Granite worktops in Milton Keynes

Why people choose granite

Granite is one of the hardest natural stones used in kitchens. Knocks, everyday scratches and heat trouble it less than most worktop surfaces, and there is no resin in it, so a warm pan set down for a moment will not scorch it. That makes it a favourite for keen cooks and for kitchens that work hard.

Its look is its other draw: flecks of feldspar, mica and quartz give depth that printed or engineered surfaces cannot copy exactly. Black, grey and speckled granites also hide crumbs and water marks well.

Seeing the stone before it is cut

Because granite comes from a quarry, a sample tile only shows the general colour. The slab used for your kitchen may have stronger markings, larger crystals or a vein you want to place carefully. For anything other than very uniform black or grey granite, we recommend looking at the actual slabs, or clear photos of them, before cutting. It is also how you avoid an awkward pattern change across a join.

Sealing and staining

Some granites are dense and barely absorb anything; lighter and more open-grained ones can take up oil or red wine if a spill is left. Those stones are sealed after fitting and benefit from a fresh coat of sealer every so often. To check, splash a little water on the stone and wait five minutes; a darker patch means the sealer has worn and needs renewing. We tell you which kind of granite you have when you choose it.

Weight and the units underneath

Granite is heavy. A 30 mm top weighs roughly 80 kg per square metre, so the units below must be solid, level and fixed to the wall. Most modern kitchen units carry stone without any change; older or damaged units may need packing or extra support. We check this when we template, before anything is cut.