Replacement worktops in Barnet

Stone weighs a good deal more than laminate or timber, which means the cabinets underneath need to be level, firmly fixed to the wall and to each other, and in decent condition. Most fitted kitchens of the last few decades are fine. Water damage under the sink, sagging end panels or units that have moved are the usual problems, and they are best sorted before templating.

Tell us roughly how old the kitchen is and send a few photos. If anything needs attention, we say so up front rather than on fitting day.

Laminate tops are usually close to 40 mm deep; stone is mostly 20 or 30 mm. The difference shows where the worktop meets the wall tiles: a strip of bare wall or old adhesive can appear. A stone upstand covers it neatly, or you can retile above the new worktop.

The sink and hob will be refitted to new openings. This is a good moment to switch to an undermounted sink, which sits beneath the stone so crumbs wipe straight in. The sink and tap need disconnecting and reconnecting, and a gas hob must be reconnected by a Gas Safe registered engineer. We agree beforehand who does each part.

A typical replacement runs like this: we template once the old tops are off, or sometimes with them still in place, depending on the kitchen; we cut the stone from that template; then the new worktops go in and the sink and hob are reconnected. Between templating and fitting you may have a temporary arrangement or a period without a usable worktop. We tell you what to expect for your job so you can plan around it.

If old worktops are coming out, we agree who removes and disposes of them.

Plenty of Barnet kitchens are in flats, including converted houses and the former office blocks on Station Road in New Barnet that are now apartments. Stone has to be carried in, so tell us the floor, whether there is a lift and its size, and anything awkward on the way, such as a tight turn on the stairs. Long pieces sometimes need a join to get them in safely.

If you own a leasehold flat, check whether your lease requires the freeholder's consent for works, and whether the building has rules on deliveries or working hours.

Most replacement jobs use quartz or granite. Porcelain works well too, and its slim edge gives an older kitchen a lighter, more modern look. Whatever you choose, think about Barnet's very hard water: surfaces that don't etch are easiest to keep clear of limescale.

Photos of the kitchen and the current worktops, rough lengths of each run, what you are keeping (sink, tap, hob) and which floor the kitchen is on. Use the quote form.