Granite’s are mostly available in only a polished finish, but some do come in a honed or flamed texture. These are equally as durable as their polished counterparts, but are only available in a limited range of colours.
Ultra-Compact surfaces are mostly available in a matte finish. There are some that come in a high gloss finish, but due to the porcelain properties of the product the polish leaves the stone with a glass like finish on the surface. Due to this the scratch proof properties of the material are reduced and it is possible to scratch the surface.
Marble is available in both a polished and a honed finish. The honed finish is more porous and prone to staining than the polished, but is suitable for use in bathroom where it mostly is only in contact with water.
Question: What is the standard depth of the worktops?
Standard units are 600mm in depth, however we recommend that these are built at least 50mm off the wall to allow adequate space for piping and electrical works as well as to ensure enough worktop depth to fit sinks, taps and upstands (if applicable). Therefore the best worktop depth is between 650mm and 680mm.
Question: What thicknesses are available?
Standard thicknesses are 30mm, 20mm and 12mm. The most popular option is 20mm, due to it being more cost effective than the 30mm but not as thin and contemporary as the 12mm. 30mm is best suited for more traditional, shaker-style kitchens. 12mm is most suited to the highly modern and contemporary kitchen. The 20mm is the more versatile of the thicknesses, and is appropriate for both styles.
Question: Can scratches and chips be repaired?
Yes, we can buff out scratches and fill chips to the best of our abilities. Most repairs leave the flaw looking almost undetectable, however this is dependent on the material and the scale of the damage. Our call-out rate is £250 + VAT.
