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Re: Extension plans

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:23 pm
by sally maclennane
Gaah, the builder has been in touch to say that he has just got the plans from Howdens and he doesn't fit quartz worktops :cry: He said Howdens should have told me that it's a specialist thing, and offered to phone them. They claim that they did tell us, J maintains they didn't, I have a vague memory of it being mentioned but I think they should have been clearer about it needing a specialist fitter. So my options are to go with the quartz and pay out over 1k to get it fitted (yes, really!) or change the worktops to a cheaper material. However, the cheaper ones are laminate or solid wood and of course they don't look anywhere as good as the quartz. Even corian would need a specialist company.

I also have to hope that the specialist company can fit in with my builder's schedule. I knew this was all going too smoothly :cry:

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:36 pm
by ParisGal
Oh no :(

Would you consider going with faux-quartz and getting it replaced in a couple of years, if it means getting a cheaper kitchen on time now?

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:39 pm
by smalex
Would granite be cheaper? We had granite in a fairly big kitchen supplied and fitted for about £1800

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:44 pm
by Pippedydeadeye
We had a Corona specialist come to fit our worktop. I remember him being quite a hottie.

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:51 pm
by sally maclennane
I don't know if it would be cheaper Smal, I would need to look into it.

I think I am just going to suck it up, my last kitchen (in the flat I had before here) had laminate worktops and it was my only regret about the kitchen, I always felt they looked cheap. So for that reason, I wouldn't go with the faux-qaurtz. The rest of the kitchen is good quality and the quartz goes with it all. It's just gutting because it's 1k that I hadn't budgeted for ( I do have the money, it just means there's less left over)

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:51 pm
by Ella77
Corian?

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:51 pm
by Pippedydeadeye
:lol: Corian!

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:57 pm
by Duophonic
That's so disappointing but I'd suck it up too and pay the extra to have exactly what you want.

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2020 8:00 pm
by emma_p
If you can suck up the cost I think it would be worth it. I really really love the quartz worktops in our new house - they really are as good as new (and the people who fitted them were seemingly not very careful or into cleaning :emme: ). I HATED the wooden ones S chose in his old kitchen - they looked good but they were so high maintenance esp around the sink. One of the renters used the worktop as a chopping board which took ages to re-surface.

Hopefully you can find someone who can fit in with the schedule so your amazing kitchen won't take any longer! :fc:

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2020 8:14 pm
by smalex
I agree, definitely think if you can find the money its worth doing right, as annoying as it is.
We re did our bathroom when i was pregnant and we were really trying to save money, so i only had three walls replastered, and i kid you not, kicked myself for not having the fourth done almost every day until we finally had it all redone in January :mog:

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 10:39 am
by sally maclennane
emma_p wrote: Tue Sep 15, 2020 8:00 pm If you can suck up the cost I think it would be worth it. I really really love the quartz worktops in our new house - they really are as good as new (and the people who fitted them were seemingly not very careful or into cleaning :emme: ).
Thats good to hear, the material looks lovely and I am resigned to paying for it. I just wish Howdens had been clearer about it upfront but as my builder said, they just want the sale :verm:

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2020 5:03 pm
by Kenickie
That's really frustrating, Sal. I'd complain about them not making it clearer.

I think you're wise to pay the extra for what you really want. It'll last for years and you don't want to be filled with annoyance every time you look at it.

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:47 am
by Estrella
I was going to suggest Caesarstone which is what we had fitted (I also had laminate bench tops in my old house and always regretted them!) but turns out Caesarstone is a brand name of quartz. Every day is a school day!

If you can stretch to it, I’d say get what you really want. Otherwise you run the risk of regretting it.

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 9:18 am
by sally maclennane
Yes, that's my thinking. I don't want to walk in every day and hate the worktops.

They are coming to dig out the foundations tomorrow :bob:

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 9:46 am
by Ella77
Exciting!

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:19 am
by Chicky
When we did the kitchen extension in our previous place we had the choice between a couple of different granite worktops, we were so stretched for cash but went with the thicker more expensive worktops in the end and didn't regret our decision at all, we still talk now about how pleased we were we went for the ones we wanted (and it was 10 years ago :)) ) so I also say go for what you want.

Foundations! how exciting! have you done lots of before pictures?

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 10:33 am
by emma_p
Exciting Sal! Have you got a temporary kitchen set up sorted? I highly recommend M&S mash if you’re limited to a microwave :))

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 11:24 am
by F'Artiste
How exciting!

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 11:26 am
by Duophonic
That's a good point Emma.

I didn't have a microwave when we did our old kichen but bought a one ring induction plate and ruled the old one pot cooking.

Re: Extension plans

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:35 pm
by sally maclennane
The builder came round to check about the groundwork and said that they will need to demolish the old porch in order to dig out the foundations. So that means it will be knocked down tomorrow and we had to very hastily empty it out - it has the bin, the recycling and the fridge freezer in it as well as mop & bucket and millions of bags for life! So now the fridge freezer is in the dining room :lol:

We won't be without a kitchen for a few weeks yet as they will build the shell of the extension first, but there is still so much to choose :cry: We are away on holiday next week, and work has gone mental!