Kitchen Worktops choices

[stevieb]

We are int he process of getting all the bits and pieces together to redo the kitchen.. It has been in for over 13 years (since the property was built) and in need of a makeover.

We have already planned the kitchen got the cabinets doors etc. But we have not got a worktop yet..

We were planning on having Granite worktops, But we ae considering selling p in 12 months i am not wanting to invest in granite worktops for someone else.

I am looking at solid word worktops, I was thinking of a beech worktop but there also have Rubberwood..

What the heck is rubberwood and also is it suitable in a kitchen after it has been suitably oiled

Thanks

[Davi]

rubberwood is just a cheap wood for doing worktops out of! nothing wrong with it, I considered it but the wife didn't like the colour. If you are doing it yourself shop about, I got European Walnut in the end for less than 1/5 the price of B&Q type places by going direct to an importer.

ETA- check the grade out too, my stuff was actually a better grading than I was quoted by most other place. (size of any knots, quantity of heart-wood etc etc etc)

Edited by Davi on Monday 1st March 11:00

[stevieb]

OK.

We are going for a white Kitchen.. The floor is already Cream (Polished Porclain tiles). So looking for something a little darker to give it a bit of depth.

Would be interested to find out where you got the walnut one from!

[Davi]

I'll see if I can dig it out for you, should still have the receipt somewhere!. Their advertised prices were "okay", I shopped around and found it even cheaper but from a fairly useless supplier, they price matched them. Real-wood-flooring.com had excellent prices on worktops too but I gave up waiting on the sample after 6 weeks - handy for price matching though LOL.

Edited by Davi on Monday 1st March 11:24

[anonymous-user]

What about resin or polished concrete or maybe a manmade stone?

[TheDetailDoctor]

We have oak worktop & they look fantastic.

[Davi]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Want Granite, but don't want to pay for Granite?

Try Granite Transformations

just slip'em over the existing......

more expensive than granite, less durable than granite, not as good a sales feature as granite, damaged by hot pans (unlike granite)

[Viper_Larry]

There are places around where you can 'face' your old worktop with REAL granite. I assume it's a thin 10mm type thick granite and edging to make it look like real 30mm granite. Same quality granite, only cheaper.

[Simpo Two]

stevieb said:

We are going for a white Kitchen.. The floor is already Cream (Polished Porclain tiles). So looking for something a little darker to give it a bit of depth.

I got a sample of Acacia wood worktop from Screwfix. It was about the cheapest there was and didn't look too bad, a bit like a light mahogany. They'll send you a free sample if you ask.


BTW rubberwood is a little lighter in colour than beech and caome from rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis I believe) when they've reache the end of their useful rubber-producing life.

[dave_s13]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Davi said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Want Granite, but don't want to pay for Granite?

Try Granite Transformations

just slip'em over the existing......

more expensive than granite, less durable than granite, not as good a sales feature as granite, damaged by hot pans (unlike granite)

oh.
Always thought they looked a good idea

You seemed to have completely contradicted the Granite transformations sales blurb there Davi.

Is that from bitter experience?

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

dave_s13 said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Davi said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Want Granite, but don't want to pay for Granite?

Try Granite Transformations

just slip'em over the existing......

more expensive than granite, less durable than granite, not as good a sales feature as granite, damaged by hot pans (unlike granite)

oh.
Always thought they looked a good idea

You seemed to have completely contradicted the Granite transformations sales blurb there Davi.

Is that from bitter experience?

I think you'll find that the blurb only states that it's easier to install than granite and at no point functional better than it.

[dave_s13]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

dave_s13 said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Davi said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Want Granite, but don't want to pay for Granite?

Try Granite Transformations

just slip'em over the existing......

more expensive than granite, less durable than granite, not as good a sales feature as granite, damaged by hot pans (unlike granite)

oh.
Always thought they looked a good idea

You seemed to have completely contradicted the Granite transformations sales blurb there Davi.

Is that from bitter experience?

I think you'll find that the blurb only states that it's easier to install than granite and at no point functional better than it.

Yes it does.

GT site said:

Q: Why use Granite Transformations?
A: Our revolutionary products, Trend-R, Trend-Q, Trend-G and Trend-M not only look good, but offer a host of extra benefits over natural granite or stone. The diamond polished surface makes cleaning easy and you can cut your vegetables right on the worktop without fear of leaving cut marks. Everyday spills and stains can be simply wiped away. And you can even place a hot pan right on the worktop without marking or scorching. Because there are no grout lines, you have no fear of bacterial build-up or dirty grout lines. All of our products undergo extensive testing and are produced to strict quality standards (see Technical Data under each product). Granite Transformations offer a stunning, practical and cost saving alternative which can add thousands of pounds to the value of your home. Our products are used by homeowners, architects, developers and builders in many countries throughout the world.

I'm not bigging it up or anything and have absolutely no vested interests and this is the first time I've even seen it.

I'll be buying a new kitchen this year though and just based on the blurb, I might consider it. It would look good on their site though wouldn't it!

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

dave_s13 said:

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

dave_s13 said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Davi said:

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Want Granite, but don't want to pay for Granite?

Try Granite Transformations

just slip'em over the existing......

more expensive than granite, less durable than granite, not as good a sales feature as granite, damaged by hot pans (unlike granite)

oh.
Always thought they looked a good idea

You seemed to have completely contradicted the Granite transformations sales blurb there Davi.

Is that from bitter experience?

I think you'll find that the blurb only states that it's easier to install than granite and at no point functional better than it.

Yes it does.

GT site said:

Q: Why use Granite Transformations?
A: Our revolutionary products, Trend-R, Trend-Q, Trend-G and Trend-M not only look good, but offer a host of extra benefits over natural granite or stone. The diamond polished surface makes cleaning easy and you can cut your vegetables right on the worktop without fear of leaving cut marks. Everyday spills and stains can be simply wiped away. And you can even place a hot pan right on the worktop without marking or scorching. Because there are no grout lines, you have no fear of bacterial build-up or dirty grout lines. All of our products undergo extensive testing and are produced to strict quality standards (see Technical Data under each product). Granite Transformations offer a stunning, practical and cost saving alternative which can add thousands of pounds to the value of your home. Our products are used by homeowners, architects, developers and builders in many countries throughout the world.

I'm not bigging it up or anything and have absolutely no vested interests and this is the first time I've even seen it.

I'll be buying a new kitchen this year though and just based on the blurb, I might consider it. It would look good on their site though wouldn't it!

In true panto mode, oh no it doesn't . It is however, sneaky clever marketing.

You're reading the first sentence and applying it to what follows. However it's not connected. Take all the points after it and you'll see that, in fact, real granite acts like this as well and for the most part better than this stuff.

[Davi]

dave_s13 said:

You seemed to have completely contradicted the Granite transformations sales blurb there Davi.

Is that from bitter experience?

I wouldn't say "bitter experience"

but then that was because I did tell my mate it was ste before he bought it, so when he melted it with a pan a short while later I had that slightly smug "told you so" feeling, so no. Not bitter at all

[dave_s13]

Davi said:

dave_s13 said:

You seemed to have completely contradicted the Granite transformations sales blurb there Davi.

Is that from bitter experience?

I wouldn't say "bitter experience"

but then that was because I did tell my mate it was ste before he bought it, so when he melted it with a pan a short while later I had that slightly smug "told you so" feeling, so no. Not bitter at all

:Hehe:

How can they spout what they do only for your mate to melt it though?

What did the company do to make it right for him, if anything?

[Davi]

Y'know it's a very good question that I never posed to him, he'll be so happy you asked me that I'm sure

[stevieb]

I am not looking for a granite substiture or any form of Sand/Resin worktop.

I am looking for a good value Solid wood worktop!

[Simpo Two]

Marvellous how these threads go wandering off into the undergrowth isn't it

Rubberwood it is then - cheap and cheerful, easy to work, inoffensive.

I used www.withknobson.com/acatalog/Wooden_Worktops.html - recommended.

[mackg]

I don't know if they supply to the public but try www.geaves.com based in Essex