GRANITE AND MARBLE

We supply and fit some of the most exotic and striking natural stone worktops. Contact us by phone or email if you'd like some advice on choosing a product suitable for your kitchen and we would love to quote for your project. Contact us by phone or email

Why Granite

Granite worktops come with a large list of practical benefits. Being naturally formed, Granite is naturally an extremely strong material; common benefits of having granite worktops include durability, ease of cleaning and increase in home value. Granite's excellent durability means that it has resistance to pressure, wear and tear as well as being heat resistance making it ideal for the kitchen. Things like placing a hot pan on the surface, or using the surface as a chopping board can be done with no visible damage, but we would advise against this.

Due to the way granite is formed and polished before fitting, it is an extremely hygienic and easy to clean surface. A surface sealer is applied during the manufacturing and polishing process to create an impenetrable shield against all kinds of common kitchen germs. Naturally, granite is a slightly porous material (allows passage of liquids through its pores), so we seal your granite worktops to keep them germ free.

A common, missed benefit of granite worktops is the additional value they can add to your home. Because granite is a solid and hard-wearing material, it is likely to last a lifetime over the cheaper wooden and laminate worktops. Deemed a good investment to your home, your granite worktops will never lose their value once fitted.

Granite Maintenance

Use either clean warm water or a PH neutral detergent to clean the worktop. Wipeclean with a soft cloth and dry the stone with a chamois leather to remove any streaks and ensure a shiny finish. Never use abrasive sponges, highly alkaline or scouring detergents, bleach or cleaning solutions with high chlorine content.

Why Marble

Marble is a timeless and classic choice for any kitchen worktop and one which, if cared for correctly, will perform well for decades. It is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, and is found abundantly across the world, in various hues, shades, patterns and textures, making it a versatile stone to work with. Marble worktops are generally higher maintenance than their granite or quartz counterparts as marble is a porous natural stone, so you will need to take greater care as they are more prone to staining than something like granite. Marble’s visual appearance, however, is perhaps its biggest selling point. The smooth finish of marble, along with its range of colours and patterns, makes it suitable for a wide range of styles and tastes. It’s also an effortless way to add a touch of glamour and class to a room. Colour distinctions arise in marble as a result of mineral impurities of the stone and dramatic veining is an appealing and distinctive feature of marble. Carrara marble is one of the best-known and most popular marbles in the world, and was used by Michelangelo to create his famous sculptures. It is best to use marble-specific cleaning products for routine cleaning of your marble worktops or simply warm water and a soft cloth. You'll also want to seal your marble annually with a water-based sealer made specifically for use on marble.

Marble Maintenance

Two important tools for cleaning your marble surface are a microfibre cloth and and warm water. These should be used in lieu of abrasive materials like chemicals, as the aforementioned softer nature of marble means they are likely to damage the surface further. Shop around for specially designed cleaners, as this will save you a lot of hassle and minimise the risk of mistakenly damaging the surface. Once you have bought a cleaner, test it out on a small, hidden section of the worktop – this way, if you have chosen a damaging cleaner, it won’t affect the appearance of your surface. 

To remove stains, use baking soda and warm water, mixing the two together until the mixture resembles a paste. Cover the stain in a layer of paste that’s around ¼ inch thick, and let it sit on the stain until it is completely dry. This process will pull the stain away from the surface. Once the mixture is dry, soak a cloth in  warm water and wipe away the paste, and the stain should be gone. It is important that any stains are removed as soon as they are noticed, as if they are left on the surface for a prolonged period of time, they can cause significant damage to the marble.

Protecting the worktop

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A very effective way to keep your worktop protected from damage is to use a sealant. The best way to apply a sealant is as follows:

• Pour the sealer onto the worktop – if you have a large worktop, it might be better to cover small sections at a time

• Spread the sealer around with a clean, white cloth

• Allow the sealer to soak into the marble for around four minutes

• Lightly add extra sealer to the area that has been treated – this is to make collecting the excess sealer easier

• Wipe away all remaining sealer

• Repeat until your entire worktop is sparkling clean!

By following these steps and being vigilant with your cleaning of your marble surfaces, you can ensure that your kitchen or bathroom will maintain the sparkling finish that you are used to. It is important to note, however, that these techniques may not work for all types of worktop and the results can differ, so check manufacturer’s guides or research cleaning techniques for other surfaces before attempting any cleaning.