Kitchen worktops

[macar]

Just finishing off the kitchen, oak doors and oak worksurface to the perimeter. Now got to select a 'wow' factor work surface for the central island. Been looking at black granite, but the missus is not convinced on the durability/practicality of the polished surface. Anyone had any problems?

[anonymous-user]

My last kitchen had a highly polished black granite worktop, it wore well enough as we took reasonable care. The highly poiished finish was a mistake though, think black car & fingerprints. We have just has new kitxhen fitted with sparkly blaxk quartz, bit cheaper, but the main reaaon was it is easier to keep looking nice..

[ColinM50]

Buddy works at Magnet. They LOVE selling black granite worktops 'cos they know within six months you'll be back to buy another worktop.

Dreadful stuff black granite, marks like mad.

[singlecoil]

Get something like Bon Accord granite and you will have no problems. I know of several kitchens that have had it for years (nearly 10 in one case) and the owners are still happy. Bon Accord looks black at some angles but is sort of made up of sort of grey bits. Easier seen than described.

[Matt Harper]

Or an engineered stone (quartz) product, like Dupont Zodiaq. I had mine installed nearly 3 years ago and it looks like new.

[RedLeicester]

ColinM50 said:

Buddy works at Magnet. They LOVE selling black granite worktops 'cos they know within six months you'll be back to buy another worktop.

Dreadful stuff black granite, marks like mad.

If you buy it at Magnet, I'm sure it does.

[singlecoil]

RedLeicester said:

ColinM50 said:

Buddy works at Magnet. They LOVE selling black granite worktops 'cos they know within six months you'll be back to buy another worktop.

Dreadful stuff black granite, marks like mad.

If you buy it at Magnet, I'm sure it does.

And genuinely black real granite is pretty rare stuff too. I'd be surprised if that's what Magnet actually mean. Perhaps they are thinkg of black granite as a colour for a substitute, rather than the real stuff.

Long standing PHer Kwacker supplies granite, good stuff and excellent value

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...

[jason s4]

Granite is nowhere near as good as people like to think.

It is quite porous and needs constant care.

[singlecoil]

jason s4 said:

Granite is nowhere near as good as people like to think.

It is quite porous and needs constant care.

Once a week wipeover with Countertop Magic will do nicely, but most people don't bother, and don't seem to have any problems as a result.

[jason s4]

singlecoil said:

Once a week wipeover with Countertop Magic will do nicely, but most people don't bother, and don't seem to have any problems as a result.

TBH, there are some good and some bad, if that makes sense.

Obviously black is the worst, as this does show up water staining in certain light/angles.

As long as it is looked after, similar to wood, then it should be fine.

[pikeyboy]

Is'nt corrian supposed to be harder wearing than granite as someone else has said its quite porous.

[Stu R]

boy said:

Is'nt corrian supposed to be harder wearing than granite as someone else has said its quite porous.

AFAIK Granite is more durable. I don't think the porosity is a problem as you seal it anyway.

Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong, I'm going off stuff I was told when I bought our granite tops a few years back.

[singlecoil]

boy said:

Is'nt corrian supposed to be harder wearing than granite as someone else has said its quite porous.

Corian isn't as hard wearing as laminate worktop, let alone granite (which is an extremely hard substance). Corian is basically mineral powder in an acrylic matrix, and is easily scratched, and it is easily worked with woodworking tools such as routers, jigsaws etc.

[rsv gone!]

singlecoil said:

boy said:

Is'nt corrian supposed to be harder wearing than granite as someone else has said its quite porous.

Corian isn't as hard wearing as laminate worktop, let alone granite (which is an extremely hard substance). Corian is basically mineral powder in an acrylic matrix, and is easily scratched, and it is easily worked with woodworking tools such as routers, jigsaws etc.

Although the scratches in Corian can easily be sanded out.

[singlecoil]

rsv gone! said:

singlecoil said:

boy said:

Is'nt corrian supposed to be harder wearing than granite as someone else has said its quite porous.

Corian isn't as hard wearing as laminate worktop, let alone granite (which is an extremely hard substance). Corian is basically mineral powder in an acrylic matrix, and is easily scratched, and it is easily worked with woodworking tools such as routers, jigsaws etc.

Although the scratches in Corian can easily be sanded out.

Easily, but maybe not by the end user. Especially if they want to avoid patches of different surface finishes in areas subject to low angle light.

[Simpo Two]

Singlecoil, what is the black resin-like stuff my Franke sink is made from? It has a slight speckle in it and was fantastically difficult to cut - I used a jigsaw with metal-working blade in it and it didn't just blunt it, it removed all the teeth and left me with a shiny straight piece of metal!!

[singlecoil]

Simpo Two said:

Singlecoil, what is the black resin-like stuff my Franke sink is made from? It has a slight speckle in it and was fantastically difficult to cut - I used a jigsaw with metal-working blade in it and it didn't just blunt it, it removed all the teeth and left me with a shiny straight piece of metal!!

I don't have any Franke catalogues at the workshop, they are at home, from memory they are made of what they call 'fragranite' or some such made up word basically bits of granite in probably an epoxy matrix. Diamond tools needed.

[Simpo Two]

The funny thing was that it seemd to melt as well - I guess that was the resin part. The weirdest material I've encountered. And the very matt finish means it traps limescale and quickly looks grey. Not good.

[singlecoil]

Simpo Two said:

The funny thing was that it seemd to melt as well - I guess that was the resin part. The weirdest material I've encountered. And the very matt finish means it traps limescale and quickly looks grey. Not good.

Best not to cut it, as you have found out. I hate the things personally, and suggest you change it when it's convenient. Franke products are usually excellent, I've used them many times.

[Simpo Two]

I had to make an extra hole for a soap dispenser - there was a kind of 'punch-out' moulded in underneath but it didn't help much.

But the will certainly survive after the rest of the house is pounded to dust by micrometeorites... they shoud make air-raid shelters out of it.