Verracos:Granite Monuments you should know about!

Verracos are basically megalith monuments that are made out of granite and they are prominently found in Spain and north of Portugal. In both these geographical location around four hundred Verracos has been discovered. There are several other regions in thewest of Spain like Zamora, Caceres, Avila and Salamanca where Verracos are sited. Read more

Verracos-granite

Compare your granite bids – Few more things to consider.

Please follow my previous two posts to know more about this topic.

See if the backsplash is included in the bid or not - Many granite installers do not include the cost of backsplash and when you say you want it, they up charge for it. Make sure to consider bids that include backsplash install of at least 4-6" where the kitchen worktop meets the wall or wall cabinets.

Cut-outs – Granite cutting is a complex procedure and thus the cost of the granite also depends on the type of cut-out needed in the granite. Some of the cut-out examples are sinks, cook tops, holes for faucets etc. Thus you should explain the cut-outs requirements in your granite slabs and ask for the price including the charges per cut-out needed.

Installation Charges, Delivery Charges and Sales Tax – A company may offer you 40% discount or may look much affordable than the other ones so that you are tempted to grab the offer. But in my experience that bid won’t be actually cheap because in most of the cases such bids do not include the delivery charges of your granite, installation costs and sales tax. Look out for companies that include all 3 of these in their bids.

Complete kitchen granite installation will take three installer guys half a day to install it in place. The cost for time invested in installation and is figured in the overall cost. If you are buying a single granite vanity top and can install it yourself, there is no need to pay for the installation and hence make sure the bid reflects that.

What about the existing replaced tops? – Now that your new granite kitchen worktops are in place elegantly, what are you going to do with the old ones? If you have decided to give it away to the installers, make sure you ask for it on your bid to get some discount and save a few more pounds.

Warranty – I won’t put this to be the last one, instead it should be your first consideration to verify the quality of the warranty that goes with your new worktops. All good granite suppliers stand behind their granite, installation, and sealing. While comparing your granite bids, make sure you compare the warranties. Granite which is properly sealed and installed is so durable that most suppliers offer limited lifetime warranties on them.

Quality Granite Kitchen Worktops Can Be Purchased For Cheap

The inflation in the economy in recent times has affected the home and kitchen material providing industries with a great force. While it has dissolved many big companies, some other have been facing huge losses or are at a no profit-no loss kind of situation.

Can it be said that the quality granite worktops cost too much now?

The answer to this would probably be no. The reason lies behind the fact that there are numerous companies even today that have managed to earn the same or more profit than earlier by providing the same quality products as earlier.

How did they manage to survive?

While some successful have reduced their working hours, some others are now working with lesser number of staff members. The trick that they use is that they ask the employees to work only when there is work available. This way they still work with full operational system as earlier.

Is it possible to get good quality kitchen worktops at reasonable prices?

The answer would surely be as. Try and find some good local companies providing good quality granites. There are certain companies that are still in position to provide their customers with affordable materials. There are certain factors such as location and many other that also compel local companies to sell their products at reasonable prices.

Do follow a piece of advice!

It is always better to go for quality kitchen worktops at a marginal higher price than to go for lower quality at even lower price. For those with a slightly low budget, rather go for a different type of stone than to go for a lower quality stone. Another option could be to mix and match two or more type of stones as per your budget. After all, it’s all about your innovative thinking and budget.

Granite Worktops – Some basic questions answered!

What colour of granite is most popular for kitchen worktops?

As far as my own experience as a granite supplier goes, I have seen people liking granite worktops from all shades of white, pink to dark shades of green and black. The tastes of people have revolutionised with time and now people look for more trendy colours in granite that perfectly compliment their interiors. Granite comes in a variety of brilliant to subtle colours like ivory, green, blue, red etc. Thus if you are looking for granite worktops that can compliment or offset the cabinetry of your kitchen you just have to look out for a granite supplier in your town.

Why are there inconsistency of speckles and swirls in all of the granite stones?

Well needless to say that the inconsistency of patterns in the form of swirls and speckles is what makes the granite a remarkable and unique stone. This attribute of granite stones is formed as a result of the natural action of solidification and representation of various materials that are trapped during the process of cooling down of the molten mass. It is natural for a granite worktop to have these specks of quartz and other molten matter that add glimmer and depth to the granite worktop surface.

Can I replace my granite worktops once installed anytime after that?

Well, I would suggest replacing all your worktops at one time if you want to change out your existing granite worktops. The variability feature of granite gives a unique colour and hue to every block of granite that follows in pattern one after other. Thus if you replace only one worktop today and plan to change the others after a year, you will never match the two with the exact pattern and colour. If you are looking to have uniform granite blocks for your kitchen worktops, you should purchase the granite from only one supplier and remind them that you want the tops to come from the same cut. This would ensure a great match in granite colour and pattern.

Finding the right granite worktop that coincides with the proper price

Granite worktop pricing by and large needs to be well thought of, particularly when you map to fit all your expenses within a budget. Always keep in mind to choose granite worktops wisely since it is not feasible to constantly keep changing them.

First of all, there are a lot of online and traditional markets to get them and the price on granite worktops usually differs from one supplier to another. Knowing the size and the use you have for granite is perhaps a good start to know the amount you should be setting aside.

Measure the size of your slabs to know the amount of the granite you want to use. Price is by and large determined by the amount that you would actually need. The bigger the cut of granite, the more expensive it would probably be as well.

Measure the thickness you would need. By actually identifying what you will be putting on top of your granite is also a smart thing to know. Certain uses of granite worktops need certain thickness in the cut as well. For example, if you are going to use the granite as a countertop for your kitchen, you would need a thicker granite worktop for it to look nice and be assured that it is sturdy for kitchen activities.

Have an idea of the design you want for a kitchen worktop. The good thing is that you do not need to design the granite itself, they are usually presented with different designs, patterns, textures and colours to choose from.

Frequently asked questions about Granite Worktops

Why is granite the best stone for kitchen counters?
The elegance and style offered by this natural stone to kitchens, baths and other areas is unparallel to any other variety of stones found on this earth. The richness and properties like high resistance to heat, cracks and scratches makes this stone the best option to use fearing no problem while carrying out your daily kitchen activities.

Are Granite worktops expensive than other synthetic stones?
Wisely speaking - Yes! But the cost you pay to buy these pieces is worth every penny than repeatedly paying for the replacements that you will make after installing some other synthetic stones. However, improved stone-working technology has made granite countertops very affordable as compared to the other cheap man made hard surface materials available in the market. Moreover, with the installation of granite kitchen worktops in your home you will get the resale benefits too as the value of your property will increase.

The granite delivered to me does not resemble exactly to what I had been shown as a sample. Why is this difference?
If you have seen the sample on the computer, the samples will differ a bit in colour due to the variations in computer monitors and software. Granite is a natural stone created by the forces of nature. These natural stones are composed of various minerals hence the reason why they can be found in wide varieties of colour, veining, texture and patterns.

Is it possible to cantilever granite slabs?
Yes, with a large enough piece and with proper support on the fixed end you can cantilever granite up to 12 inches. Make sure not to cantilever unsupported granite where it might receive excessive stress. If there are chances of stress like someone sitting on the granite counter, you must have some support underneath for such situations.

I have heard people saying that granite can harbour bacteria? Is there any truth in it?
The CDC (center for disease control and prevention) has never come up with any records for granite worktops harbouring bacteria and there have never been any reports of people getting ill from bacteria in granite. Regular cleaning is all it needs to be approved and used in food and medical applications.