Granite worktops are fast becoming the kitchen worktop of choice. Being very hard wearing, heat resistant, able to be cut to any shape desired and looking absolutely stunning. granite is the ideal choice of material for a kitchen worktop. With hundreds of colours to choose from there is almost certainly one out there to match every taste. Just in case there isn't there is also a whole range of manmade quartz engineered stone to choose from.



The problem for most people however is not that they wouldn't love a gorgeous solid granite or quartz engineered stone worktop in their new or existing kitchen but that they find the cost prohibitive. DIY cutting and installing your own granite or quartz worktop is not really advisable as it is a specialised trade requiring the correct tools and expertise. The solution then is to cut out the middle man and go direct to the fabricator. You are not restricted to buying your worktops from the showroom where you buy your kitchen. You can DIY project manage your own new kitchen by cherry picking the best value units, appliances, installer and of course worktop supplier and fitter. Remember that the showrooms don't fabricate or fit the granite or quartz worktops themselves, they simply subcontract this work out to the fabricator and then add their mark-up. In the case of the small independent showrooms this is normally a justifiable and small mark-up reflecting the extra work and responsibility involved, however with the large nationals and big department stores with their massive and bureaucratic ordering process the price can be as much as two and a half times what you would pay a fabricator direct for the same worktop.



Obviously buying through a showroom can give a certain peace of mind that if anything goes wrong it is down to them to sort it out. It is therefore important that you choose a reputable company to supply your worktops. A few questions to ask are:



How long has the company been established? Most failed companies fold in their first three years, so if a company has survived longer then it must be doing something right. You can check when any limited company was first registered by visiting www.companieshouse.co.uk and doing a web check on the company. This is a free service.



Is the company VAT registered? If a company turns over more than £67,000 in a year then they must by law be VAT registered. Therefore if they are not VAT registered then they are either not doing very much work and consequently will not have much experience or have the correct machinery or they will be breaking the law.



Are they a member of any trade organisations? These organisations will vet the company and act as an arbiter if things go wrong. There are many such organisations but the Guild of Mastercraftsmen is one of the longest established and most respected.



What sort of machinery does the company use? Any serious company will be using CNC machinery. These are automatic machines that use computer drawn images to cut and polish shapes in the granite worktops such as polished sink cut-outs with unequalled accuracy. The average cost of one of these machines is around £120,000. Any company who invest such money in delivering the highest quality product possible is a serious company.



Who are you dealing with? Can you visit the company? Every company on the internet will promise the best quality granite, the finest craftsmanship and that they have the best equipped factory. But can you visit them and see examples of their work, take a look around their factory and see the quality of the stone they use?



What do previous customers think? Check testimonials and ask trading standards if there are any upheld complaints against the company.



Are their quotes transparent? Are all the material and labour cost shown separately? Make sure there are no hidden extras. Some companies like to advertise what look like amazing prices but when you look closer they don't include templating or fitting etc.