The Amaris Journal/Material Guide
How to Choose a Granite Worktop
for Your Kitchen
A plain-English guide from our Bridgend workshop.
Choosing the right granite for your kitchen comes down to three things: the colour and pattern you like, the finish, and how much looking after you're happy to do. Every granite slab is natural stone with its own pattern, so the easiest way to choose is to see the actual slab before it is cut.
Why choose granite?
Granite is a hard natural stone that resists scratches and heat during everyday kitchen use. Every slab has its own colour, mineral pattern and veining, and granite suits both traditional and contemporary kitchens.
Choosing a colour
We have fitted light granites such as Colonial White in Penylan, Cardiff, and Kashmir White in St Nicholas, as well as darker stones such as Steel Grey in Neath and Bristol and Star Galaxy in Bath. Because each slab is different, we invite every customer to visit our Bridgend showroom to view and choose their exact slab before it is cut.
Choosing a finish and edge
Granite can be finished in different ways, including polished, honed, flamed and brushed. You can also choose from more than ten edge profiles, including bullnose, bevelled, ogee, chamfered and square.
Looking after granite
Granite is slightly porous, so it needs sealing. We seal every granite worktop before it is fitted, and it should be resealed every 12 to 18 months, which we can do for you. Day to day, wipe spills with mild soap and water, use a pH-neutral granite cleaner once a month, and avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive scrubbers. Granite is heat resistant, but we still recommend a trivet for very hot cookware.
What if it gets damaged?
Small chips and scratches can be polished or filled by a professional. Larger cracks may mean replacing that section.
What does granite cost?
Typical UK prices for fitted granite run from about £270 to £900 per square metre, depending on the grade of stone. Our cost guide explains what affects the price.
Granite or quartz?
If you'd prefer a surface that never needs sealing and has a consistent pattern, quartz may suit you better. Our guide to the pros and cons of quartz worktops covers it in more detail.
What to expect
Your granite worktop is cut at our Bridgend workshop with your chosen edge profile and the cutouts for your sink and hob, and fitting usually takes two to three days. Every worktop comes with a 10-year material warranty and a 2-year workmanship guarantee.
Ready to discuss your worktops?
Come and see our granite slabs at the Bridgend showroom, or book a free consultation for a quote.