For the best deal on granite or quartz worktops buy from the showroom not online
We can buy most things online these days, and kitchen fittings are no exception. You’ll find online retailers who apparently sell quartz or granite worktops far cheaper than either independent showrooms or the chains.
It seems too good to be true. And there’s an old saying that anything which looks too good to be true probably is. The saying’s certainly appropriate in this case.
The Extras They Don’t Tell You About
Buying the stone is only the first stage in the process. Online retailers usually quote a headline price per metre for the granite or quartz which makes them look very cheap. However, this won’t include a whole raft of extras which you’ll also need to include. Examples of these are templating, cut-outs, delivery and fitting. Once you’ve taken these into account, the savings involved are small.
“Once you’ve taken all these extra’s into account, there’s usually very little difference in price between buying your stone online or via the showroom”
This creates another problem if you buy your stone online. We all know deliveries don’t always go to plan. If you’ve arranged a fitter for the day you’ve been assured your worktops will arrive, only to find they’ve been delayed, you’ll usually have to pay the fitter for up to a days’ work. This usually wipes out any savings made, and may mean buying online actually ends up more expensive. If, on the other hand, you use an independent showroom, any delay will be their problem & not yours — it won’t cost you a penny extra.
Problems with the Stone
Even in the best-run operations, the granite or quartz can arrive with damage such as chips, scratches or even gouges. If a showroom finds the stone it’s supplier has delivered has flaws, they’ll usually replace it without fuss. Besides, even if it does delay the completion of the kitchen, again that will be their problem & not yours.
With an online supplier it might not be quite as quick to get the problem resolved. In fact, as you’ve decided to use several suppliers for your kitchen, you may find the stone supplier blames one of the other parties. This leaves you in the middle having to work out which company is to blame. This could go on for weeks & leave you with a half-finished kitchen & a lot of stress before it gets sorted.
Do You Get What You Asked For?
Granite is a natural product & can vary considerably in colour, markings & grain from one slab to another. If you buy your granite via a local showroom, you’ll usually be able to visit the showroom’s granite supplier & choose the exact slab/s for your kitchen. The benefit of this is two-fold. Firstly you’ll get to choose the slab/s with the markings, shade & colour you like the most. Secondly & perhaps more importantly, there’s virtually no chance of the runs of granite in your kitchen not matching as they’ve been cut from the same slabs.
If however, you order your granite online, you usually can’t do this. The risk here is that the runs of granite delivered may not match as they’ve been cut from different slabs. Unfortunately, there’s very little you can do about this.
Why buying cheap can sometimes cost you more
Recently one of our clients discovered that buying on the cheap can often cost you more money & stress. After extensive searching, they found an online supplier that was £20 less than the showroom. Initial impressions of the company were very good, the stone was delivered on time & was fitted with a minimum of fuss & disruption to the client.
A day or so after the granite had been fitted, our client noticed several faults in the granite. Although the client had a genuine case, the granite company claimed that the marks were not faults but natural markings & they were not prepared to do anything. After a month or so of arguing with the granite company, as a gesture of goodwill, they finally agreed to come back & replace all the stone. However they would only replace it on the grounds that they cannot be held liable for any damage to the units when they remove the stone.
The problem is, when granite & quartz is fitted, it’s bonded to the kitchen units with a special adhesive. therefore, If you have to remove granite, it’s most likely that the top of the kitchen units will be torn off ruining the units. Needless to say, the client didn’t accept the granite company’s offer & the argument is still ongoing.
A Better Deal
Most independent showrooms work with the quartz & granite companies that offer the best priced stone, without compromising on service. So, by buying your granite or quartz from the showroom, you may end up paying £100 more for your stone, however, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that your kitchen installation will run as smoothly as possible with minimum disruption.
Our FREE service finds you the best value kitchen suppliers in your area.
We’ll recommend local showrooms whose kitchens cost similar to the chains & trade only suppliers, but are higher quality & will last much longer.
All showrooms offer free, no-obligation quotes & are within 30 minutes drive.
But don’t just take our word for it, check out what our clients say below:
“Kitchenfindr recommended a showroom who were much better value than most of the other showrooms I’d previously looked at”
Hannah Malone, Esher, Surrey
“If you’re looking for a good value kitchen supplier, these are the people to speak to first!”
Natalie D R, Stanmore, Middx
“What a fantastic service! You have been of immeasurable help in sorting the wheat from the chaff!”
David Griffiths, Poole, Dorset