Granite is heavy, and I mean heavy but if someone else is going to template and fit it it doesn't really matter to you.

Granite is not as bomb proof as some think, lighter colours stain, I got some samples and put a wet tea bag on each overnight, even some of the darker granites were marked and it was impossible to get the mark out.

Most of the cheaper granites will have large quartz particles in them and these come out over time leaving a pock-marked surface.

I fitted Indian supreme granite (I think I got the name right) in my kitchen. It is incredibly heavy and dense, with no noticeable quartz in the surface. It was the only granite that passed my tea bag test, and four years later it is still immaculate, but it cost me nearly £700 for a piece just big enough to cover the small island unit!

I've never used Corian, but it must be relatively easy to damage. I live in the back of beyond and even here there is a guy who makes a living out of just repairing corian worktops.

Thanks Guys
How do you know what is a cheap granite as opposed to a good granite, is it all to do with the sparkle (quartz etc) or is there something else I can ask the installers.

I am looking at approx an L shape at 4.1m x 1.2m and an island around 1600 x 1200 with curved corners, first quote I had in was approx £1800-£2000 supplied and fitted I didnt have the exact sizes at the time of quote so this figure will change.

oh and I think the corian is a No go as swmbo is already dumping down hot pans on the scraps of worktops i have set down as temp surfaces

Is there a problem with putting hot pans onto granite without having any hot rods?


regards

Steve

The consensus is that you shouldn't put hot pans on granite worktops. I  personally think the danger is putting a hot pan down where the surface is already wet, but we don't risk it  and always use a trivet.

I think the granite Wolf mentioned is the one we have, it looks like black stone with no sign of any quartz particles, bombproof so far but expensive. We have oak worktops for most of the kitchen, with just the island in granite and this mix has worked well.

I have to confess that I am a sucker for granite. Marble is far too porous IMO for a worktop and will take a stain as soon as look at it. We've put in granite into the last four places we did up..including our own...and never had any problems with stains or bits falling out.

We're also spoilt in that we can pop up to Brum and wander round the warehouse of the importer and actually choose the slab(s) we want. And the prices are reasonable as well.  Z...gawd knows where you went to for the £10k price.  Remind me to give you Vic R's telephone number when we next talk.  Great bloke.  Think Super Mario!