Prices and quotes
What should I send you for a price?
A sketch of the kitchen with rough lengths for each run, your postcode, the material or designs you like, the sink and hob you plan to use, plus any upstands or splashback. Photos help. The quote form asks for all of it.
Why don't you list a price per square metre?
Because it rarely matches the final bill. The number of slabs the layout needs, the cut-outs, the edges, any upstands and access all move the price. Our cost guide explains each part.
Does the price change after templating?
Not if the kitchen and the specification are as described when we quoted. If something changes, such as an extra cut-out, a bigger island or a different stone, we tell you the difference before cutting.
Templating and fitting
When can the kitchen be templated?
After the base units are fitted in their final position, level and secure, and the sink, tap and hob have been picked. For a replacement, we agree whether templating happens before or after the old tops come off.
How long is the kitchen out of use?
It depends on the job and the material. For a replacement, there is usually a gap between the old tops coming off and the new ones going in. We give you the timings for your own job so you can plan meals and other trades around it.
Do I need to be at home on fitting day?
Someone needs to let us in, confirm where everything goes and check the work at the end. It helps if the kitchen is cleared and the route from the door is free.
Who reconnects the sink and hob?
We agree it in the quote. Plumbing can be reconnected by a plumber; a gas hob must be reconnected by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and any electrical work done by a qualified electrician.
What happens to the old worktops?
Removal and disposal can be included in the quote. If you would rather deal with them yourself, tell us and we will price without it.
Design details
Will my worktops have joins?
Most kitchens with a corner or a long run have at least one, because slabs have a maximum size and pieces must be carried in. Joins are bonded and filled with a colour-matched resin. We show you where they will fall before cutting.
Can I have a sink that sits under the worktop?
Yes. Undermounted sinks suit stone well, as the cut edge is polished and crumbs wipe straight in. The sink must be made for undermount fitting.
Can you cut grooves for a draining area?
Yes. Grooves can be routed into most stone beside the sink. They are cut in the workshop, so decide on them before templating.
Which thickness should I choose?
20 mm looks slimmer and is lighter to carry in. 30 mm looks more solid and suits big islands. Some designs only come in one thickness. The thickness guide goes into more detail.
How much overhang can a breakfast bar have?
That depends on the material and its thickness. A small overhang often needs nothing extra; deeper seating overhangs need hidden supports or legs. We confirm it for your chosen stone.
Can sockets go in a stone splashback?
Yes. Openings are cut from the template, so get the electrician to fix sockets and switches in their final positions before we template.
Care
What is the best way to handle limescale?
With water as hard as Barnet's, wipe around the tap dry after use to stop scale building up. On quartz, granite and porcelain, use a cleaner the manufacturer approves. Never use acidic descalers or vinegar on marble, as they etch it.
Which worktops need sealing?
Not quartz or porcelain. Granite, marble and quartzite usually do, some more often than others. We tell you what your stone needs at handover.
Can hot pans go straight on the worktop?
Use a trivet. Porcelain and granite cope with heat well, but quartz contains resin that can be damaged by a hot pan, and any stone can be stressed by sudden heat in one spot.
Can a chip be repaired?
Small chips on an edge can usually be filled and polished so they are hard to spot. Larger damage may mean replacing a piece.
Barnet homes
Is a flat or upstairs kitchen a problem?
No. Tell us the floor, whether there is a lift and its size, and anything awkward on the stairs. Long pieces sometimes need a join so they can be carried in. Leaseholders should check whether the lease needs the freeholder's consent for works.
I live in a conservation area. Do I need permission for new worktops?
Usually not. Barnet has 16 conservation areas, and their controls mainly cover outside changes. Replacing worktops inside an unlisted house does not normally need permission. For a listed home, speak to the council first.
Where will you park?
We need to stop close to your door to unload. If your street has controlled parking, check what contractor or visitor parking is available on the day on Barnet Council's parking pages.
Do you cover my postcode?
We cover the whole London Borough of Barnet, from High Barnet and Cockfosters down to Colindale and Cricklewood. See areas we cover, or include your postcode when you enquire and we'll let you know.