Kitchen-Granite Work tops

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Maximus152

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Hello all, I am looking to buy Granite Work tops for a kitchen (Midnight black), I have tried one or two places and the prices were ridiculous as compared to what they cost up North or in Spain where I first seen them. So what I am looking for is some where that may supply them at a reasonable price (before anyone says they are expensive, I know this, but I also know when I am being fleeced). I usally shop around myself but this time I have hit a dead end, no body seems to know. Anyways failing this I will just have to try and organise a shipment from a whole sale in Spain. Thank you in advance if you have any info.:D
 
Something to be aware of if you are interested in granite is the cancer risk :

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/garden/24granite.html?scp=1&sq=granite countertops&st=cse

Why not go with something more renewable like walnut or oak - it looks much better than granite when its part of a well designed kitchen, and it is much better value for money. Sure the real timber ages and matures but thats how you get real character into your home. Most of the granite installations end up looking like a newly built apartments from the celtic tiger era.
 
Our kitchen people sourced ours from http://www.marblegranite.ie/index.php

Handy colour chart
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They delivered what they promised when they promised, and we're very pleased with it.

No connection other than as very satisfied customer.

And I wouldn't worry about the cancer-risk: it'll be negligible in all but the rarest cases. If you're really anxious, ask any prospective supplier what their screening procedures are.

Then ask suppliers of wooden countertops what guarantees they can offer in relation to the health effects of the preservatives or glues used on their product.
 
Right, carcinogenic counter tops, and reported in the New York times no less - so it must be true.

To be honest, I'd be more worried about the countertop falling on me than killing me quietly as I slice and dice.
 
Were going with Butterly stone, came recommended, best price we got so getting them, haven't got it in yet as waiting on the kitchen but will see in time.
 
Abbica said:
Were going with Butterly stone, came recommended, best price we got so getting them, haven't got it in yet as waiting on the kitchen but will see in time.
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One recommendation I might make is for you to have additional holes drilled in case you later decide to install a waste disposal unit and/or a water purifier. If don't, you could just have these holes plugged with a cap. Drilling after the fact is not a good situation to be in!
 
Thanks for the warning but we are only putting the granite around our cooker, the length of one end of the kitchen, wooden worktops then either side. It is 40mm thick, blue pearl, nearly a grand, thank god it is only one end of the kitchen!! money, money. Your head would be fractured trying to keep costs down. There is a lot to be said for buying though, no painting the entire house 3 times never mind the bloomin doors etc, dealing with rip off piranha merchants and on top of that the banks in getting a top up (what a joke), noodles and beans become your staple diet, barely surviving the working day from exhaustion, doing it all for our own unique homes, with granite worktops you somehow so desperately want but can't afford and now, granite causes cancer... Are we mad?
 
Have a look at this site .....scroll down to item on kitchen bench tops .......play video. Very interesting. Might help.

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Abbica said:
Are we mad?
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Yes! ;)

Have been through much of this in the last eight months, and I can confidently assert that if you weren't mad at the beginning of the process, you'll be driven to distraction by the end. But it does get better... say I, while crossing fingers and hoping for the best, since the builders still aren't quite gone.

The [very remote] possibility of carcinogenic materials in your granite should probably not be the biggest of your worries.
 
I know, but the thing is I don't care about it, I am a broken woman. If I could get in next week, I would eat and sleep off the frickin granite!
 
Well update: I have phoned and e-mailed 4 different Irish companies, now a week past, gave them drawings, details of colour everything, how many have got back to me.....zero, I have called one three times, left messages on another...I just do not know. If there is a recession well I am at a loss... they do not seem as if they need the work lol, well I can hold on to my money I guess!


G

Bewildered!
 
Granite looks the best and lasts a lifetime if cared for in anyway, im afraid you get what you pay for in terms of craftsmanship and quality, alot of other counter tops tend to cheapen the look of the entire kitchen, worth the extra in my opinion if your going to do it right.... my missus forced me to shell out on it didnt want to spend the extra, but now that i have everyone complements the look of it and im glad i did, its was its not something ill ever have to spend money on again please God..
 
JohnnyG, I totally agree, the old wooden/wooden laminate is very sad to look at, I was always a fan on stone, except the price! My other half also has been the driving force on forking out the mula. One thing I am shocked at is the level of professionalism in getting quotes and returning a call. I contaced about 5 diff companies, none got back to me with a quoute, only one did today, but I did get a place in Dublin who were proper business ppl. They took my number, took my kitchen deatils, gave me a quote in 20 minutes, and have organised a day next week when they will measure up. So finally! I feel for these ppl in the recession, as I would nt use any of them even if a 1000 euro cheaper lol, one thing I cant abide is unprofessinalisim (if thats a word ) especailly when it will be a feature in my home. Maybe a recession will teach some companies a little respect!:rolleyes:. Thank you all fro the mails, the help and info was excellent, steps off soap box.
 
Maximus152 said:
JohnnyG, I totally agree, the old wooden/wooden laminate is very sad to look at, I was always a fan on stone, except the price! My other half also has been the driving force on forking out the mula. One thing I am shocked at is the level of professionalism in getting quotes and returning a call. I contaced about 5 diff companies, none got back to me with a quoute, only one did today, but I did get a place in Dublin who were proper business ppl. They took my number, took my kitchen deatils, gave me a quote in 20 minutes, and have organised a day next week when they will measure up. So finally! I feel for these ppl in the recession, as I would nt use any of them even if a 1000 euro cheaper lol, one thing I cant abide is unprofessinalisim (if thats a word ) especailly when it will be a feature in my home. Maybe a recession will teach some companies a little respect!:rolleyes:. Thank you all fro the mails, the help and info was excellent, steps off soap box.
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Glad to hear you got it sorted, id be surprised if the end product is not a standout feature, not easy to have the money of course in these times but i think it will be worth it certainly overall. I know what you man about the professionalism i could write a book on the amount of hopeless donkey's ive had through my doors since i built ones who did jobs half right or not the way they were supposed to be done, the one good thing about the slowdown is it will rid the country of half the cowboys that have been ripping people off with shoddy work and joke prices for too long,
There also needs to be more regulation and standards for plumbers i have had 2 different guys to fix a problem and its worse than when i started, and neither of them will answer the phone. Should be some kind of come back for this type of disgraceful work practising, but im sure they are both off to Australia or something now and wont be seen again till the next property boom.:(
 
Johnny G, yep agreed, I think the recession will be agood reset for some of these Characters, and thats no harm, Thanks for the reply.
 
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