Are premium worktops such as acrylic, Corian and granite worth the
significant extra expense? Have you bought one and been ddisappointed
or do you feel it was worth the extra money?

We need to firm up on our new kitchen within the next week or so and
would appreciate your advice.

Thanks

Graham

My granite cost less than 70 UKP for each 2.3 metre length from
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/GoldstoneDirect, so there wasn't really any
extra expense. It's now all properly fitted and sealed and I have no
complaints.

"graham" wrote in message
ups.com...
Are premium worktops such as acrylic, Corian and granite worth the
significant extra expense?

No.

Have you bought one and been ddisappointed
or do you feel it was worth the extra money?

No.

We need to firm up on our new kitchen within the next week or so and
would appreciate your advice.

We once tried slate and then marble but liquid stuff got underneath both of
them and the result wasn't very nice ...

I know it's naff but plastic-faced chipboard or MDF does a perfectly good
job and when you don't like it any more is cheap and easy to replace.

Mary

graham wrote:
Are premium worktops such as acrylic, Corian and granite worth the
significant extra expense? Have you bought one and been ddisappointed
or do you feel it was worth the extra money?

Yep.
Some lovely big slabs of a brownish/pinkish granite stuff.
Looks great, feels great, doesn't scratch, been sealed with proper stuff
and gets a good old clean and polish every 3 or 4 months.

Really nice job and well worth the money if you are not on a tight budget.

Just make sure you don't get something that will look to 80's.
Everyone and their dog has black granite. it's a a bit like the Burbery
of kitches IMHO.

:¬)


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"Pete @ www.GymRatZ.co.uk" wrote in message
...
graham wrote:
Are premium worktops such as acrylic, Corian and granite worth the
significant extra expense? Have you bought one and been ddisappointed
or do you feel it was worth the extra money?

Yep.
Some lovely big slabs of a brownish/pinkish granite stuff.
Looks great, feels great, doesn't scratch, been sealed with proper stuff
and gets a good old clean and polish every 3 or 4 months.

Really nice job and well worth the money if you are not on a tight budget.

Just make sure you don't get something that will look to 80's.
Everyone and their dog has black granite. it's a a bit like the Burbery of
kitches IMHO.

:¬)

What's wrong with Burberry?

I wouldn't like black anything but because I like lots of light in the
kitchen. And everywhere else, come to that. I think black is already become
dated.

Mary


--
http://www.GymRatZ.co.uk - Gym Equipment,Fitness Equipment,Supplements
http://www.water-rower.co.uk - Uk's leading WaterRower retailer
http://www.fitness-equipment-uk.net - Fitness Equipment at sale prices
http://www.GymRatZ.co.uk/sitemap.html - Here is where it all starts!

Graham
If you have the money, then its definately worth the expense. It only
becomes really expensive when you start having belfast sinks or
undermount sinks, granite isnt too expensive and non polished cuts
dont cost too much either.

I would always advise granite, but know many people who would always
advise corian, either is great.

I wouldnt advise wood (I have it in my own kitchen and advise all my
clients against it. Its high maintaince, scorches and stains unless
oiled each year.

Hoping you make the right choice for you.

Calum Sabey
(NewArk Traditional Kitchens 01556 690544)

graham wrote:
Are premium worktops such as acrylic, Corian and granite worth the
significant extra expense? Have you bought one and been ddisappointed
or do you feel it was worth the extra money?

We need to firm up on our new kitchen within the next week or so and
would appreciate your advice.

Thanks

Graham


Ive tried most of them.


Chip and plastic is pretty much the best value for money, but its not
the best.

We now have a not too expensive bit of RIVEN granite..thats really nice
because it takes the knocks and doesn't show slight scuffs. Polished
granite works OK, but its a bit too shiny for my taste.

Slate is a possible, but its not as toigh.

Marble is subject to chemical attack - don't.

We also have wood tops - real wood tops. Ruined by SWMBO treating it as
if it was laminate. Burns and water marks.


Theres a lot to be said for stainless steel..

Thanks everyone for your comments. In the end it looks as though
there's no overwhelming case for any solution and that it's the usual
trade off between personal taste and budget.

Graham

"graham" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks everyone for your comments. In the end it looks as though
there's no overwhelming case for any solution and that it's the usual
trade off between personal taste and budget.

Graham

Quite right.

But the person to ask is the one who will use it most - if you have a wife
it might be her and she just might have an opinion, even an intelligent one
:-)

Mary

On 14 Feb, 12:19, "Mary Fisher" wrote:
"graham" wrote in message

oups.com...

Thanks everyone for your comments. In the end it looks as though
there's no overwhelming case for any solution and that it's the usual
trade off between personal taste and budget.

Graham

Quite right.

But the person to ask is the one who will use it most - if you have a wife
it might be her and she just might have an opinion, even an intelligent one
:-)

Mary



Don't worry Mary, I'm not being an arrogant male. Perhaps I should
have signed my OP "Chris & Graham".
We really don't know what to choose and BOTH of us thought that a post
here may help us. BTW Chris used to be a domestic science/home
economics teacher so is well versed in kitchen requirements.

Graham

"graham" wrote in message

But the person to ask is the one who will use it most - if you have a
wife
it might be her and she just might have an opinion, even an intelligent
one
:-)

Mary



Don't worry Mary, I'm not being an arrogant male. Perhaps I should
have signed my OP "Chris & Graham".

:-)

We really don't know what to choose and BOTH of us thought that a post
here may help us. BTW Chris used to be a domestic science/home
economics teacher so is well versed in kitchen requirements.

Let us know what you (plural) decide - and why.

Mary

Graham

graham wrote:
Are premium worktops such as acrylic, Corian and granite worth the
significant extra expense? Have you bought one and been ddisappointed
or do you feel it was worth the extra money?

We need to firm up on our new kitchen within the next week or so and
would appreciate your advice.

Thanks

Graham


I've seen a company advertising that they can fit a granite "layer" onto
existing laminate/chipboard worktops - has anyone either used them or
had a go themselves?

Dave

graham wrote:
Thanks everyone for your comments. In the end it looks as though
there's no overwhelming case for any solution and that it's the usual
trade off between personal taste and budget.

One additional note from me based on last nights kitchen activities...
Granite is so tought it is completely un-forgiving to crockery should
you be the slightest bit clumsy.

One of our few remaining pyrex lids slipped from a hight of no more than
4" onto the worktop and broke into about 6 large pieces with shards
and "dust" going everywhere.

Still, I suppose at least the worktop survived. Easier to replace the
odd pot or plate here and there.

--
http://www.GymRatZ.co.uk - Gym Equipment,Fitness Equipment,Supplements
http://www.water-rower.co.uk - Uk's leading WaterRower retailer
http://www.fitness-equipment-uk.net - Fitness Equipment at sale prices
http://www.GymRatZ.co.uk/sitemap.html - Here is where it all starts!

"Pete @ www.GymRatZ.co.uk" wrote in
message ...
graham wrote:
Thanks everyone for your comments. In the end it looks as though
there's no overwhelming case for any solution and that it's the usual
trade off between personal taste and budget.

One additional note from me based on last nights kitchen activities...
Granite is so tought it is completely un-forgiving to crockery should you
be the slightest bit clumsy.

That's a very good reason for it not being in our kitchen. Tiled floors are
the same. All our saucers are already mended and we're running out of life,
don't want to buy new ones to be skipped by the kids when we go.

Mary

"Owain" wrote in message
...
Mary Fisher wrote:
Granite is so tought it is completely un-forgiving to crockery should you
be the slightest bit clumsy.
That's a very good reason for it not being in our kitchen. Tiled floors
are the same. All our saucers are already mended

I'm all for frugality but *all* your saucers are mended?

I haven't counted. We have two complete ones which are kept for Sunday
morning cofee. That is, to put the cups on.

There might be some complete ones in the cupboard but a cracked saucer
catches drips as well as a complete one.

and we're running out of life, don't want to buy new ones to be skipped
by the kids when we go.

You could buy some used saucers from a charity shop. They go cheaply,
because people have usually broken the cups.

Where do you think we got most of the ones we have?

:-)

And when you go, your kids will hopefully donate them back to a charity
shop.

They certainly won't want even whole ones. They seem to think - as many
people do - that you don't need one if you use beakers rather than cups. I
can't understand that, it's as easy to drip from a beaker or mug as it is
from a cup ...

Some of the grandchildren might take the lot though ... they're still living
in poverty. The sort of poverty which means they can afford the latest IT
gizmos but not stuff for living. Still, that's better than getting into debt
to have 'proper' furnishings.

Mary