Quotes and prices
What should I send to get a quote?
A quick plan of the room with approximate run lengths, the postcode, the floor level, the stone or designs on your shortlist, and what is happening with the sink and hob. Photos help a lot, and the quote form has a place for everything.
Why is there no price list on the website?
Slab count, cut-outs, edges, upstands and access all move the total, so a fixed list would mislead most people. Our pricing guide explains each factor.
Can the price go up after templating?
Not if the kitchen and specification match what we priced. Changes made on the day, like another cut-out or a bigger island, are priced and agreed with you before the stone is touched.
Is templating included?
Yes. Templating, cutting and fitting are part of a supply-and-fit quote. Check any quote you compare includes them too.
Templating and fitting
When should I book templating?
Once the base cabinets are installed and level and you have settled on the sink, tap and hob. On a replacement job, we decide together whether to measure with the old tops still on or after they are removed.
What happens at the templating visit?
We measure every run, corner and opening, and confirm the joins, overhangs, edge profile and sink and hob positions with you. What is agreed then is what gets cut.
How long will the kitchen be out of use?
That varies. On a replacement, the old tops usually come off a little before the new stone arrives. You will have the dates for your job in advance.
Who reconnects the sink, tap and hob?
A plumber reconnects the sink and tap. Gas hobs are a job for a Gas Safe registered engineer only, and any wiring for a qualified electrician. The quote states who organises each.
Will you take the old worktops away?
Yes, if you want us to, or we can leave them for you. Either way it is shown on the quote.
Materials
What is the difference between quartz and quartzite?
One is made, the other quarried. Quartz is ground quartz bound with resin: no sealing, but no hot pans either. Quartzite is solid rock: harder and fine with heat, though it is normally sealed.
Which worktop is easiest to look after?
Quartz and porcelain: no sealing, and a wipe with warm soapy water keeps them clean. Quartz just needs a trivet for hot pans.
Is marble a bad idea in a kitchen?
Not if you know what to expect. Acids etch it and it marks more easily than other stones, so it gains a lived-in look. Honed marble hides this best. See marble worktops.
Are quartz worktops safe?
Yes, in your home. The risk from silica is dust breathed in while stone is cut. A fitted worktop does not release it. The 2026 workshop rules are covered in our low-silica guide.
Design details
Are joins unavoidable?
Usually one or two in a kitchen with a corner or a very long run. Each slab is a fixed size, and every piece has to fit through your doors. Joins are bonded with colour-matched resin, and their positions are agreed with you at templating.
Will an undermount sink work?
Yes, and it suits stone well. Choose a sink made for undermounting; the edge of the opening is polished smooth.
Can you cut drainer grooves?
Yes, in most stones. They are machined at the workshop, so settle on them before we measure.
How deep can a breakfast bar overhang be?
That varies with the stone and its thickness. Short overhangs often need no help; longer ones get concealed steel or legs. We work it out for the stone you pick.
Which thickness should I choose?
Pick 20 mm for a slim, modern edge that is lighter to handle, or 30 mm for a chunkier look that suits an island. Porcelain is often 12 mm with a mitred edge. See edges and thickness.
Care
How should I tackle limescale?
Dry round the tap after use and it rarely builds up. On quartz and porcelain use the descaler the manufacturer recommends. Never use acidic descalers on marble, and ask before using one on sealed granite or quartzite.
Which worktops need sealing?
The natural stones, granite, marble and quartzite, generally need it, and how often depends on the stone. Quartz and porcelain never do. A few drops of water show when it is time to reseal.
Can a chip be repaired?
Minor edge chips are normally repaired with a colour-matched filler and polished back until you would struggle to find them. Bigger breaks can mean a new section of worktop.
Cambridge homes
Is permission needed for new worktops in a conservation area?
Rarely. Cambridge City Council looks after 18 conservation areas, and the rules there are mostly about the outside of buildings. Listed buildings are another matter, as consent can cover interiors, so ask the council first.
Where does the van go?
We need to unload close to your door. If your street is in a residents' parking zone, a tradesperson permit from Cambridgeshire County Council may be needed. Tell us about your street when you enquire.
Can stone go up to a first-floor flat?
Yes. Let us know which floor, the lift dimensions if there is one, and any narrow landings or tight turns. A very long piece may need an extra join to get it up. If you own a leasehold flat, read your lease: some require the freeholder's permission for building work.
Do you cover places outside Cambridge?
Yes, including Ely, St Ives, Newmarket, Saffron Walden, Royston, Cambourne and the villages between. See areas we cover.