Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Sep 04, 2012 2:50 pm We have had a few quotes for new kitchen and are looking at benchtop options. The base level is Laminex benchtop which will cost approx $850. The High level is manufactured stone or granite which is costing approx $4500 - $5000. Today we were offered thin manufactured stone benchtops that are adhered to Water resistant MDF (I think). This is coming in closer to $2000 - $2500. The edges are mitred and were nearly invisible. I had concerns that they might be more prone to chipping and asked the cabinet manufacturers about it. They said "all I can say is no-one has called up to have them repaired". Knocking on them they felt and sounded as solid as manufactured stone, but I am worried about the edges. Examples I have found online are ROXX and NaturaStone. There is acompany in Adelaide who have been advertising on tele called Granite Transformations and they appear to specialise in 'tizzying up' old benchtops. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Re: Thoughts on 'thin' stone benchtops 2Sep 04, 2012 2:58 pm I used Granite Transformations on a previous kitchen reno. They basically fix thin re-constituted granite sheets to your existing benchtops, so they end up looking like thick granite tops. I never had any issues and it had the desired effect for much reduced cost. An additional benefit with an existing kitchen is that your wall tiles are not ruined, so no need to re-tile or re-fit splashbacks. I also got them to fit new doors, so basically the kitchen looked brand new, when in fact the carcasses were all the old stuff. Re: Thoughts on 'thin' stone benchtops 4Sep 04, 2012 9:11 pm Thanks mark, we will take you experiences into account. Yes Offshore, thin is in at the moment, but the stone is only about 6mm thick so needs to be mounted on Marine grade MDF and the sides are then covered in stone as well with a very neat join that is close to invisible, though gives the impression of a benchtop that is about 30-40mm thick, so not the 20mm that manufactured stone is coming in. Re: Thoughts on 'thin' stone benchtops 5Sep 04, 2012 10:50 pm Are you having a lot of stone? All our stone work (kitchen, laundry and en suite) came to under $6000, which included cutting and installation (we used the stone as the splash back as well), and consumed 3 sheets of 30mm CS. Re: Thoughts on 'thin' stone benchtops 7Sep 05, 2012 10:05 pm It's not so much how many linear metres as much as what shape and how many slabs they need. As an example, if you have 6 linear metre, with a 500mm depth, they can use one slab, whereas if you have 3 linear metre, but 1.2 depth, that is also one whole slab. Rather than asking kitchen places, have you considered asking cabinet makers? In our case, for kitchen, laundry and en suite, the price difference was close to $20K. Re: Thoughts on 'thin' stone benchtops 8Sep 05, 2012 10:25 pm Thanks again PHL - appears you are responding to all my queries - Thank you. We have not had cabinet maker out yet, but will have to, did not think smaller kitchen companies were really that different to cabinet makers, some prices so far seem pretty good. Benchtops are all 600mm deep apart from the breakfast bar being 900mm by approx 1500mm. I will contact a cabinet maker, found one within 5 minutes drive the other day so they might be good start - just a large shed really, but if quality is up to scratch then that is what matters - oh and price. Re: Thoughts on 'thin' stone benchtops 9Sep 06, 2012 7:09 am I am not sure why people dont think about calling cabinet makers. After all that is who kitchen companys employee. A kitchen company is just a large cabinet maker that specializes in kitchens. Generally a smaller cabinet maker will do the job cheaper and with much better quality and without as many problems. Cutting Edge Kitchens and Cabinet Making http://cuttingedgekitchens.net.au http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cutting-Edge-Kitchens/290484196676 Mobile : 0419 430 575 PH: 9452 4772 Fax :9452 4772 cuttingedgekitchens@outlook.com Re: Thoughts on 'thin' stone benchtops 11Sep 06, 2012 8:26 pm Getting a bit off topic, but I think the reason most people go to Kitchen companies is because they specialise in kitchens. By using them you get a designer (that may have good ideas or simply replace what you currently have), they always do kitchens (though some do more) so have a specialist approach, they often can complete the job for you (yes, with extra cost) but handy to have some-one else handle installing stone - and many want the whole job organised from start to finish. For us it has come down to quality vs price, but the other thing is only one designer has really helped us and listened to us, everyone else has just gone with their ideas after finding out what she suggested. No-one else has offered anything different. This makes us inclined to go with this company rather than the others, they have put more work in before any money changes hands. Also, you get to see some of their work in their showroom - a small cabinet maker does not always have a showroom, so this gives confidence. I think the other thing is though that depending on the size of the kitchen companies they are cabinet makers. Anyway, back to the thin benchtops - any more likely to be damaged than say 20mm manufactured stone? Re: Thoughts on 'thin' stone benchtops 12Sep 06, 2012 8:35 pm Not sure about Adelaide but there are companies in Sydney and Melbourne that import 'cheap' solid polished granite slabs 20mm thick. You can find them on ebay. Last time I looked they were under $500 a slab and depending on the size of your kitchen you'd need 2 or 3 (4 if huge). You would also need to pay a stonemason to install - ours charged about $600 a few years back when we got it done. Personally Id think that is a much better option than getting granite 'veneer' on mdf, and probably a little cheaper too based on your quotes above. Tender /1/12 Contract 14/6/12 Planning 12/10/12 Site 23/10/12 Piers 27/11/12 Slab 12/12/12 Frame 15/12/12 Trusses 17/1/13 Roof 24/1/13 Bricks 13/2/13 Plaster 1/3/13 Re: Thoughts on 'thin' stone benchtops 13Sep 06, 2012 9:20 pm Seanr Getting a bit off topic, but I think the reason most people go to Kitchen companies is because they specialise in kitchens. By using them you get a designer (that may have good ideas or simply replace what you currently have), they always do kitchens (though some do more) so have a specialist approach, they often can complete the job for you (yes, with extra cost) but handy to have some-one else handle installing stone - and many want the whole job organised from start to finish. For us it has come down to quality vs price, but the other thing is only one designer has really helped us and listened to us, everyone else has just gone with their ideas after finding out what she suggested. No-one else has offered anything different. This makes us inclined to go with this company rather than the others, they have put more work in before any money changes hands. Also, you get to see some of their work in their showroom - a small cabinet maker does not always have a showroom, so this gives confidence. I think the other thing is though that depending on the size of the kitchen companies they are cabinet makers. Anyway, back to the thin benchtops - any more likely to be damaged than say 20mm manufactured stone? What you need to realise is that alot of the designers are good at deisgning a kitchen the looks good but can be hard and expensive to produce. A kitchen should look good, function well and be cost effective. I believe the smaller companys can do this far better. They not only design the kitchen they also build and install it giving them a far better idea of what works well and what doesnt. I dont run a show room but I am happy to give customers the numbers of existing clients I have done work for. Its far better seeing what a company actually fits in a customers house rather than a show room. I find there can be a big difference between what you see in a show room and what you actually get. Its easy to build it well for a show room, but its what you fit in a customers house that really counts! Cabinet makers also offer a full package. Some dont but most do. Most people dont actually realise this. You wouldnt believe the problems some of my customers have with large kitchen companys! It can take them well over a month to install a kitchen and by that I meen just the cabinets. Large companys dont care about word of mouth work. They have large advertising budgets and dont have to worry as much once the contract is signed. Smaller companys and cabinet makers survive on word of mouth! I fit a full kitchen in a day and leave with the customer very happy knowing that the stone will be measured the very next morning! That very rearly happens with a kitchen company. I have had many customers employe me to fit all there wardrobes, vanities and furniture after employing a large kitchen company for the kitchen. I have usually finished long before the kitchen is even ready. I normaly get to see and hear about the finish kitchen product and its not good. The stories I hear and shocking. Its totally up to you who you use but I just like to dispell some of the miths out there. Cutting Edge Kitchens and Cabinet Making http://cuttingedgekitchens.net.au http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cutting-Edge-Kitchens/290484196676 Mobile : 0419 430 575 PH: 9452 4772 Fax :9452 4772 cuttingedgekitchens@outlook.com Re: Thoughts on 'thin' stone benchtops 14Sep 06, 2012 9:51 pm All good points there CuttingEdge. I'm not sure if things are a bit different in Adelaide. The companies we have been to are probably not what you would call 'big'. Yes, they have a showroom with between 2 and 8 examples of their work (ie small size kitchens). Most have sent out cabinet makers to do the measure and design, and so far the time scales have been between 2-4 weeks to have the kitchen ready from when we pay a deposit. They all guarantee the install will occur in one day. Before we commit though I will be calling a couple of cabinet makers in our area and see what we can arrange. Good on you for dispelling the myths. There is nothing wrong with getting cabinet makers, and I believe in many cases people will get better value for money from large kitchen mobs who need advertising budgets and big glossy showrooms. Thanks also to Ribbon - I will look at the option of imported stone too, though we have gone away from granite - wife wants light coloured benchtops. At the prices you have mentioned it is probably comparable between imported stone and laminated, but I will look into. Cheers. Re: Thoughts on 'thin' stone benchtops 15Sep 06, 2012 9:54 pm Ribbon Not sure about Adelaide but there are companies in Sydney and Melbourne that import 'cheap' solid polished granite slabs 20mm thick. You can find them on ebay. Last time I looked they were under $500 a slab and depending on the size of your kitchen you'd need 2 or 3 (4 if huge). You would also need to pay a stonemason to install - ours charged about $600 a few years back when we got it done. Personally Id think that is a much better option than getting granite 'veneer' on mdf, and probably a little cheaper too based on your quotes above. Keep in mind that the "cutting" can get more expensive than the slab itself Definitely a cheaper option for some. Re: Thoughts on 'thin' stone benchtops 16Sep 06, 2012 10:16 pm Ours was architect designed, with input from us WRT work zones (which has worked out well) and look (architects are not the most practical of people in that regards), and finessed by the cabinet maker (what will work, what will not work, what will be marginal and is a compromise, how about trying it this way etc). Were struck with: Colorbond Ironstone Grey roof and cream windows. What color should we render and paint the garage door to tone down the cream windows? Farm House, will… 0 27014 Dear Members I have to decide the Facade column size. 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