Quartz worktops are famed for their maintenance-free qualities. Their sleek, stone-like characteristic makes them basically repellent to greasy stains, smudges or dirt. That’s predominantly because nothing gets easily stuck to the surface – even if left over night. Any liquids or solids that fall on quartz do not fuse with it, making it seem as though quartz is coated with teflon.

The truth is, quartz is a man-made product – and some of the main ingredients of the material are composed of non-stick raw materials. The high gloss and the impenetrable, waterproof coating also contribute to quartz’s fantastic easy-clean properties.

Before we discuss further the attributes of quartz, let’s analyse how they’re made and what processes make them such easy-to-clean worktop products:

How are quartz worktops manufactured? Is it a complicated process?

Quartz worktops are a result of an amalgamation of different elements that are compressed and fused together in special environments. From resin to minerals, ground natural quartz and vast pigments (depending the colour in mind), quartz suppliers like Silestone or Compac use complex machinery to create these ‘synthetic’ slabs of stone.

Quartz slabs begin their life in the planning room. Various designers meet together and discuss current colour trends, then browse a catalogue of potential colours that could be released. It’s no different circumstance than the fashion industry, where professional designers amass to participate in discussions regarding new releases, potential products and general concepts. After all, the interior design industry is also constantly changing. There are new styles of kitchen cabinets, flooring, décor and overall appearance. Things that were popular 15 years ago are no longer – the fashion, and therefore the consumer-demand is constantly evolving. With that big quartz brands also need to develop, and they do – on average twenty new products are brought out every two years by quartz companies.

Only ten years ago there wen’t quartzes imitating the natural marble themes like Carrara or Calacatta. Now, every quartz supplier has at least four marble-lookalike quartz slabs among their product collection.

From the planning room, the designs take roughly one year to be ready for physical development. The machinery, the logistics and of course the composition of the stones are constantly consulted, until permission is given to develop a certain product.

Once the resin-pigment-quartz mixture arrives at the factory, it is subjected to extreme heat and pressure, which after merely hours forms giant thick slabs that are then sliced into thin sheets, usually measuring either 2cm or 3cm – depending on the colour.

Interestingly, the process of making man-made quartz is not too dissimilar to creation of true, organic granite. That natural stone is also formed as a result of molten rock cooling under immense amount of pressure. The main difference is that production of quartz is done under a controlled, machinery-equipped environment, while the igneous rock – known by us as granite – is a product of natural circumstances. Not to mention the granite-formation process usually takes far longer than measly hours.

As such, quartz worktops are made through a synthetic process that is a response to current trends and fashion. While it may last hours to actually make a slab of quartz, it takes a long time and a lot of brains & manpower to turn mere concepts into reality i.e. slabs that are then sold individually to you, the customer.

The manufacturing of the slabs is long, tialled and somewhat compilated process – but it’s justified in the price that is then labelled on the stone. Compared to wooden or laminate worktops, which are essentially pieces of wood cut into shape of worktops, it takes a lot more ingenuity, fastidiousness and engineering to create quartz worktops. Materials like ground quartz or resin are also a lot more expensive than wood. This is therefore predominant answer to the question: ‘Why quartz worktops cost so much?’.

Why are quartz worktops clean surfaces. How do they maintain and retain antibacterial properties?

Quartz is currently at the forefront of interior design solutions. Designers, architects and ordinary consumers choose quartz worktops for personal comfort, functionality, and peace of mind that their kitchen surfaces will be long-lasting, resistant, modern and above all beautiful. But many don’t actually realise that quartz worktops are also a fantastic hygienic addition to your kitchen. What do we mean by that?

Let’s examine the quartz properties below, and determine why quartz worktops are the best current solution when it comes to hygiene, cleanliness and our daily health.

Kitchen worktops and the importance of easy, quick maintenance

An average human will spend at least 20% of their daily time in the kitchen. Whether it be to make a morning sandwich, pour some cereal, cook some dinner or prepare the supper.

At the weekend, when we are usually home, carrying out various chores, this can extend to up to 40% – this means we spend hours at a time in one interior. In that time, when we cook, do the washing up or clean the counter-space, we want to make sure that our work is efficient, and cleaning effort is easy and maximised.

Let’s honestly ask ourselves – do we always put a 100% effort into cleaning?

• We rush with our cooking to get the dinner ready for 6pm,
• We quickly chop-up the washed veg – the tomato squirts some of its juice down the chopping board, a bit leaks onto the worktop,
• We throw it in the wok – the oil gushes and sprinkles tiny droplets over the hob,
• We boil some water in the kettle, pour it into a pan – the water bounces off the edges and spurts over our splashback and the worktop,
• The rice comes to a finish, but not before the gurgling water leaps out onto the worktop,
• We fill our glasses with wine, but some of it manages to escape and trickle down the bottle and onto the worktop,
• We finish the cooking, dish out, the family has eaten,
• By that point at least an hour has passed, and now comes the cleaning process.

It’s unlikely that with such regular, daily busy schedule we’ll have the time or effort to give our kitchen a complete makeover. This deep-clean disinfection process happens maybe one, two times a week at most, but usually, when we come back home after a long shift at work, and take another hour on cooking and eating, we rarely have the mental/physical capacity to scour the surfaces down to the tiniest stain or crumb.

That might not seem tragic, but when your kitchen worktops are composed of wood, metal or laminated surface, over time such imperfection will take their toll on your kitchen surfaces.

That tiny speckle of tomato sauce may discolour your wood in a single night, the regular staining around the sink may in a soon transform into warping, after two-three years a crack – eventually the worktops will deteriorate until they’re rendered useless or very unhygenic / difficult to clean.

Quartz is the solution!

All quartz materials produced by renowned European manufacturers (e.g. Compac Quartz, Fugen Quartz, Silestone Cosentino Quartz, Unistone Quartz, B-Stone Quartz, Technistone Quartz, Cimstone Quartz etc.) are inherently non-porous in nature, meaning nothing can penetrate them. They are imbued with with the most advanced chemical properties – the concoction of resin, quartz and vast other agents means they are essentially always coated with a hydrophobic layer. Therefore cleaning usually ends at a single swipe of the cloth.

You can even lay off that coffee stain, wine splodge or sauce smear for days, even weeks at a time, and still one graze with a damp cloth along the quartz worktops will completely eliminate blemishes or contamination. The aforementioned companies have spent years perfecting their quartz products, and countless hours have been invested into rough, rigorous and dedicated testing of quartz worktops. Finally this resulted in manufacture of a near-flawless material.

So, if you still own laminated, metal or wooden worktops, make sure you switch to quartz ASAP, to save yourself countless hours in cleaning, frequent headaches or anxiety that you’ll damage the worktops.

That’s right, forget about stressing over staining, de-colouring or damaging your kitchen worktops. Nothing can affect quartz worktops negatively, meaning you can put your mind at ease and if you’re tired, neglect cleaning without suffering the consequences. Even if you leave your kitchen dirty or at a non-pristine level, your worktops won’t suffer. Not to mention you’ll be saving yourself priceless hours on cleaning. Many of our past customers who formerly owned wooden, metal or laminated worktops complained about the neverending scrubbing / polishing just to get stains off or attempts at digging out all the grime from the tiny scratches, or drying the worktops helplessly to ensure no droplets are absorbed by the worktops.

Quartz kitchen worktops are engineered in a way to make your life easier, in the long term saving you money – not only on cleaning products but on future investments in repairs/substitutions of worktops. If you own quartz worktops, you won’t be needing any other worktops for a decade or two. These modern kitchen worktops retain their qualities and brand new look for years, and no liquid, acid or time will fade their attributes.

Many architects, designers, home-planners or investors agree on one thing: quartz worktops are truly ideal products for kitchens or interior design.

Non-Porosity is the key to healthier life in the kitchen

All quartzes are non-porous, designed in such way that no liquid can penetrate the surface. As we mentioned above, the composition of many quartzes is a fusion of resin, pigments, quartz particles any many other additives that repel all liquids, keeping your quartz worktops safe and stain-free.

This quality is unique and certainly makes your daily job easier and more efficient. If water gets absorbed into wooden or laminate worktops, which it often does, the worktops will expand, rot or warp over time. Therefore with wooden or laminate worktops one needs to be very careful and preferably clean up instantly after liquid has been spilled. This can make us anxious and render cooking or cleaning – especially when we’re fatigued – very stressful lest we cause damage or discolouration to our surfaces.

The same could go for metal worktops – even though these don’t absorb water, if enough liquid accumulates over time, and we neglect the cleaning, it can generate rust on the worktops, which can be very bad for our health. Quartz worktops, on the other hand are resistant to all kinds of liquids, even the heavy, acidic ones like lime juice, coffee, wine or sauce.

But we haven’t yet mentioned the most important aspect – non-porosity offered by quartz worktops successfully counters bacteria, preventing it from sinking in.

Resistance to damage = Resistance to bacteria, grime and germs

Wood worktops, laminate worktops and even metal worktops have one primary flaw in common – they’re susceptible to damage. And this can really spoil your levels of cleanliness.

• Take a hefty slice out of your bread on your wooden worktops and you’re going to be left with scratches and cut-marks that are essentially non-repairable.
• Expose your plastic or conglomerate worktops to a boiling pan and they will melt or charr with black stains that will be near impossible to remove. The same goes for sharp objects that will easily leave cut marks on the surface.
• Drop a mug on your laminate worktops and you’ll be left with chips and indentations.
• Slide your cutlery or other metal objects across the surface of your metal worktops and you’re going to generate minute scratches that may be invisible to the naked-eye.

For these three, and many other worktop varieties, damage is simply inevitable. Even if you’re careful you won’t be able to avoid the scarring or defilement, especially on the nanoscopic level. Should you have these kitchen worktops for 2-5 years, they will be riddled with imperfections.

It all matters, because bacteria loves to settle in these tiny nooks, and even when using cloth, soap and antibacterial wipes, detergents, antiseptics, antibacterial sprays, gels or cleaning products, you will never remove all of the lingering grime. The solution here is to implement kitchen worktops that can resist all kinds of damage, especially the vulnerability to porosity.

It’s simple – if liquid can’t penetrate the surface of the worktop, and impacts or abrasion don’t yield any damage to the worktop, 99% of the bacteria will be annihilated with a single swipe of the cloth and accumulation of grime in the microscopic grooves and crevices will cease to happen.

Opting for quartz kitchen worktops is the answer:

• Quartz does not scratch when objects glide along its surface. In fact, even bladed, sharp items such as knives don’t  leave a mark on the quartz kitchen worktops. Many people don’t even bother with purchasing chopping boards because of quartz’s durability. This is yet another fantastic quality of quartz worktops,
• Quartz does not chip when simple household objects drop on the surface (of course if you hammer it, it will chip eventually – it’s not indestructible),
• Quartz worktops don’t crack under pressure. You can even stand on quartz kitchen worktops, lean against them, pile dishes on top and it will never split (of course under condition that it has enough cabinet support – if you remove 1 cabinet, and decide to stand on the worktop in the weak spot, it may crack – but even then it’s unlikely).
• As we’ve already mentioned above, the anti-porous nature is the biggest attribute of quartz worktops. That means it ages very well and doesn’t damage over time. Not only does this prevent grime and bacteria from collecting in the minute fissures, it also hinders liquid from expanding and cracking the worktop, as is often the case with wooden or laminate worktops. And the bigger cracks or under-layer warping, the bigger the chance of bacteria, grime or food particles gathering in these places. If this issue becomes prevalent, even making a sandwich directly on the worktop or cooking something will become off-putting and even harmful to our health.

With quartz worktops, you can forget the aforementioned issues. You need to remember – unless a lot of unnecessary, malicious power is used to purposefully try and damage quartz worktops, they will last you for a lifetime. It’s truly a product that few other kitchen worktops manufacturers can match.

Indeed it’s a tad more pricey than kitchen wood or laminate, but you’re essentially investing in a material that is near-indestructible, hygenic, sterile, simple to maintain and above all lasts a lifetime.

Are there suppliers of quartz worktops that specialise in antibacterial properties?

Of course. If you’re searching for something even more unique i.e. kitchen worktop products that are outright antibacterial, your eyes should be drawn by the likes of Silestone, Cosentino. The materials produced by Silestone are enriched with antibiotic agents like triclosan that heighten the quartz worktops resistance to bacteria, not only preventing bacteria absorption like with all other quartzes, but outright repelling it. For more information visit: Silestone Quartz Surfaces.

Where are Silestone’s antibacterial worktop products best suited?

1. In terms of application, these hygienic worktops are fantastic for professional restaurants where cooking and cleaning is ongoing on a daily basis. You not only guarantee yourself a more sterile cleanliness level, but you also prevent damage of the kitchen worktops – just think how many pots and pans scrape these surfaces daily. Many also argue that a professional cooking environment can benefit thanks to quartz worktops because it makes the cooking more efficient. Like we mentioned above, sometimes even chopping boards can get discarded and chefs can cut, slice and dice away instantly on the quartz worktops. Each kitchen station has their own method, but we can’t deny that quartz just makes cooking so much more simple – especially during the clean-down.
2. Another great application for quartz could be hospitals. As you may know, hospitals have a steadfast rule that cleanliness and a sanitation are a priority. And don’t be mistaken, quartz can be applied in different ways – kitchen worktops aren’t the only solution. You can clad the floors with quartz, as well as the walls, patient rooms, operation tables etc. Quartz worktops can even come in an anti-slipping matte finish. The point is, quartz in hospitals would be yet another precaution and measure of keeping the place safe, hygienic and sanitary.
3. Kitchens for those who love a perfect, neat, and disinfected home. Those who get frequently anxious about germs collecting in their kitchens, suffer from OCD or simply love that perfect look should opt for quartz worktops. Quartz worktops are guaranteed to make your kitchen far more germ-free than if you had any other worktop surface. So why not opt for this product, sleep safe at night and guarantee yourself a greater standard of cleanliness?

Don’t hesitate and order some quartz worktops for your place! It will be an unparalleled investment you won’t regret.

The later you delay it, the more likely that bacteria, germs and grime will be growing on your kitchen worktops, and the more hours you’ll have to dedicate on cleaning, and worrying if you’ve done enough. With quartz worktops all this anxiety, time-wasting and money spending will be gone.

Get in touch with Polish Granite and order your quartz worktops today. We have hundreds of colours available, a quick installation service, 1-day wait free quote policy. But most of all, we can provide you an unfailing, reliable product that will serve you for a lifetime.

To find out more about our quartz worktops visit our main quartz worktops page here.

The post How is quartz made? And why are quartz worktops so easy to maintain? appeared first on Granite worktops in affordable prices..

We had great privilege to have recently been asked to cooperate in a ‘little known project’ hosted by George Clarke himself. Find out how we were asked, what we installed and how the project ended!

Our quartz worktops products appeared on Channel 4’s praised series last month!

That’s right, we’re glad to announce that as of last month (19/01/20) our ceramic quartz worktops appeared on “George Clarke’s Old House, New Home”.  George Clarke, Rowan and Scott spend the last chunk of the episode discussing the refurbished Didsbury property of the couple. They revisit the new living room, bedrooms, bathrooms and of course the kitchen, where our quartz kitchen worktops present themselves in the most sublime way.

If you’re not familiar with the Channel 4 show’s premise – George Clarke, a renowned British TV presenter in the field of architecture and interior design explores vast properties around the UK (usually old -fashioned, often listed and historically important households ‘that withstood the test of time’ as Clarke puts it)  and showcases their interior transformation.

The households are always distinctly renovated from the inside into contemporary, modern living spaces, which really tricks the eyes, seeing as on the outside, the properties – for the most part – retain their rustic facade. Hence the name . . . The dilapidated and decrepit interiors are ultimately modernised and developed, often with the aim of creating a functional living space, but at times the investment is put to raise the house market value.

Each episode tackles two heritage buildings from different parts of the UK – half of the episode is dedicated to analysing the renovation progress, discussion of concepts and experience of the owners; the other half centres on the final product i.e. exploration of the already refurbished properties and examination of all individual aspects.

How did Polish Granite get involved?

The process was pretty simple, but rather unexpected. Around August last year we were approached by Amazing Productions – the company responsible for the filming of the Channel 4 series – who expressed their need for a granite quartz  worktop company local to Didsbury, Manchester where they planned to refurbish a house.

Naturally, we agreed to the cooperation, and were thereafter booked in for a quartz worktops template/installation in October/November time. Once our part was done, i.e. installation of the bespoke Neolith ceramic quartz, we disappeared from the spotlight for a few upcoming months, until one of the producers announced in early January that the show will soon broadcast on TV. The final launch date given for the premiere of #OldHouseNewHome episode 3 was 19/01/2020.

Our thoughts

We were very satisfied with the final result. The Didsbury quartz kitchen worktops Manchester in this former coach house turned out to be beautifully executed, matching the kitchen and overall decor perfectly. In fact – not to be biased – but we were of the opinion that our quartz really accentuated the kitchen and underlined its full potential.

The marble looking Mont Blanc worktops by Neolith highlighted the kitchen’s best features: the dark green cabinets, copper elements, glass lamps, creme wooden flooring – it was all bouncing of the radiance that the white worktops emanated.  And the contrast of all colours worked sublimely together. We think the whole interior gained spaciousness and brightness,  elements that were desperately needed in this centre-stage of the house.

Polish Granite’s Input during the project:

• As you can tell from the wide shot pictures attached below, our ceramic quartz worktops project consisted of main worktops that span across the outer/inner wall of the house.
• Mounting the worktops on kitchen cabinets by the window allowed the worktops to be highlighted by the sun, and because the quartz ceramic worktops are white, the light automatically bounces off and scatters across all kitchen directions.
• We inserted small 7mm granite quartz upstands that run along the wall, therefore smoothly connecting the vertical wall with the worktops (this also eliminates the gaps that would have been otherwise created by the old, uneven walls).
• Of course, a giant splashback is inserted above the quartz worktop / hob and under the extractor fan, enabling easy and hygienic cleaning during and after cooking.
• Last – the grand centrepiece of our ceramic quartz worktops: the kitchen island. The square piece measured roughly 1.5m x 1.5m, and as you can see, the piece is embellished with two breakfast bars that protrude from the cabinets.

A round of applause for all those involved!

We, along with the owners of this stunning house were extremely impressed with the result. In fact, if you watch the video at minute 39: Clarke remarks: ‘this is the transformation of all transformations’ then at minute 40 when Scott says he loves the worktops, Clarke commends our ceramic quartz worktop directly: ‘lovely porcelain worktops. Amazing level of quality and craftsmanship.’ – he meant ceramic quartz / sintered stone, of course!

It’s undeniable that the friendly Manchester family home instantly gained more life, and we’re not only proud of ourselves, our fitters and masons, but also other companies that worked very hard to reconfigure this space into something truly amazing, and special for the family. Let’s not forget Neolith themselves, who produced these excellent quartz ceramic materials, and continue to supply us with such. To find out all the thanks & credits and firms involved, please visit: Old House New Home Credits.

Our utmost congratulations also go to Rowan and Scott for their willingness to proceed with this evolutionary process. Many thanks to Steven Bailey for taking such quality photos of our quartz granite worktops, Amazing Productions for producing this fantastic episode and finally Channel 4 for streaming this successful TV series.

Apparently the episode was very well received, with viewing figures peaking at over 1 million!

Where to watch the third #OldHouseNewHome episode?

If you haven’t watched the third episode live last month, or missed the repeats since, feel free to visit this ALL 4 Catch up link. All of the episodes, along with the best episode 3, of course, are streaming there on demand.

Disclaimer: All images above are accredited to Steven Bailey Photography and are owned by Channel 4 and Amazing Productions.

The post Polish Granite’s Quartz Worktops appeared on TV! 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.

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Granite worktops aren’t only aesthetically pleasing, but are also very functional products. Hence why they are ideal for kitchens. They are resistant to moisture, most of the harmful substances encountered in kitchens, as well as to most of the stains and standard mechanical injuries, such as scratches. Granite surfaces tolerate high and low temperatures extremely well, especially when compared to other worktop counterparts. However, in order for granite worktops to retain their natural charm for a long time, it’s worth to regularly subject them to appropriate care procedures.

Care treatments are neither too demanding, nor too time-consuming, so it is worth cleaning and sealing granite from time to time.

Granite worktops treated with granite sealers = a solution for years

Granite is one of the most valued finishing materials. Such stone is used for both kitchen and bathroom worktops. There are no obstacles for natural stone surfaces to appear in any room, whether it’s manifested as stairs in the hallway or a granite washbasin surrounds in the bathroom.

If you are wondering what kind of worktop to buy for the kitchen, quality granite worktops will be the perfect choice. A granite surface is very solid and resistant to scratches and damage. It does not absorb water and moisture does not damage its structure. But the virtues don’t end there – granite worktops are resistant to various liquid substances. Therefore, by applying stone in your kitchen, you instantly dispel your fears of potential damage & discoloration, which could be caused by spilled or scattered cosmetics.

Natural stone surfaces look great, which is very important for many people. The best granite is available in a wide range of colours, which means you can freely match the colour of the top with the colour of tiles or general surrounding equipment/furniture.

How to take care of granite countertops: delicateness above all else

Kitchen granite countertops require gentle handling. Wipe them daily with a soft cloth dampened in warm water with a small amount of dishwashing liquid. This detergent will effectively remove dirt, without adversely affecting the structure of the stone. After thorough cleaning, wipe the natural stone surface of the worktop, then dry and polish it with a glass cleaner (preferably choose an alcoholic detergent) and microfibre cloths.

Here, at Polish Granite, we also sell special sprays that possess all necessary cleaning agents – simply call us to make a purchase!

Of course, once you’ve given the stone a wipe, you should reach for specialised granite sealer products. They cost anywhere between £15 – £25 and are completely safe and free of substances that could matte or damage the top layer of natural stone. Remember to remove stains from food or beverages as soon as they are formed and thereafter immediately seal your granite once a year (preferably up to 3 times per year) using the specialised, recommended sealers.

You can do that yourself – there’s no need to call us, unless you have cladded flooring or stairs, and need significant manpower to complete the job. But generally, contrary to appearances, sealing is not a complicated process. Start by thoroughly cleaning and drying the stone surfaces. Then, with a brush or a cloth, spread the center on the surface, leave it to dry, and finally polish the top with a dry cloth and it’s done!

What to avoid when you seal granite with the use of stone sealers?

You should already be aware how to take care of stone surfaces. Now we’ll explain what to do in order not to evade harm. Granite worktops can deteriorate under the influence of acids (e.g. formic, citric, acetic, hydrochloric), so avoid them like fire. Do not use care granite sealers & cleaning agents containing these ingredients. Likewise, do not leave food products on the surfaces which possess such chemicals  (mainly fruits containing citric acid). Do not allow limescale, bleach, silicone oils, gasoline, nail polish remover or baking soda come to contact with granite worktops, as they may permanently and irreversibly damage it. A granite sealer applied regularly to the worktop will prevent instant damage, but if any of the harmful liquids are left on the surface over night, it’s not guaranteed that stains will not form.

Under no circumstances should you clean the granite worktop with rough, steel pan scourers. Avoid placing hot pots directly on top of it if the worktops had just been cleaned or sealed – let it be dry prior to exposure to boiling metal. The heat, in combination with dishwashing liquid, for example, can lead to discolouration.

Granite sealer – impregnation of granite worktop

All surfaces made of natural stone require protection. Sealing granite is essential to ensure that stone floors, countertops and other elements serve us for many years and maintain great appearance. Stone impregnation completely protects the granite against dirt and harmful effects of moisture, but also has other applications. A granite sealer can, for example, lighten and strengthen the colour, creating the effect of ‘wet stone’, protecting the shine or filling in miniscule cracks.

Lack of implementation of appropriate granite sealer could lead to risk of hard or impossible to remove traces of stains, or even discolouration.

Sealing granite and daily care is not very different from that of marble: just like marble, you should seal your granite from time to time, and with daily care it is worth handling gently. Although its porosity is lower and its resistance to acids and fats is much higher, it does not mean that granite surface can be exposed to heavy tests. It’s thus better not risk prolonged exposure to liquids. Especially those with an acidic reaction that can disturb the glossy or matte stone surface.

As you can see, taking care of granite worktops is not difficult. The natural properties of stones, such as resistance, durability, lack of odour absorption or no staining, greatly facilitate care and maintenance work. Just remember a few of the above words of wisdom, sensitize the household and maintain your worktops at all cost. Thanks to this, the stone surfaces will surely turn out to be an accurate investment, and its elegant appearance will delight the eyes of children for many generations.

Natural stone sealer – what else is worth buying?

There are many granite sealers available on the market. They can be purchased, for example, in companies and stone stores, but also on the Internet. We provide reliable and inexpensive sealing products that we can always re-sell to general public.

In addition to buying trusted impregnates for natural stones, we should also remember about cleaning agents.

One of the many companies offering such products is a company with a good reputation and price adequate to the quality – Akemi. Akemi offers us an agent for daily cleaning of granite, which is called Akemi Triple – Efect. We must not forget about such products to remove greasy stains, blemishes and other impurities prior to each sealing session.

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We are happy to announce that we have just opened a new branch in Preston, Lancashire!

Open 6 days a week, the showroom is manned by Matthew, our Preston branch manager, who awaits all customers inside, ready to provide an instant quote or answer any of your questions.

Why have Polish Granite expanded? Why Preston?

Seeing as majority of our customers are from Lancashire, we thought that opening up a showroom in the hub of Lancashire – Preston – would be a fantastic idea. The doors have opened up only a few weeks ago!

The aim of this operation is to save you, and ourselves some time, because you’ll finally be able to visit a Polish Granite showroom without the need to travel miles out of your way to our HQ in Manchester. Preston is pretty much at the centre of Lancashire, so locating it here was a no-brainer.

Thanks to this you’ll have the opportunity to discover, explore and select a number of real-life quartz, granite and ceramic samples that could reflect your desired worktops project. In the end, seeing a material in person could significantly impact your decision making, either attracting or deterring you from a material that looked completely different when you browsed it digitally online.

You need to bear in mind that digital pictures are never too reliable, especially if we’re talking about natural granite/marble which have unique compositions, usually visible only to a naked eye. But nowadays even quartzes are designed with exceptional motifs, so observing them directly will evoke completely different emotions than when browsing digital counterparts. You’ll struggle to see a picture (even if taken with a good camera) which highlights all the particles, veins, sparkles and other elements/patterns of the material. So, if you’re after quartz worktops Preston Polish Granite Showroom could really ease your life and provide you with confidence and peace of mind.

The main guy to help you out on site will be Matthew, the manager of the branch and a professional worktops salesman with years of experience in the field of interior design. His knowledge regarding worktops is immense, his smile is bright and dedication boundless. Having him there, you certainly won’t struggle when picking out your worktop. Feel free to ask him any question, request a quote or engage him in a discussion on which is better: quartz or granite.

Matthew will help you choose a colour (using a wide pallet of granite, quartz and ceramic samples), gather your plans, details and provide you an instant quote. It’s as simple as that. So if you’re located in Preston, Blackburn, Blackpool or surrounding Lancashire areas, feel free to pop into the new place. You will no longer have to drive down all the way to Salford, Manchester to envisage the real-life stone that could end up in your Preston kitchen for many years to come.

Visit us in Preston!

If you’ve been looking to cooperate with Polish Granite, use our services or purchase stone materials like ceramic worktops Preston will be now your first place-to-go! Everyone is welcome to come round and look for whatever they desire – the Preston sector is open 6 days a week, usually from 9-5, so if you struggle to visit us during the week then the weekend will always be available.

There’s also no need to book appointments, just come in and explore, inspect, choose and receive the price plan! The later formalities, such as templating & installation date can also be decided on the day of your visit. So, don’t hesitate, bring your kitchen plans and pay us a visit!

Not only kitchen tops!

Keep in mind that we are also dealing with other projects than just kitchen worktops. If you’re thinking of cladding your patio with burgundy quartz, embellishing your bathroom with grey ceramics, adding some stone windowsills for you bedroom windows or fitting your dining table with black granite Preston Polish Granite branch will help you with all your needs, demands or requirements. In fact, the entire showroom is cladded with stone to showcase the capabilities of this material.

Showroom Location:

415 New Hall Ln,

Preston,

PR1 4SY

Contact Number: 01772 584588

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