Home styles, just like clothing fashion change all the time. Year by year we see new solutions for contemporary kitchens. In 2016 we saw a heavy surplus of grey kitchens and grey elements e.g. metallic, industrial themes. Steel grey window frames, burgundy steel support pillars, brickwork and concrete looking kitchen granite worktops.

A few years before that, there was a lot of focus on glass elements – everything from stair frames to splashbacks had to be made out of clear or coloured glass.

Every home design style since the 2010s could be classed as ‘modern’. And even though rustic industrial designs could be labeled as ‘Victorian’, the association of steel, factory themes, concrete, brick or rough unpolished edges define the ‘contemporary’, ‘urbanised’, ‘progressive’ motifs.

Since 2019, there has been a certain revival of the traditional. The marble looking kitchen worktops rose to prominence. Not only professional designers or architects, but average consumers wanted to replicate the organic themes and insert these elements into their homes.

The look of natural or painted wood, tiled floors, the belfast sinks, white tiles and of course, granite or marble looking quartz worktops. It’s safe to say that this ‘cottage’ theme is the current trend. Majority of new homes in the North West of England in 2021 & 2022 have had this design implemented. Will this carry through to 2023?

Traditional kitchen & granite worktop – the biggest trend today?

Traditional, cottage-like kitchens have indeed seen a rise of late, but it’s important to highlight that this type of kitchen doesn’t suit every place.

It’s rare to see such design in flats or apartments for example. It’s still a fantastic look, but it feels a little off. Apartments and flats, especially those located in new-built blocks suit more of a ‘contemporary’ design. That industrial look, we mentioned above, handle-less cabinets – a black sparkling quartz and underfloor heating instead of an open fireplace.

In our opinion, a traditional trend for kitchen designs is mostly applicable to homes – spaces with a back garden or a patio. Homes that display some greenery either on the inside or outside. That organic vibe we spoke of earlier.

We are quite confident that this trend will carry through to 2023 and beyond. After all, it’s biggest attribute is timelessness. Traditional kitchens have been ‘a trend’ for centuries. Metro wall or Verini Encaustic style tiles; wooden oak floor panels and granite worktops from natural stones. These features transcend the meanings of ‘trend’ & ‘stle’.

You can drive deep into Yorkshire countryside and find ‘traditional’ homes that are now admired and considered a building standard. Meanwhile, modern kitchens are everchanging – the perception of ‘modern’ is a fluid concept.

Granite in traditional and quartz in modern kitchen design?

Not necessarily. While we already established that its the traditional kitchens that mostly reach out for organic themes e.g. natural rock like granite, the imitative products like quartz are also implemented.

Quartz suppliers today are masters of art. They can truly turn a man-made product and make it seem as though it’s pure quarried marble, that’s been sitting within a mountain for millions of years.

Their stunning range of exquisite designs isn’t a coincidence. Each supplier employs qualified artists and designers who help produce these solid surfaces.

Which quartz worktops or granite worktops colours for your kitchen type?

‘At the moment, there is no single rule in the field of kitchen designs,’ says Anna Bielik, a kitchen designer from Stockport, UK. ‘Granite kitchen worktops are known for their minerals or natural, unpredictable and compositions. Meanwhile quartz worktops are available in a variety of designs: some imitating the natural, others are entirely plain or obviously man-made – for example the mirror-chip products. So the pairing combinations are unlimited.

‘All in all, it will all depend on the kitchen layout, project as a whole and the owner of that kitchen. I can only suggest that the colours are done right. I would avoid red, mineral-rich, eye-wondering granite worktops in a humble, plain and grey context. While this might be perceived as a nice contrast, it actually clashes. The variables vary, of course. One plain, humble kitchen, might be a green space, full of plants, wood or other stone. We often see that in luxury hotels. In that case a kitchen design with quality granite worktops might make sense. I do hope you get the gist . . .’

Anna, who we spoke to last week, provided us more interior design context. And she is absolutely right. Sometimes a ‘modern’ kitchen project by current standards and conventions will beautifully fit a natural stone like Emerald Pearl granite worktop. In other instances, a traditional kitchen will suit a plain grey quartz worktop. In the end, it will all get down to three issues:

1. The customer personal preference.
2. The deeper context i.e. décor, appliances, accessories, density of furniture etc.
3. Colour matching

We did ask Anna what she would suggest to a client that is unsure, a client that is clueless in terms of colour pairings. In other words, if she was to go for some ‘stereotypes’ of reliable worktop + kitchen pairings that ‘go together’. She said the following:

‘Different colours in a closed room context is an interesting topic. I could speak for ages on what goes together and what doesn’t. I do have some pre-fixed kitchen ideas for customers that seek a “ready-made interior” so to speak. I think the black and white contrast is a timeless solution that always works well. This applies to other dark + white combinations. Absolute Black granite worktops go well with cream cabinets and white or light brown flooring.

In other situations opting for off-white or green kitchen cabinets, and another shade of white, marble-looking worktop is a great idea. Then to switch up the colours, the floor could be a contrasting brown or blue. Or vice versa: A deep Volga Blue granite, white floor tiles and a creamy, neutral cabinet colour with a sky blue splashback.’

This topic is indeed endless, and Anna herself mentioned that she could list these ideas for hours.

The main point is to have a good colour pairing in mind, and creating that balance. If you’re struggling or require some affirmations, a quick Google keyword search on ‘colour pairings, kitchen colours, room colour matching etc.’ should generate tons of articles that provide insightful, dedicated content.

Alternatively, you could email or call us – we’ll either try to provide you some advice ourselves, or give you Anna’s contact number so she could point you in the right place and direction.

What’s cheaper in 2023 – granite or quartz?

It’s common knowledge that when it comes to the great attributes, granite and quartz are almost equal in that sense. Quartz is stain resistant, scratch resistant, and impact proof. Meanwhile granite worktops are resistant to scratches, impacts but are also extremely heat resistant.

In terms of cost, it’s a bit of a different tale. Granite worktop prices are usually a little cheaper, mainly because these stone varieties aren’t commonly elected nowadays. As we mention above – there are far more flats being built than new homes. And even when new estates and homes are created, they reach for that ‘modern’ design we spoke of.

And since these large kitchen designs are driven by stereotypes and little creativity, people tend to select quartz instead, which has a bigger palette of colours, that fit that contemporary, edgy style. Another aspect which makes granite a secondary option is the need for granite worktop impregnation.

After all, granite worktops are made from natural, porous stone, and roughly every 6 months they should be impregnated with a special sealant that enhances stain resistant properties of granite. This is only a quick job – roughly 10 minute – and we warn our customers. But many people are already deterred before even hearing the procedure.

And it’s not a surprise – in this day and age we require minimalism, effortless work, less work!

This is the main reason people opt for stone worktops like quartz tops, because their maintenance is minimal and need for replacement due to stains or discolouring very, very rare. These kitchen worktops are nearly indestructible . . . a perfect compliment to any kitchen.

In turn, it’s granite worktops that are often discounted by suppliers as the demand for natural stone has shrunk ever so slightly. Of course, the difference between granite and quartz cost isn’t massive. Granite won’t offer you huge savings, but if you’re keen on saving every penny (this is often the case for new home owners), then granite could be a wise choice.

Kitchen Granite worktop prices in 2023 – The cost effective way

If you are really keen to save a little money, granite worktops will be your solution. Vast amount of granite worktops colours are available at discounted prices: Indian Jet Black Granite, Blue Pearl Granite, Baltic Brown are some of the few examples. But that’s not to say quartz worktops aren’t available for that price. There are many quartzes that are even cheaper than granite nowadays, with manufacturers improving their fabrication process and making it more efficient and therefore affordable.

We highly recommend that you explore our Online Quote webpage. You can filter between the range of quartz or granite colours, then pick a few, run through the fast process and learn + compare the price for yourself.

At the end of the process, you will receive all the details i.e. your quotation selections broken down + price and VAT clearly displayed. Please bear in mind that each quote automatically includes the worktop price for templating and fitting.

Granite worktops, quartz worktops and the matching accessories

Selecting the right kitchen accessories or appliances to match your granite kitchen worktops can be a real chore. Not only do you have to worry about materials for your units, but also the flooring and wall paint colour scheme.

• Whether you want to take the minimalistic approach, and completely hide or mask the appliances with similar colours, or use the accessories as a source of contrast, is entirely a preference thing. Many people design a kitchen in such a way that it hides the appliances altogether e.g. the microwave is built into the oven, while the kettle is stored within a bespoke unit module.
• If you decide to blend the colours in, ensure you don’t make easy mistakes. For example, you have a white kitchen worktop and cream cabinets. You also purchase a white toaster that’s constantly out on display. Remember that over time a toaster like that will blacken or develop ‘burn marks’.
• On the other hand, your white coffee maker might rust over time. If you really wish to conceal these appliances and go for the ‘single-colour’ look, then ensure you display the items that won’t sustain charring or rusting. With the ones that do, you might be better off utilising that cupboard space to hide them away.
• Remember one thing: a bit of contrast in your kitchen will always be a decent idea. Of course we don’t want to justify charring or rusting marks, we’re talking about composition of pre-selected appliances & their colours, not defect, blemishes, discolouring etc. . . .
• Many of our customers select their granite kitchen worktops, flooring and units in bright warm colours, but use the ‘accessories’ as the tool for breaking that colour tension. Therefore selecting the kettle or cabinet handles in black or grey is an ideal solution. While the sleek lamp hanging from the ceiling could be made entirely of made copper and storage doors framed with a black rim.
• In other words, subtle yet refined tones that complement the overall colour scheme and form a unifying whole with the granite worktops, cabinets and the floor.

To gain more inspiration for kitchen ideas and kitchen worktop colour matching – visit our gallery & social media pages

On a weekly basis we post new pictures from our past and current projects either to our website Gallery or our social media pages.

Everyone may freely browse through multiple digital images that display varied kitchens, with different granite kitchen worktops, quartz kitchen worktops and ceramic kitchen worktops.

Our gallery in particular makes the browsing process very simple. You can filter between different kitchen worktops by selecting material type (granite, quartz, ceramic) or choose a method of application e.g. bathroom surfaces, utility worktops, bbq worktops etc.

The gallery also permits selection of colours & patterns filters as well as granite worktop ‘additions’ i.e. range of material modifications like upstands, hob & sink cut outs, splashbacks or rounded kitchen worktop corners.

Therefore if you are seeking inspiration for your kitchen, or you are struggling to find a good, elegant colour matching ideas, then we welcome you to explore our gallery & social media sites. But as always, to learn the best way of choosing the right worktop, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our staff will be more than happy to provide you invaluable advice.

The post Granite or quartz in 2023? What’s best for your kitchen? appeared first on Granite worktops in affordable prices..

This question is often posed online, therefore we’re taking our time to explain why a strict local search might actually be less beneficial that it would usually seem. UK is filled with granite worktop companies that are willing to operate and deliver on the grand scale. You shouldn’t dismiss that. Find out why:

Localising your search results may be very limiting . . .

If you search for a local granite worktops company, and restrict yourself strictly to such, there’s a higher chance on you missing out on very good partnerships from other national businesses. A local company might not offer the product/colour you are searching for e.g. a chopping board or Absolute Black granite. Or perhaps their services are limited e.g. they don’t deal with repair of stone countertops.

A lot of people are under the assumption that granite worktops companies only deliver/fit the worktops in a nearby region, and offer the cheapest prices to locals – this is very far from the truth. Companies like Polish Granite LTD will deliver/fit worktops and provide quotations to everyone from across the whole UK, at very close prices – no matter whether you live in London or Edenborough.

We are located in Salford, Manchester, but that does not mean we restrict our services to customers in this area. Polish Granite’s policy was always to deliver the granite and quartz worktop products across the whole of UK, or even beyond. On multiple occasions we travelled to Ireland . . . and we never refused a project/customer because of distance restrictions, or travel-time holding us back.

Why’s it worth reaching out to national worktop suppliers?

As we mentioned above – the local suppliers might have limited products or services, potentially forcing you to opt for a second-best scenario, a second-best project. Even if you live in London, a grand city which contains over 30+ quartz worktop companies, there’s a chance that none of them will match the service you require. If you’re located in a smaller area, like Sheffield, opting for the 3-4 local suppliers may be even more difficult and frustrating. Therefore it’s always worth to reach out beyond the boundaries and contact other companies outside your area regarding a quote.

Speaking of the quotes, in our case, for customers outside of Manchester (our base), we only charge a little extra for the fuel that is spent to get to your location. Therefore the increase in price isn’t astronomic, but at least you’re not only guaranteed a flawless, 5-star service, but also the exact service you require. Sometimes it’s worth to pay a little more but receive that special granite colour you always wanted, or have a breakfast bar that your local granite firms didn’t have in their offer . . .

On a similar point, our time-frame (or turnaround) is very quick. Maybe even quicker than with your local supplier. We usually take up to a week to manufacture and fully fit your quartz worktops from the day of templating. We possess advanced CNC technology that cuts out the worktops almost instantly and our fitters have at least 10+ years of experience in the field of masonry, making their work fast and efficient.

We dedicate ourselves, our work & products to all who request them

Whether you’re from Northumberland, Greater London or barren tips of Cornwall, we will gladly visit you for a granite or quartz worktops installation. In fact, last year (2019) alone we visited some of the most remote and inaccessible places in the UK:

1. January – we installed a huge Absolute Black granite worktops kitchen in a Cumbrian house, just a couple miles south from Keswick.
2. March – we travelled all the way to Lairg, Scotland to fit Cararra White worktops and floor panels in a remote villa-home (not too dissimilar from the one seen on Skyfall).
3. June – we voyaged to the Isle of Man, venturing by sea on a ferry with our Blue Pearl worktops loaded onto the van. To this day, our fitters say it was an exceptional experience.
4. August – we ventured through Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines to reach our urbanised destination: Newcastle upon Tyne to finish an extensive quartz worktops project.
5. September – we went past the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales to install a kitchen worktops island from Neolith ceramic in a home not too far from the National Park itself.
6. November – we crossed the Dartmoor National Park in Cornwall to reach the suburbs of Plymouth, ready to fit the Dekton sintered stone worktops at a customer property.

As you can see, we are determined to undauntedly travel 500 miles North, South, East and West, through forests, mountains and even water just to reach customers who desire our services. We are proud of what we do; Polish Granite and its employees excel in the masonry industry, and therefore we want everyone across the UK to experience this quality service – treat us as your local suppliers.

If you’re from London, Sheffield, Blackpool, Edinburgh, Inverness, Cardiff, Bristol, Southampton, Cambridge or Norfolk, or any other towns, cities and villages scattered around the UK – don’t hesitate to get in touch. Polish Granite will happily accommodate your needs.

Why choose locally, when a 5 star, trusted, renowned company like Polish Granite delivers to your door?

Remember, even long distance doesn’t impact our efficiency and duration to carry out certain jobs. For most part (unless you live on a UK island) we’ll be willing to fit your worktops within 7 days from the date of templating, which is more or less the same timeframe we offer to our local customers.

So, next time you begin to browse the world wide web for local granite and quartz suppliers, don’t bother searching for granite worktops near me and quartz worktops near me – simply visit Polish Granite. We’ll provide a rapid, quality, reliable service at almost the same cost.

Treat us as a nearby granite business that you could rely on.

‘Are Polish Granite not more expensive than local granite & quartz companies?’

On the grand scale of things (i.e. big worktops projects) – insignificantly. What does that mean?

Well, we will usually charge you more to only cover fuel costs. In rare circumstances e.g. travelling to very remote areas like northern tips of Scotland, our employees may need accommodation, which may have to be accounted for in the pricing.

Nevertheless, even if you live very far away, we won’t charge you a lot more than your local quartz and granite firms. Yes, it may be that extra £100+ pounds, but at least you’ll be served by a professional, proven and prestigious company – guaranteeing you that your product and the whole service process is executed sublimely.

With us, and many other granite businesses offering national service, you have tens of positive reviews and testimonials spanning 15+ years to back up us as your choice. With smaller, local companies, that reliability may not be guaranteed.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give them a try – absolutely you should. Supporting small, local businesses is very important. But prior to doing so, ensure you carry out extensive research and preferably rely on a word-of-mouth opinion from their past clients.

The post Is it worth searching for a local granite supplier? 3 reasons why you should seek a national firm: appeared first on Granite worktops in affordable prices..

How can you quickly glean our prices for worktops? Or get the answer to the question ‘which material is cheaper: granite or quartz?’ Head over to our cost calculator and learn for yourself, but prior to that feel free to browse our guide below:

Our Online Quote System – A Step by Step Guide

Polish Granite’s website is perfect for quickly understanding how much you could be paying for your worktop. Our online quotation system is one of the most advanced to date. We incorporated a number of ingenious ideas that serve to make our customers’ lives easier, but also aim to recreate a very precise representation of a manually-done quote, for any project, even the most unique designs. We are currently frontrunners and sole creators of advanced technical, user-friendly solutions that will help to change the way online granite quotes are created . . .

3-quotes-at-once

Our company is the only one of the British market which offers an instant 3-colour quotation system. This means that instead of creating three separate online quotes, for three separate colours, the system allows for generation of 3 quotes, for 3 different colours at once. So, instead of spending 5 minutes creating one price plan, in that time you make three.

Instant colour swap 

With our Online Quote system you won’t have to re-do all the steps in order to go back and try another colour. At will you can delete one colour, add another, choose the colours desired thickness, confirm and generate a brand new quotation for the given material.

This is a very user-friendly solution that helps you browse different prices for different colours without having to monotonously rewrite all measurements, re-select all choices or providing personal details. Our customers who like to experiment with vast amounts of colours will especially appreciate this solution.

3D Kitchen visualisation

The Sample Gallery + quotation system is also equipped with a state-of-the art 3D kitchen that is implemented into each colour. This system is present on some other websites, but in a standalone format. I.e. you have to leave the sample gallery/quote to play with it. With our 3D kitchen, you can browse 3D kitchens on every colour at will, then instantly add that to the quote system and once again review the 3D design after you’ve generated your quotes.

It’s probably the best current system on the market, that enables you to digitally choose the colour you really desire. You don’t need to travel to our showroom – the 3D kitchen allows for free manipulation of cabinet and worktop colours, of interpretation of the colours in daylight or nightlight.

The system exists so you can make the right, appropriate choice in terms of worktops, without having any doubts or making the effort to visit us in real life. From your home dinner table, office desk or living room couch, on our website you’ll have all the tools required to create an accurate, reliable quotation for colours you’re sure about.

Over 600 colours & 3 thicknesses

We are one of the few companies in the UK that offers such a vast range of colours for all customers. Our Sample Gallery collection comprises of products from almost twenty granite, quartz and ceramic suppliers. Each product you can browse, read about, view in a 3D kitchen visualisation – but above all, we offer the colours in different thicknesses. That means you’ll be able to generate an accurate price plan for either 12mm, 20mm or 30mm thicknesses for each individual colour.

This is a fantastic solution for those who are curious about price differences between the thicknesses. 20mm is often cheaper than 30mm – so everyone can now manipulate the depth in order to match their budget.

Why’s it worth to have a go at our online quartz and granite quote calculator?

Firstly, you can spare yourself the calls, emails and general chatter with our staff. If this isn’t something you want, and you have only entered this website for a quick inspection on quartz worktops prices, then we offer a great, quick alternative.

Our Quartz Online Quote system has been around for years. We introduced it back in 2009, to allow vast customers generate themselves an estimated price for their worktops related project. Many have said to us that sometimes they don’t have the time to call or email, some are impatient and would rather have a quick cost in front of them, without any interaction. So we thought our Online Quote would be a great solution. That way in less than 5 minutes you can generate your own price plan, whether it is on the train to work, or actually at work behind your computer.

What’s best is that you can play around with different colours, materials, layouts and not feel awkward about taking up our time. Many customers, when they visit in person, or call our landline, feel guilty that they request one or two quotes from us, and they don’t want to push things out of sheer awkwardness. That way they never experiment nor try out new possibilities, and therefore fail to receive that perfect price for that perfect colour. Purchasing granite, quartz or ceramic worktops can be one of the most important purchases you make for your new home – so why not experiment, browse, play around with colours, pricing, thicknesses or worktop additions.

Of course, don’t be mistaken – our staff do not mind creating manual quotes for you, so never be intimidated to ask for more, or precise quotations. However, if sometimes you forget to make a request, or if you have had enough of in-person chit-chat, be mindful that it’s possible to carry out thousands of price combinations on our Quartz and Granite Quote Online.

If your worktops project is complex, or deviates from the standards, contact us directly!

Indeed, our Quote Online system is fairly reliable, and usually generates a near-exact price. But to get to that stage it certainly took us a couple of years to master the system. In fact, we are constantly improving it, adding new features and options. Nonetheless, it is vital to highlight that even now, in rare circumstances the quote won’t show you a 100% accurate price. We’re fairly confident it stands at about 95% accuracy.

There are also limitations to our system, despite it being very advanced already. For example, we have only 7 different kitchen-shapes that are based on the most popular layouts – so if you have a customised, very eccentric kitchen shape, you might need to request a personal quotation from our team.

Likewise, we only showcase the standard edge profile options. And while there are 17 varieties, there are customers who aren’t interested in the standard, and want something truly unique. Once again, if this is the case, we recommend getting in touch with our team.

This is why we always recommend, that if you have any complex project envisioned, i.e. something deviating from usual kitchen worktop standards, be sure to contact us, and after our consultation, we will prepare you an accurate price plan.

Our Online Price Calculator – How to complete it:

STEP 1

This one is probably the most straightforward. Upon entering the our Sample Gallery, you’ll need to select 1 to 3 colours of your choice. You can slot them in to the Online Quote module by pressing ‘online quote’ on your favourite product. Remember, you can use the numerous filters to narrow the 600+ colour selection to the few that take your fancy. You can also save products to a wishlist by clicking a loveheart on a given product. These products will be saved in the memory of your browser, meaning that you can pick up from where you left of a day, week or even month away.

Remember, you can choose up to three colours at once. A separate price will be generated for each colour at the end of the quote. What’s more, at any stage of the quote you’re free to delete a colour and select another in its stead. At any point during the process, you can reset the whole filtration system either by individually unchecking selected filters in the filtration box or altogether clicking the ‘Reset’ button that wipes everything to a default.

STEP 2

This is also very basic. Essentially you pick the layout from the selection of shapes that best reflects the floor plan of your kitchen.

It could range from anything, L-shape, to U-shape and L + Island. The only thing required here is to select one of the options which most accurately corresponds to your kitchen’s layout.

Don’t worry if your kitchen does not have a direct equivalent, you can always choose the most-applicable version and all other nuances will be ironed out during our private discussion. We can always manually adjust the quote so that it best responds to your kitchen type.

STEP 3

In this step you are asked to select all thicknesses of your selected colours. Some colours will be available in 20mm or 30mm, others, particularly the ceramic ranges (Dekton, Neolith) have products available in 12mm.

There are also stones from companies like Silestone that are available in a thickness of 12, 20 and 30mm.

Which thicknesses you choose is completely your choice. You may pick one for each product or even three.

STEP 4

In step 4 you are asked to select a preferred measuring unit, as in STEP 5, you’ll be asked to provide all dimensions for your worktops.

Whether you provide the kitchen surface area in metres, centimetres, inches or millimetres, is completely up to you.

Don’t forget that you can always go back to this step, at any point during the quote process and change the unit. But when you do so, the details provided in STEP 5 will be erased and accordingly, you’ll have to re-do them in the appropriate measurement unit.

STEP 5 

In this step you’ll be asked to provide closer specification of your kitchen measurements. Once you’ve entered those details, you will be asked to highlight the edge polishing. As you can see on the picture to the right, the edges that need a polish are selected in red.

A summary of all your provided sizes is recorded in the columns to the left.

Please bear in mind to adhere to the measuring unit that was selected in the previous step. Providing an inch-equivalent to a millimetre setting may yield astronomical, errored figures at the end of the quotation.

STEP 6

In this step you’ll be asked about the style/type of polishing you’ll want on the exposed side of your worktops.

The standard is Pencil Edge, but as you can see there are vast other complex options.

All of them have a label attached – from least expensive to most expensive. You can use those labels to understand which edging will yield which prices at the end of the quotation process.

After all, an Ogee-Full Bullnose edge profile is very time consuming to produce, and our manual labour is increased significantly. Hence the price differences.

STEP 7 

Step 7 involves the selection of other details involved in the project. Thanks to this specification we’ll be able to determine the labour involved and thus the cost of the project.

For example, on the image you can see options like cut-out for undermounted and overmounted sink cut outs, among other options. There are 13 worktop additions in total, with selections like windowsills, side panels, splashbacks and even LED grooving available.

What you pick is entirely your preference.

Please bear in mind that you can flick through photos for each detail and even read some exclusive information by hovering over the [?] icon.

STEP 8 

Step 8 is probably the simplest of them all and deals with filling out personal information.

We require these details, such as your name and email to contact you back regarding the quote. Keeping your basic information in our system will also allow us to locate you quickly should you come back to us in the future.

Once you fill out your required details, be sure that you also select your templating and installation location in the ‘County’ field. Every county in the UK is listed – so you’ll be able to select the one most appropriate. Please bear in mind the counties are precise not general. For example, you have North, East, South, West Yorkshire rather than simply ‘Yorkshire’. A county that big needs to be separated into regions so we understand better where to travel. This format follows suit with every other county.

Specifying your preferred installation date is also vital for our staff. The dating doesn’t have to be exact – approximate dating is welcome. We require that to understand which customers  will require immediate assistance. Should you select an installation date as two weeks from quote completion, we’ll know to reach out as soon as.

STEP 9 

The quotation system terminates at step 9. At last you’ll be presented with one to three quotes that are ravelled on the right side. You may open each quote up and browse the details + pricing. You can also switch between the thicknesses at the top of each quote to gauge the varied costs.

The final, VAT inclusive cost is included at the bottom of each quote. By the right side, a 3D Kitchen button can be clicked – by doing so a window will open up with the visualiser of your selected material.

Remember that at any point you can simply delete a colour from the ‘chosen colours’ module on the left hand side, and thereafter click on the [+] icon in place of the missing colour. The quotation will take you back to the Sample Gallery, where you’ll be free to choose any other product.

Summary:

The granite, ceramic or quartz worktops prices should always be reasonable, unless you have selected a grand amount of options for your extraordinarily big kitchen. Polish Granite’s costs are very competitive – and remember, we delivery & install our products across the whole of UK!

If you notice any flaws, discrepancies, or if the price really exceeds your expectations, please get back in touch with us and we’ll fix the quote for you. We usually flick through them all anyway and revise them, if the need arises, but if we miss something, or if you seek a more bespoke project, don’t hesitate to contact our customer service.

We hope that this step-by-step guide to our Online Quote system has been useful, and that now you’ll be able to generate as many quartz worktops prices as you need at your leisure.

The post How to quickly learn about Quartz Worktops Prices? Our Step-by-Step Guide: appeared first on Granite worktops in affordable prices..

Our showroom has one of the largest granite, quartz and ceramic sample collections in the North West. But is every one of our samples free to give away? Are there any restrictions to the process? Find out for yourself by browsing our blog:

Are you looking for granite samples, quartz samples or ceramic samples? Look no further, get in touch with Polish Granite, and we will sort you out with the sample of your choice!

Polish Granite’s showroom in the heart of Manchester has been praised for its great abundance of granite samples, quartz samples and ceramic samples. Our premise is brimming with small 10cm x 10cm stone samples of various textures, patterns and vibrant colours. We display Dekton, Neolith, Silestone, Compac, Levantina, CRL, Cimstone, Univstone, B-Stone and a range of other less known companies and their materials. Our shelves are filled with over 100 granite samples, 300 quartz samples and 100+ dekton and ceramic samples.

Over 13 years of being on the UK market we have gathered an enormous collection of stone samples. Currently, we are in possession of over 400 normal stone samples, although in store we also have another 400 duplicates for customers who wish to either borrow or keep the samples for future reference. This is an all time record number, not only for us but for Manchester as a whole, because few other granite and quartz worktops companies in this area display this impressive amount of material colours.

Do we give out quartz, ceramic or granite samples to customers?

Normally, when customers arrive in our Manchester granite worktops showroom, we suggest four solutions to ensure they are selecting the perfect colour:

1. We lend the samples they are interested in (so long as they are not in the rare section)
2. We can sell the sample (if they are large and of value)
3. We grant them sample/s to keep for free (so long as we have enough duplicates)
4. We allow them to take unlimited pictures of the display samples we currently own (i.e. the samples that are rare to obtain and are only used for display. Duplicates are rarely in stock)

It is as sample as that!

Which granite samples and quartz samples are met with the most demand?

Lately, the marble-lookalikes have certainly been very popular. Namely the Calacatta and Cararra ranges offered by Silestone, Fugen and Compac. These materials really bring out that marble effect and one can be easily fooled to think it actually is natural stone. But in effect, these quartzes are only very accurate mimics, which aim to reflect and represent the beauty of marble, seeing as marble itself does is not recommended for use as kitchen worktops (mainly due its proneness to scratching and general wearing).

So, without a doubt the marble lookalikes are the current trend setters, topping our present sales. This is why we always ensure we have duplicate granite samples and quartz samples for each material, so that new customers can take them home and compare the material against their floor or cabinets.

Will a granite sample reflect the true nature of a stone slab?

It strongly depends on the material you have elected. If you have chosen granite, then a slab may vary slightly from the sample you’ll be observing in our showroom. After all, granite is a naturally formed rock, and even though the composition of a single material may be the same, the blocks/slabs usually vary e.g. the crystals and minerals within may be slightly denser or of a darker/lighter shade. In other words, no single granite slab is the same, even if it is the same material by name. This is why granite worktops are deemed as truly unique and one of a kind.

On the other hand, quartz worktop samples are almost always accurate, and whatever you see on a sample will be exactly the material you’ll be receiving upon the day of your kitchen worktop installation. This is because quartz is a man-made product, therefore the manufacturers have a full control over the composition during its formation. As a result, each product they make is predictable, consistent and unvaried. This is especially the case if you have selected a fairly uniform colour e.g. Azabache (black with mirror chips), White Mirror (white with large grains) or Brilliant White (plain white).

When it comes to the more intricately-patterned quartz slabs e.g. the marble-lookalikes that are heavily veined, or the 3D vein-grained materials like Compac’s Ice Genesis range, then of course a tiny 20cm x 15cm sample will not give off the reflection of the whole slab, which has veins and patterns scattered all across, and in uneven places. Besides, such materials are also designed in batches, therefore vein patterns on one slab may be in a completely different place on another, and the whole arrangement + composition could differ significantly.

What about the customers who require samples, yet cannot pick them up from our showroom?

Not to worry. If you are unable to visit our showroom, because you either live away from Greater Manchester or perhaps you deem it a struggle to get to our workshop, then we can sort you out with a delivery of the granite samples, ceramic samples or quartz samples to your home. We just wrap them tightly in bubble packaging and sent them via safe priority mail or private delivery service. Simply give us a shout that you are in need of the samples, and we’ll prepare everything for you.

Few things to consider:

1. In circumstances where the granite samples will be sent to an either remote UK place, or a location very far from Manchester (whence they will be sent), the customer may be asked to cover the costs of the delivery.
2. We don’t usually send more samples than 4 or 5. Therefore it is vital that you narrow down your choices down to that number prior to us sending the parcel.

How should you find out if we have a granite sample or quartz sample of your liking in stock?

Simply give us a call or drop us an email. We’ll be glad to inform you what samples we have in stock prior to you visiting our showroom. Feel free to call us on: 0161 877 8361 or email us on: office@polishgranite.co.uk to make an enquire regarding granite and quartz samples or to reserve them for your viewing.

Alternatively, you may also complete an online form HERE and we will get back to you shortly.

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That’s right. We have over 3,000 samples of 600+ different colours. A half of that is all quartz, the remaining being either ceramic or granite. Anyone is welcome to pop by, talk to our experienced showroom staff and maybe even leave with a sample. No post-covid appointments are needed!

Visit Our Granite Showroom in Salford, Manchester!

Polish Granite’s main showroom is located in the heart of Manchester. It sits at the far south-end of Salford, only a 2-minute car journey away from Media City and Lowry, and merely 15 minutes away from Mcr. City Centre. The showroom is therefore in a perfect place for all Manchester customers, after all, its central positioning makes travel convenient for those living in Wigan, Oldham, Altringham, Stockport and other corners of Greater Manchester.

Our quartz and granite showroom has stood in the same place for over 13 years now. During that time, we have developed it over 6 times, refurbished its insides, took out the old worktops, added in some new ones, demolished walls (as such made the place more spacious), added more shelves for quartz, ceramic and granite samples etc. It is safe to say that the place has undergone a huge evolution since we started renting it in early 2006.

Our granite showroom is cladded with the biggest range of materials in Manchester!

The place is quite compact, but that doesn’t mean it is limited. Quite the opposite, many customers who visit the interior are in awe at how many samples we have stored. In the end, over 13 years we have established solid and trusted partnerships with many UK and European stone suppliers, so the likes of Levantina, Fugen, Compac, Silestone, CRL, B-Stone, Neolith, Dekton, Cimstone, Unistone are all found there. The materials of these companies are all scattered along every wall, illuminated by our range of natural light and LED lighting, ready for you to explore them. There’s a choice of 400+ materials, all in polished, matte, flamed or slated finishes. We want to give the potential customers a vast choice, and allow them to explore with freedom and excitement.

Many other companies prioritise only select samples, because they gain great benefits from the suppliers, and thus showcase only specific colours in their quartz showroom. Such arranged partnership is indeed beneficial for the company and the supplier, but in the long run it harms, and restricts the customer.

Our philosophy is different. We do not prioritise our own profit and do not form co-dependant relationships. Rather, we want the customer to be spoiled by choice, and allow them to explore as much as they desire. Stone worktops should be enjoyed, and if restrictions are applied, that enjoyment vanishes, because the customer will either choose the ‘best of the worst’ or opt for a completely different material e.g. wood or laminate. Our job is not to dissuade a customer, or deter them from stone. We want them to choose that perfect material they have dreamed of, even if it means sifting through 400 granite samples! And the only way to achieve that is to showcase as much choice as possible; fill our granite showroom with options and possibilities!

“I was impressed the minute I arrived there. The place is small, but there’s so much choice, me and my wife were utterly stunned by the ample number of vibrant granite samples. We’ve probably visited every granite and quartz showroom in Manchester, and none had the vastness and the extensive colour palette compared to the one owned by Polish Granite. Everywhere else we went we were shown 20-30 samples max, and it was more or less the same stuff. None of it wowed us. It was a really underwhelming experience, which nearly swayed us towards laminates. But then we came across Polish Granite’s exhibits and after half an hour we found that perfect colour – a gem we haven’t seen anywhere else either.”

Michael Farring, Sale, Manchester.

We have a variety of replicated granite samples for you to take home:

In addition to our amazing collection, we also have a range of duplicate samples, that customers can take home and compare against their flooring or cabinets. This is a vital process during the granite worktops or quartz worktops decision making. In the end, you may love something that is displayed in our granite showroom, but in effect you will be under a state of overwhelming stupefaction. We call it the ‘overwhelming effect’ which occurs if one is surrounded by a bunch of materials that appeal to their taste, as a result addling their senses.

Therefore, to assure you choose that perfect matching colour, it is always recommended to either

1. Bring a picture of your kitchen to our quartz showroom,
2. Bring along sample pieces of your cabinet or flooring,
3. Lend a quartz or granite sample from us, take it home and compare everything on-site.

Following this will allow the best form of visualisation, and will eliminate all possibility of a disappointment if it ever came to granite or quartz worktops installation.

Our granite showroom is brimming with exemplified worktop thicknesses: 12mm, 20mm, 30mm even 60mm!

Beyond standard colour/material samples, in Polish Granite’s showroom you will also be able to find a bunch of materials in different thicknesses. For example, our main kitchen worktop is made from a white quartz in 30mm, but we have an office desk made in 20mm quartz with 40mm downstands attached, a number of ceramic shelves and cladding in 20mm, dekton offcuts in 12mm etc. Our variety of genuine large-scale materials with varying thicknesses is extensive. This is vital, because it allows our customers to directly visualise how a full-sized worktop complex would look in different sizes and thicknesses. Sometimes observing a small granite sample in 20mm or 30mm thickness simply does not suffice – it will not allow us to conjure a full picture in our minds.

Alternatively, if you cannot find what you are looking for (which is usually quite rare), we will hand you an extensive catalogue of pictures we have taken on our installations. There are hundreds of pictures available which outline a range of full-sized project. That way you’ll surely be able to find something which compares to what you had imagined – so not only you’ll be able to point us to a design that appeals to you, you may find solutions that could inspire your further!

Examples of bends, corners, profiles or edges? No problem! Our quartz showroom has it all.

That’s right. Beyond the great abundance of colour samples, texture samples and thickness samples, we also have examples of all edges (Pencil edge / Pencil round / Double Pencil / Bevel / Ogee / Dupont / Bull Nose and many, many others!). That way you will be able to touch them and decide instantly whether the feel of that edge appeals to you, or perhaps you’d prefer something else. The same goes for additional options like rounded corners. Our showroom’s physical exhibits will enable you to decide whether this solution is something that looked as practical & as visually stimulating as you had imagined it . . .

Feel free to visit our showroom and explore all the options! Our granite showroom is the only one in Greater Manchester that’s equipped with such richness of quartz, ceramic and granite samples. Within Polish Granite’s quartz showroom, you will find everything you need to help you make a decision. Dilemma about the colour? Browse through our 400+ samples. Dilemma with thickness? See and touch our variety of on-site large-scale materials. Dilemma with edge profile? Flick through our physical catalogue of all possible edges.

We can guarantee that you will exit the showroom completely satisfied, and all the questions, queries or dilemmas you had prior to visiting our granite showroom will be resolved immediately!

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