Wow man,
We fitted a worktop today - I was only present for the first part of the job as the work was extremely specialist and my colleague handled the project - not that I am not a specialist, but he is a specialist in this type of job..
My point is that the customer has a 20/20 slab and the worktop peice was so heavy, that it required four of us, one on each corner to lift and position the damn thin... Damn!
Some customers think that they are able to lift and install worktops for themselves, but this one was a reall no no! This particluar customer wanted to perform the installation at first, but actually agreed on site that he was glad he chose otherwise!
Anyway, my colleague has just got back to the office and he said that the customer was more than satisfied - they had an angola worktop with the most perfect island unit you could ever imagine!!!
Arrivaderci
Monday 20 July 2009
Friday 17 July 2009
Granite Worktops North
So, you need a granite worktop and you come from North England?
Well, here is a good start for your project!
Granite worktops are a fantastic product and can truly make that focal point to a traditional or contemporary kitchen! Swirling colours or plain designs whatever your preference, there are many places up north to get your stone...
Heck it's not all Grim ;)
If you are based in Manchester, then a good place to start is MisterMarble. Being based in Middleton, they serve the entire area of Manchester and some of the surrounding areas.
Specialise with a number of home related products including; granite worktops, stone bathrooms and other kitchen and bathroom accessories such as sinks and taps.
They are open Monday to Saturday and even bank holidays and with their online quote system you could get an online worktop estimate today.
With a wide selection of colours and patterns to choose choose from, this kitchen and bathroom supplier is worth the visit!
If you are based in Liverpool, then The Worktop Center is a perfect choice. Being a third generation family business and being established since 1950, The Worktop Center specialises with kitchen worktops and can offer you over 700 patterns and designs to choose from...
If you live a little further a field say York and are looking for a kitchen or granite worktop surface then a great place to start is J.W. Smith (Masonry) Ltd. As well as offering kitchen and other home granite surfaces, they are also able to supply granite head stones and memorial products.
The suppliers that I have listed are only a few, but hopefully they will give you a fair start to your project.
If you are searching Google for company listings, then the following search strings may help!
Have fun!
Well, here is a good start for your project!
Granite worktops are a fantastic product and can truly make that focal point to a traditional or contemporary kitchen! Swirling colours or plain designs whatever your preference, there are many places up north to get your stone...
Heck it's not all Grim ;)
If you are based in Manchester, then a good place to start is MisterMarble. Being based in Middleton, they serve the entire area of Manchester and some of the surrounding areas.
Specialise with a number of home related products including; granite worktops, stone bathrooms and other kitchen and bathroom accessories such as sinks and taps.
They are open Monday to Saturday and even bank holidays and with their online quote system you could get an online worktop estimate today.
With a wide selection of colours and patterns to choose choose from, this kitchen and bathroom supplier is worth the visit!
If you are based in Liverpool, then The Worktop Center is a perfect choice. Being a third generation family business and being established since 1950, The Worktop Center specialises with kitchen worktops and can offer you over 700 patterns and designs to choose from...
If you live a little further a field say York and are looking for a kitchen or granite worktop surface then a great place to start is J.W. Smith (Masonry) Ltd. As well as offering kitchen and other home granite surfaces, they are also able to supply granite head stones and memorial products.
The suppliers that I have listed are only a few, but hopefully they will give you a fair start to your project.
If you are searching Google for company listings, then the following search strings may help!
- Granite worktops York
- Granite worktops Manchester
- Granite worktops Liverpool
- Granite Worktops North
Have fun!
Thursday 16 July 2009
Absoluto granite for kitchen worktops
Absoluto granite is one of the blackest granites available and the premium is truly premium!
I suppose to a customer looking for black granite worktops then black probably means black, but to a stone specialist, this is definitely not the case.
There are three main types of absoluto; African absoluto, Indian absoluto and China absoluto and these are the three I will be discussing today.
African Absoluto, also known as Zimbabwe Black is an extremely sort after stone and with this in mind; it is also hard to obtain too... It tends to not be as black as the other types of absoluto and can be a little misty within, but all in all, this would definitely make your kitchen into a million dollars!
India absoluto can actually be more misty within than the Afrinac granite, but the absoluto from India is probably the best absoluto that money could buy!
China absoluto is probably the most popular with consumers. This is probably because it is in a large supply and it is also probably the cheapest of the three here. China absoluto is also known as Shanxi Black granite, this being due to it being quarried from the Shanxi region of China.
Incidentely; my Auntie just had her kitchen worktop resurfaced with Shanxi black and I must say that it looks absolutely fabulous!
Cya
I suppose to a customer looking for black granite worktops then black probably means black, but to a stone specialist, this is definitely not the case.
There are three main types of absoluto; African absoluto, Indian absoluto and China absoluto and these are the three I will be discussing today.
African Absoluto, also known as Zimbabwe Black is an extremely sort after stone and with this in mind; it is also hard to obtain too... It tends to not be as black as the other types of absoluto and can be a little misty within, but all in all, this would definitely make your kitchen into a million dollars!
India absoluto can actually be more misty within than the Afrinac granite, but the absoluto from India is probably the best absoluto that money could buy!
China absoluto is probably the most popular with consumers. This is probably because it is in a large supply and it is also probably the cheapest of the three here. China absoluto is also known as Shanxi Black granite, this being due to it being quarried from the Shanxi region of China.
Incidentely; my Auntie just had her kitchen worktop resurfaced with Shanxi black and I must say that it looks absolutely fabulous!
Cya
Wednesday 15 July 2009
Edge profiles for granite worktops and other products
Had a really interesting customer come in today looking for small pieces of granite to be fashioned into bases for trophies and medals. The guy is a manager of a local young-persons football association and has been charged with the job of getting the old ones renewed, for their coming events.
The bases are to be made from Absoluto black granite; a popular choice used for granite worktops and bathroom vanities and will have an OG edge profile - the customer was actually surprised to hear how much they would cost; but I explained that it was the OG edge profiling that was upping the price and not so much the cutting or the granite itself, for that matter...
Its interesting how edge profiles can make such a difference to the price; I found a good website recently that displays granite worktop edge profiles in a visual format; and quite useful for getting an understanding of how the profiles would look on a slab of stone.
Anyway, the actual work required to do these trophy bases is quite minimal, so dispite the cost of the OG edge profile, the overall costs were not that high..
Remember; there are quite a number of differing edge profiles for stone and OG is just one of these!
Over and out ;)
The bases are to be made from Absoluto black granite; a popular choice used for granite worktops and bathroom vanities and will have an OG edge profile - the customer was actually surprised to hear how much they would cost; but I explained that it was the OG edge profiling that was upping the price and not so much the cutting or the granite itself, for that matter...
Its interesting how edge profiles can make such a difference to the price; I found a good website recently that displays granite worktop edge profiles in a visual format; and quite useful for getting an understanding of how the profiles would look on a slab of stone.
Anyway, the actual work required to do these trophy bases is quite minimal, so dispite the cost of the OG edge profile, the overall costs were not that high..
Remember; there are quite a number of differing edge profiles for stone and OG is just one of these!
Over and out ;)
It's not all just about granite worktops!
I spend so much of my time using stone for commercial purposes, that I sometimes lose track of other reasons for digging up rock.. There are quite a few!My mother is a Geologist and so I have gained a fair amount of knowledge throught the years, just by knowing and having conversations with her..
The image to the left is of an archeological dig site that was actually going on in Cedars Park, Waltham Cross. What can be seen here is the start of a road, but it was also around the start of my dinner and I needed to be off! lol
It was actually quite a nice day - my Sister met us there; she had brought her two children for the ride!
I find it interesting that if you remove a few grains of soil from the surface, then stones can be seen, but what may first appear as a handful of stone, could later prove to actually be the top of a wall, which is exactly what we are looking at here.
Cedars Park was home to the central control for England and although this is the case, there is little documentation that remains, so this dig was sort of essential!
Speak soon...
P.S. Sorry it took a while to post this - sort of happened a few days ago, but I was with my Dad at the time and the pics were on his camera; needed to wait for the email!
Tuesday 14 July 2009
Granite worktops start off as large slabs!
It really is interesting to look at granite before it is turned into something that carries aesthetic qualities! Although, with this said; I do feel that there are many pieces of stone in their slab form, which carry their own value when it comes to beauty...The picture to the left shows a number of white / beige coloured stone; the images are actually of marble, although you can just about see some slate at the end, if you look closely.
This particular centre is located in Hertfordshire, UK, although there are a number in this location, so I will keep you guessing ;)
I suppose later on down the track I might reveal my mystery place to you, but for now shoppers, it is gonna stay a mystery...
So, like if you had to choose, would you choose, marble, slate, granite, quart, composite this, composite that, the list goes on and arrist'...
They guy at this place truly knew his stuff, this stone... that stone.. black stone white stone, quartzite... ultra light... Damn, I wish I had had my pen and paper chuckle chuckle...
No, seriously though; I do like it when you get a knowledgeable person and this person was..
While I was at the centre I was also luck enough to see some really golden travertine; I mean like this stuff is really sort after and I put an order in straight away.. Like I could shift this stuff any day of the week - imagine.. this stone is of the plush design...
Opps... Is that the time.. I gotta crash ;)
Sweet dreams..
Back to Black Granite Worktops Blog
LOL
The new colour scheme did not hit it off that well with my colleagues, so I am afraid it is back to black - heck I don't mind; I rather like the original colour any road...
So well into July now... got a short break to Rhodes booked which should be fun, but that isn't until the end of September; I prefer the weather when it has cooled a little - Rhodes can be a tad hot at night - I don't know if you are familiar with the Greek islands or not, but Corfu has a tendancy to cool down at night, but Rhodes definitely does not.
Anyway that's enough about the good life - I am off to fit a new worktop for a customer in a while - my apprentice is making the tea at the moment.. well I tell a lie, it's actually coffee - an' I got the cream too.. I am glad the apprentice is here today; he is a handy sort of guy and we have some heavy slabs to attend to..
Pitty the weather isn't better - I don't think that we are going to see any of those pearlescent effects from sun beams, coz there aint gonna be many sun beams today! I am sure I just saw a rain cloud outside too, so it looks like theres bad weather on the horizon...
The weather truly amazes me in this country; one minute it can be great, the next minute, f***ing appalling!
Aha - Get Coffee'd-Up now! Perfec' an' go do som' gravtin'
Ciao
The new colour scheme did not hit it off that well with my colleagues, so I am afraid it is back to black - heck I don't mind; I rather like the original colour any road...
So well into July now... got a short break to Rhodes booked which should be fun, but that isn't until the end of September; I prefer the weather when it has cooled a little - Rhodes can be a tad hot at night - I don't know if you are familiar with the Greek islands or not, but Corfu has a tendancy to cool down at night, but Rhodes definitely does not.
Anyway that's enough about the good life - I am off to fit a new worktop for a customer in a while - my apprentice is making the tea at the moment.. well I tell a lie, it's actually coffee - an' I got the cream too.. I am glad the apprentice is here today; he is a handy sort of guy and we have some heavy slabs to attend to..
Pitty the weather isn't better - I don't think that we are going to see any of those pearlescent effects from sun beams, coz there aint gonna be many sun beams today! I am sure I just saw a rain cloud outside too, so it looks like theres bad weather on the horizon...
The weather truly amazes me in this country; one minute it can be great, the next minute, f***ing appalling!
Aha - Get Coffee'd-Up now! Perfec' an' go do som' gravtin'
Ciao
Sunday 12 July 2009
The Shanxi Black has gone White
Announcement
What do you think of the new look?
We were black, but now we have gone white!!!
What do you think of the new look?
We were black, but now we have gone white!!!
Friday 10 July 2009
Fissures found in Ubatuba granite worktops
Wow! It amazes me how many consumers want natural stone for their homes, for the design of kitchen worktops, vanity units and others such as tables and chopping boards, but don't want all of the natural features that come with it.
Ubatuba granite is a classic for this - its dark green texture is adorned with gold and black markings within; but many of these inner stone markings are also fissures in the stone.
Firstly a fissure is a break or a fine crack that naturally occurs in stone; and I know, you're thinking that you don't really want cracks in your new kitchen worktop, but these cracks will not affect the long term durability of your stone, but instead creates an amazing effect that truly makes each slab of Ubatuba unique.
I suppose; if you are looking for a product where you won't get these kinds of effects, then laminate, Corian and man-made stone such as quartzite are good choices.
I much prefer the natural look - atleast; if you do have a natural stone like granite, then your worktop won't be the same as the next person who has it...
Ciao for now!
Ubatuba granite is a classic for this - its dark green texture is adorned with gold and black markings within; but many of these inner stone markings are also fissures in the stone.
Firstly a fissure is a break or a fine crack that naturally occurs in stone; and I know, you're thinking that you don't really want cracks in your new kitchen worktop, but these cracks will not affect the long term durability of your stone, but instead creates an amazing effect that truly makes each slab of Ubatuba unique.
I suppose; if you are looking for a product where you won't get these kinds of effects, then laminate, Corian and man-made stone such as quartzite are good choices.
I much prefer the natural look - atleast; if you do have a natural stone like granite, then your worktop won't be the same as the next person who has it...
Ciao for now!
Granite for your garden
Had a customer come in this morning looking for granite tiles for their back garden, with a possibility of having steps made in the same material.
Of course - I said; We can do that!
It is important to remember that if you are to use natural stone for stone paving outside, the stone shouldn't require sealing. If you were to be using the stone for indoor use, say a kitchen worktop or a bathroom vanity, then sealing the stone is a must, but for outside use this is truly not necessary to have this done.
It would be far better to let the stone weather naturally; this offering its own beauty.
The customer selected black granite - Absoluto granite from China, namely Shanxi Black.
In my opinion; this was way too expensive for me, but the customer was adament and didn't really care about the price of the stone - they said that they were more bothered about the aesthetic qualities the stone had to offer the design of his garden.
Well, I must say that I am actually looking forward to doing this job - that is if the weather in the UK holds out - we need to order the stone in for this job, but we are set to install in the first week of August... Praying for a nice day ;)
Heck! I have worked in the rain and I can say it ain't much fun!
Anyway, must dash - going to Maccy D's
Of course - I said; We can do that!
It is important to remember that if you are to use natural stone for stone paving outside, the stone shouldn't require sealing. If you were to be using the stone for indoor use, say a kitchen worktop or a bathroom vanity, then sealing the stone is a must, but for outside use this is truly not necessary to have this done.
It would be far better to let the stone weather naturally; this offering its own beauty.
The customer selected black granite - Absoluto granite from China, namely Shanxi Black.
In my opinion; this was way too expensive for me, but the customer was adament and didn't really care about the price of the stone - they said that they were more bothered about the aesthetic qualities the stone had to offer the design of his garden.
Well, I must say that I am actually looking forward to doing this job - that is if the weather in the UK holds out - we need to order the stone in for this job, but we are set to install in the first week of August... Praying for a nice day ;)
Heck! I have worked in the rain and I can say it ain't much fun!
Anyway, must dash - going to Maccy D's
Thursday 9 July 2009
Done a granite worktop template this morning!
Just got back from doing a granite worktop template - was a local job, so not much travelling involved... Yippee - I hate the travel sometimes... Getting first stuck in traffic and then having to do a days graft, before having to get back in the van and get stuck in more traffic.. Moody is all I can say!!
Why is it that I need to educate most customers who are looking for a new worktop surface for their home - why can't I get a worktop L-shaped length in one piece?? Well sure I tell them.. You can have this, but it will cost you an arm and a leg.. Most L-shaped worktops are manufactured in two or more sections and then joined together on completion.
Naturally, there are customers who are more than happy to pay for the one piece L-shape, but there is so much waste that comes with this sort of request - now I always offer additional products that could be fashioned from the same slab of stone - this help to bring the costs down and also offers the customer a chance to get a little bit more for their money... Funny enough; I recently fabricated such a worktop and the customer had matching wall skirting to match - I must say that this was a bit of a first, that is unless you are counting mu own kitchen; the customer was so satisfied, they invited me over for an August BBQ... Cool stuff!
Another factor to consider if you are going down this route is that granite worktops in once piece, could be extremely heavy and you could run the risk of damages or breaks being made to the stone...
My advice; get your worktop in sections and just live with the joins - heck they can be colour-matched after all!!
Ciao ciao ;)
Why is it that I need to educate most customers who are looking for a new worktop surface for their home - why can't I get a worktop L-shaped length in one piece?? Well sure I tell them.. You can have this, but it will cost you an arm and a leg.. Most L-shaped worktops are manufactured in two or more sections and then joined together on completion.
Naturally, there are customers who are more than happy to pay for the one piece L-shape, but there is so much waste that comes with this sort of request - now I always offer additional products that could be fashioned from the same slab of stone - this help to bring the costs down and also offers the customer a chance to get a little bit more for their money... Funny enough; I recently fabricated such a worktop and the customer had matching wall skirting to match - I must say that this was a bit of a first, that is unless you are counting mu own kitchen; the customer was so satisfied, they invited me over for an August BBQ... Cool stuff!
Another factor to consider if you are going down this route is that granite worktops in once piece, could be extremely heavy and you could run the risk of damages or breaks being made to the stone...
My advice; get your worktop in sections and just live with the joins - heck they can be colour-matched after all!!
Ciao ciao ;)
A good use for granite worktop off-cuts
If you work for a granite worktop fabricator, supplier, showroom... whatever!
A good use for stone off cuts; and I am talking about the off-cuts around 10cm squared and bigger, is to use them for crazy paving... I know it sounds dodge, but it truly is a great idea...
A mate of mine who works for a large supplier of granite, marble and slate, said that they are in the process of resurfacing their yard, with the view to using the stone off-cuts to create an artistic-styled surface - sort of like a mosaic.
They are even creating basic shapes and images in the surface, using batched colours of stone.
What a great idea eh? Just thought I would share it with the World..
Anyway, hope you all have a great day ;)
A good use for stone off cuts; and I am talking about the off-cuts around 10cm squared and bigger, is to use them for crazy paving... I know it sounds dodge, but it truly is a great idea...
A mate of mine who works for a large supplier of granite, marble and slate, said that they are in the process of resurfacing their yard, with the view to using the stone off-cuts to create an artistic-styled surface - sort of like a mosaic.
They are even creating basic shapes and images in the surface, using batched colours of stone.
What a great idea eh? Just thought I would share it with the World..
Anyway, hope you all have a great day ;)
Wednesday 8 July 2009
Internet selling vs worktop showrooms
Hmm... Granite is durable, Cushdie and great for your Kitchen!
What do you do if you wanna get a worktop for you English country ki-itchen - lol
Sorry just a bit of humour from me!
I know that lots of people shop online.. But granite is such a touchy feely product, can you really get all you are look for in a picture... I suppose there are some people who can, but I would say that I am one of these people who like to see things face-to-face; if you get my drift?
I mean, like how do you understand what effects can be achieved with light and pearlescent stone such as Emerald Pearl, if you haven't actually experienced it for real?
With REAL knowledge, you can achieve the ultimate in kitchen designs, joining stone together, with positioning as a key factor to your design.
Imagine... A minimalistic style kitchen, a window to the left, southwardly facing so that the morning light captures the night stars within your very own breakfast bar - heck I know my explanations are shi** but hey I am sure you get the picture... haha
What I am trying to say is that an internet only shop cant offer you this REAL factor for your shopping experience... I know, I know; you are thinking that there are virtual-reality type sites where you can actual see the worktops in different houses, so you can design your kitchen in a real environment, but I feel that these tools are only effective if they combine with a real worktop showroom and therefore both services compliment each other.
Interestingly enough; I found a site where you can design a 3D kitchen, that you may want to check out for yourself... The site URL is: http://www.merillat.com/space/planner/index.aspx but just click on the URL and it will take you to the starting page for the designer.
I do think that a granite worktop showroom who doesn't offer this kind of tool, is lacking to that of a company that does. There are always customers who wish to shop online and capturing the audience with a useful tool is handy - Diapol are a company that offer a granite worktop calculating tool... Pretty cool ;) and I have heard that quite a few people have used it.
A better one is with Hart Granite and they have a Hertfordshire-based granite worktops showroom but when I asken them about it, they said that they are in the process of redesigning it and that it would be a few months before it is back online - ok; if it is better than before, then that can't be bad hmmm.. pondering.. pondering some more... yes... hmmmm... Could be good!
So, to summarise; Internet shopping is great for touchy feely products, as long as this can be backed up with the REAL thing once the choices are at that stage... Capiche!
Ciao Baby
What do you do if you wanna get a worktop for you English country ki-itchen - lol
Sorry just a bit of humour from me!
I know that lots of people shop online.. But granite is such a touchy feely product, can you really get all you are look for in a picture... I suppose there are some people who can, but I would say that I am one of these people who like to see things face-to-face; if you get my drift?
I mean, like how do you understand what effects can be achieved with light and pearlescent stone such as Emerald Pearl, if you haven't actually experienced it for real?
With REAL knowledge, you can achieve the ultimate in kitchen designs, joining stone together, with positioning as a key factor to your design.
Imagine... A minimalistic style kitchen, a window to the left, southwardly facing so that the morning light captures the night stars within your very own breakfast bar - heck I know my explanations are shi** but hey I am sure you get the picture... haha
What I am trying to say is that an internet only shop cant offer you this REAL factor for your shopping experience... I know, I know; you are thinking that there are virtual-reality type sites where you can actual see the worktops in different houses, so you can design your kitchen in a real environment, but I feel that these tools are only effective if they combine with a real worktop showroom and therefore both services compliment each other.
Interestingly enough; I found a site where you can design a 3D kitchen, that you may want to check out for yourself... The site URL is: http://www.merillat.com/space/planner/index.aspx but just click on the URL and it will take you to the starting page for the designer.
I do think that a granite worktop showroom who doesn't offer this kind of tool, is lacking to that of a company that does. There are always customers who wish to shop online and capturing the audience with a useful tool is handy - Diapol are a company that offer a granite worktop calculating tool... Pretty cool ;) and I have heard that quite a few people have used it.
A better one is with Hart Granite and they have a Hertfordshire-based granite worktops showroom but when I asken them about it, they said that they are in the process of redesigning it and that it would be a few months before it is back online - ok; if it is better than before, then that can't be bad hmmm.. pondering.. pondering some more... yes... hmmmm... Could be good!
So, to summarise; Internet shopping is great for touchy feely products, as long as this can be backed up with the REAL thing once the choices are at that stage... Capiche!
Ciao Baby
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