Granite and Quartz FAQs
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What is the difference between Granite and Quartz surfaces?
Granite slabs are completely natural, the colours and patterns in each slab is unique. All that happens to the granite before we start working with it is that the stone is quarried, the slabs cut and the surface polished.
Quartz surfaces are man made by a variety of manufacturers, including CaesarStone, Silestone and Cimstone. They use crushed up quartz, resins, dyes and any other ingredients required to make up their pallet of colours.
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Is one more expensive than the other?
Some Granite will be more expensive than Quartz and vice versa; the price for both materials is colour dependent. With granite, the influences are where in the world it comes from, how many quarries it is found in and shipping costs. The cost of Quartz surfaces is dictated by who manufactures them and the ingredients needed to make each colour. Most Quartz manufacturers group their colours, e.g. group 1 to group 6, with 1 being the least expensive and 6 being the most.
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What’s better, Granite or Quartz?
Both Granite and Quartz provide hard wearing, long lasting and easy to look after surfaces. Quartz is non porous which makes it highly stain resistant; granite is naturally porous but we seal it using a product called Dry Treat which works by repelling liquids. Both materials are highly heat resistant and scratch resistant, so there is very little to choose between them in terms of performance.
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Where can I see examples of different colours and materials?
You are welcome to visit our workshop; we have a wide selection of full size slabs and samples in both Granite and Quartz. You can also have a look at the processes we follow and see works in progress. In the case of Granite, if we do not have the particular colour you are looking for, we can arrange for you to visit one of the stone importers we work with and you can actually hand pick the slabs that we will then use to make your worktops.
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What needs to be done before you can come and template?
In the case of a brand new kitchen installation, all the base units need to be fixed and level, with sinks and hobs onsite and available for the team to take measurements from. If your cooker is free standing or an AGA it must be in position.
If you are just replacing your old worktops, they need to have been removed and the units checked before we attend site. Again, all relevant appliances need to be available to the team.
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Do I need to be there?
It is important that you or your representative is present at both template and installation. When we come to template your kitchen, we will need to discuss certain details, such as joint positions, upstand height etc to ensure that you get your worktops exactly as you want them and at installation you will need to sign the job off when it is completed.
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How long between template and installation?
The ideal is 7 days, e.g. template on a Monday, fit the following Monday. However, it is all in the planning, our diary gets filled about 4 weeks in advance normally so as soon as you have an idea of dates and timeframes let us know and then we can work to your preferred schedule. There are occasions where the turnaround may be longer, e.g. if we are waiting for a material to come into stock but what we will never do is give you a date we cannot stick to.
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When and what do I pay?
Initially we will produce an estimate based on a plan and dimensions that you provide us with. If you decide you want to go ahead, we will ask for a £500 deposit which allows us to order the material you have chosen and also book a template and installation date in the diary. The final price will be confirmed once the template has been done, it will only change in the event the dimensions are very different from those you gave us to produce the estimate or if you change the colour or features that you want. Whether it goes up or down, we will advise you and make sure you are happy before we begin cutting. The balance is then due on the day of installation.
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What If I notice that something is wrong once the stone has been installed?
Here at The Granite House we pride ourselves on our customer service both before and after you have had your stone fitted. If you have any questions about the work we have done for you, please contact us and we will discuss, advise and address all areas of concern.
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Why should I choose The Granite House?
The Granite House is a small, local company based in Bicester. We have built our business and reputation on providing excellent customer service, working with only the best materials and maintaining the highest standards of workmanship. We offer our clients, both domestic and commercial, value for money without compromising on quality.
Have a look at our Testimonials page to see what our customers say.