Is there a cheaper alternative to granite for a kitchen worksurface? I want a natural material e.g. tiles?

Question

I'm renovating a farmhouse, and have just bought new kitchen cabinets. I'm now amazed how expensive work surfaces are going to be... granite at £3500, manmade material (e.g. corian) at £1500. I don't want to use a cheap looking chip board material, and wondered if there was a cheaper natural alternative material out there. In France, I have seen kitchens use ceramic tiles which I like the sound of (& would only cost c. £600 to supply & fit). However, some people say the gouting is not hygenic and the tile are vulnerable to chipping. Can anyone provide some advice?

Thanks for all the replies. Concrete sounds like an excellant solution. It is however pricey - c.£500 per linear metre. Does anyone know a more cost effective way to install? The propery is in the South-West (near Bristol). Cheers.

Answer 1

I have got solid beech and they were not that expensive, about £600 for approx 12 square metres

Answer 2

Granite is considered a high end material and for the high end look to really come out, it must be done in a slab. It just looks more up to date and finished. And because of the fact that granite has to be sealed, I think it is more economical and sensical to invest in a slab. The tiles would be too much to deal with and with your kitchen being a remodel, I think it would take away from the new aspects of the kitchen. If you dont want to invest that much money, but want the same look, I would recommend engineered quartz countertops. The most common names this is sold under are Silestone and Cesarstone. Think about your home from the point of resale, your home has to be in a very specific market to get a return on granite countertops (in a totally high end kitchen). I would personally recommend Silestone because it has Microban built into the countertop. Also, Silestone doesnt have to be sealed and the seams in quartz are definitely less noticeable. But the main reason why I recommend it is because I think it has the best value for the money spent. And FYI, there is a difference between "certified interior redesigners" and actual interior designers. Interior Designers must have a Bachelors Degree and pass a national examination in order to practice. Also, when dealing with kitchens you want to work with someone who is a member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association. You will know this because the appellations AKBD, CKD, CBD, or CMKBD will follow their name. Only a handful of designers in the country have attained CMKBD status. It takes years and years of kitchen and bath design experience. "Certified Interior Decorators/Redesigners" do not have the education and therefore the credentials to come into your home and "redesign" your kitchen. They simply take easy courses and pay to be certified.

Answer 3

Thers no way I would have a tiled worktop, the gaps harbour dirt, food particles and germs and will be impossible to keep clean. Corian is a good surface and cheaper than granite, if that's still too much and you don't want a laminate surface then the next choice would be solid wood, beech block or similar.

ADDED** £500.00 per meter for concrete!! No way.

Answer 4

My parents recently had tiles put down on the work surfaces in their kitchen, in their view it is the biggest mistake they have made in nthe kitchen. Food gets caught in the grouting and any stong food colours (blackberries etc) stain the grouting meaning you have to continually bleach the surface. They have also found that with heavy objects the edge of the tiles can be prone to small chips.
Granite is expensive but there is no substitute as it looks incredible! - Good Luck

Answer 5

Concrete is a good cheap material that can be used. It sounds wierd and a horrible material to use in a kitchen but it can look very nice. There are now stains and sealers for concrete that makes a nice protected surface with warm colors. Also you can get concrete stamped to have patterns or anything into it (if you want something unique) or you can keep it smooth. But look into it... it can be a very cheap alternative.

Answer 6

What about concrete? I know getting it made could be comparatively pricey, but asthe material itself is fairly cheap, perhaps it would be a good bet.

Also, what about solid wood? It'll look good in a farmhouse and is a practical and attractive material for a worktop.

Personally, I'd go for a single piece of material rather than tiles ... bu that's just me.

Answer 7

I've seen some kitchens with concrete surfaces. I believe that the concrete is poured into a mold, then, after it cures, it is sanded, sealed, polished and sealed again with an acrylic plastic. I think I remember someone on TV saying it cost them about $1200 (£630?) to do it.

Answer 8

personally I believe if you are renovating a farmhouse you should not worry about the cost of the fixtures and fittings, if you really want to make it look the part. This of course is a problem if you are on budget. What sort of money you looking to spend

Answer 9

Ceramic tiles harbour dirt in the grout and aren't very hygienic. Have you considered slate? It's not an expensive material and can be plished and sealed. It looks beautiful (I have lined my en-suite shower with it) and it's a lovely, natural material.

Answer 10

Use Marine board as a base with waterproof adhesive and grout to fix and good quality tiles and edging to finish.