Quartz is probably the best as it has fewer drawbacks than granite and would be cheaper than a porcelain type of material such as Dekton(due to the extra fabrication costs).

For more information on each particular material see the question ” What are the pros, cons and  difference between granite and quartz?”

• Granite is natural so it has all the drawbacks associated with natural products. it is what it is, natural. Some people would look at a pit mark, fissure(small crack), or an unusual marking in granite and say it’s flawed. Unfortunately is just that type of granite and they are all different.
• Some, but not all granites are porous and can stain. However, there are anti-stain treatments available to combat that issue.
• Granite does have a better glossy finish than quartz and is unique in the various markings, depending on the type chosen.
• Granite isn’t as flexible and strong as quartz. Where hob cut-outs are needed in a long length of worktop, granite would have more joints compared to the same worktop made in quartz.

Quartz is man-made so goes through a quality checking process by the manufacturer. Usually you won’t get any of the issues you can get with a natural product such as granite or marble. Quartz carries a warranty from the manufacturer of up to 25 years against defects. The process of making the slab means it’s stronger than natural materials and non-porous(so shouldn’t stain) and does not need any anti-stain products to be applied. There is usually some guarantees from the manufacturer for the fabricator too. That is,  if a slab breaks during production we can be reimbursed for some or all of the cost. One of quartz limiting factors is its low tolerance for hot objects. Hot pans can not be placed on the surface and would need a trivet under them to prevent heat damage.

Dekton and porcelain are manufactured surfaces. They are very hard-wearing materials and great for kitchen worktops. They tolerate heat and hot pans far better than quartz. They come in large format slabs and a wide range of colours. The downside is the cost, relatively speaking the slabs price is similar to mid and high-level quartz prices but the fabrication costs are higher as the material can be difficult to produce.

Marble is not suitable for a kitchen worktop. It’s far too soft and will damage and scratch easily compared to granite, quartz or porcelain. While we have produced these in the past we would always advise customers to choose a better surface option. If a customer is insistent then we can produce them, as long as we have discussed all other options and they are happy to proceed with their choice. There are so many marble looking quartz colours available on the market that natural marble is no longer a viable or advised choice.

Granite can tolerate fairly high temperatures like a hot pan but we still advise against placing a hot pan on the surface. Always use a trivet or worktop saver to avoid damage.

Quartz can resist medium to high temperatures such as a mug of tea or bowl of soup, something you could pick up with your hands. Hot pans would damage the worktop irreparably so anything from the hob or out of the oven should not be placed directly on the surface. Always use a trivet or worktop saver.

Porcelain and similar materials such as Dekton are highly heat resistant. Some manufacturers such as Cosentino, who make  Dekton, guarantee that hot pans will not damage the surface. This is the best option for heat resistance but its also usually the most expensive option.

Marble will be damaged by heat but is better than quartz. we would still not suggest you have worktops made in marble for many reasons but if you do, make sure that you use a trivet or worktop saver with marble

Unfortunately no. While we sell over 600 colours of granite and quartz we leave the sale of laminate, Formica, Corian, solid surface, and wood to other professionals. Our factory is streamlined and set up for the production and installation of stone so we play to our strengths. We stick with what we know best and it shows in our products and service.

We are happy to supply you with free samples of all our products. You can get samples by either calling into our showroom or using the online form on our website. Usually, the samples will be with you in around 4 days. As we sell so many colours we have conveniently put the sample order form for each manufacturer on their specific page. This way, you can browse the colours and order up to 4 samples at the same time.

It’s worth remembering that with some colours, a small sample will not do the colour justice or may look different when viewed as a full slab. We actively encourage customers to call into our factory to look as the full slabs before purchase. You will need to make an appointment to visit either the showroom or the factory due to the COVID situation and social distancing.

Certain colours are very popular with our private and kitchen studio customers. When this happens we stock buy in bulk and purchase at a reduced price, passing that saving onto our customers. Very often there is also an additional saving. If your kitchen required one and a half slabs, we can just price you on what you require with little waste. The other half slab can be returned to our stock for the next project.