Frequently Asked
Questions
What do I have to do to get a quotation?
A sketch will be fine, as long as it gives the dimensions and
details of any cut-outs you want and which edges need polishing.
Send
it to us by post, fax or email and we will send your quote,
usually within two hours
if it is straightforward.
Do you guarantee the accuracy of your quotes?
If the information you gave us is exactly right so will the quote
be. There are however usually some details that change once
we have been
able to look at the job. Once we have done the templating we
confirm the price to you.
Can I visit your workshop to choose the stone?
Yes, we carry large samples of all our stones. We do not stock
the slabs here but can often provide photographs of actual
slabs which
can be useful if the material you want varies a lot. We
are open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00 and Saturdays
10:00 to 16:00 but please
phone first to ensure the right person will be available
to help you.
Will you visit us to make templates?
Templating involves taking very accurate site measurements
and is best done by our specialist who will then produce
a CAD drawing.
We will
take responsibility for the accuracy of those measurements.
If you
do your own templates you must accept full responsibility
for their accuracy.
What needs to have been done before you template?
It is very important that all the furniture is fitted
securely and is absolutely level. All sinks
and hobs must be on site with their fitting instructions
and any templates. Range cookers should
also be in position. Fitted ranges such as AGAs must be in place
Can we plaster the walls after templating?
No - this should be done before templating. Tiling should
be done after the worktop has been fitted
I’m just replacing my laminate tops with granite. Can I keep
my existing tiles?
Only if we fit upstands to cover the gap. Most
laminate tops are 40mm and granite is 30mm
Will you dispose of my old tops and sink?
Only by special arrangement as our installers
are not allowed to transport waste materials.
I am just replacing my existing worktops,
do they have to be removed before you
template?
Yes please, we cannot make accurate measurements
if the old tops are in the way. We
also need to inspect the
cabinets to advise
you of any
work that needs to be done to ensure
that the granite installation will
not be compromised.
It follows
that
sinks and gas
hobs
should be removed also.
Do I have to have an upstand? I don’t want tiles either
Walls are rarely straight and granite
is always cut in straight lines
and is difficult
to trim
to fit
uneven walls so without
tiles or
an upstand there are bound
to be gaps.
Do I need to be there when you template
and install?
Yes please, for the avoidance
of any doubt. There always
seem to
be questions
that
need answering.
Accurate
templating is
crucial. Your
final inspection is an essential
part of our quality control
so we like you to inspect the fitted
tops before we leave.
How thick should granite worktops
be?
- For kitchen worktops we recommend
30mm. 20 + 20mm is sometimes
used particularly with more elaborate edge detail. This
method requires a 22mm
MDF substrate on top
of your units. Please
contact
us for advice.
- Upstands and splashbacks
are normally cut
from 20mm material.
Please
note that there
can sometimes
be
a colour and
pattern difference
when using slabs
of different thickness.
- For bathrooms, 20mm usually
looks right.
Will my tops be the same
as the sample you gave
me?
No! Each piece of granite
is totally unique.
Some colours vary more
than others so please
ask us
for advice.
If colour consistency
is
very important you
should consider ‘engineered stone’
How long do I have
to wait between templating
and
fitting?
Because all our tops
are produced
in Italy in carefully
controlled
factory
conditions
it takes
around three
weeks. It’s
how we keep
our prices
low. We are
able to fit
temporary tops
if required.
Do you connect
sinks and hobs
when you
have fitted
the tops?
Our granite installers are not qualified to do this
work but we can arrange for the appropriate tradesmen at extra
cost.
Do you make
alterations
to cabinets
We can arrange for the appropriate tradesmen as required through
our kitchen business.
How do
I look
after
granite
and marble?
We recommend
e-
cloths and a
care
kit.
Care
kits
contain
impregnator,
cleaner
and
polish and can
be
purchased from
us.
See How to Care for Marble and Granite
Are
the
joints
invisible?
No:
Due to
the crystalline
nature of
granite and
marble all
cuts are
bevelled very
slightly to
take off
the rough
edges. This
has the
effect of
making the
joint appear
wider than
it in
fact is.
Joints are
bonded with
matching coloured
resin.
The
random nature
of the
patterning in
some granite
also causes
joints to
show. This
is of
course a
feature of
natural products.
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