Looking to update your kitchen? Knowing the rough cost can help when designing your space. It’s important to know where to spend and where to save when creating your dream kitchen! There are multiple factors which can affect the cost of renovating your kitchen, it is always worth finding out as much information as possible to ensure your space suits both your budget and your vision.
The Material Tiers
Entry Level Quartz
BQS White Mirror, BQS Beige Mirror and CQ Ice Storm Quartz.
Entry level Quartz worktops offer a great balance of style and affordability making them a popular choice when upgrading your kitchen on a budget. Its a practical way of achieving a high-quality look at a more affordable price point without compromising on quality and durability. Many entry level Quartz materials are plain or have a sparkle, speckle or simple Marble like design.
Mid Price Quartz
The majority of Quartz fits into a mid-price category depending on the brand. With mid-price Quartz you have a variety of colours and patterns to choose from whether you’re looking for small subtle veining or bold, stand out patterns. Popular suppliers include BQS which offers low-mid priced Quartz ranges, Unistone and Classic Quartz. Caesarstone is seen as a premium brand which typically has a premium cost however they do offer an Essentials Range which provides mid-priced Quartz options.
BQS Canaletto (Mid Price Quartz), BQS Carrara Minari (Low to Mid Price Quartz), and BQS Rapture (Mid Price Quartz).
Nilestone Azul Shimmer, Caesarstone Calacatta Stillstorm (Essentials Range), both mid-priced Quartz.
Trade Range
Our Select Trade Range offers exclusive discounts for our trade customers. The Trade Range includes 10 Quartz surfaces which have discounted material costs, manufacture, template and installation enabling us to provide the best possible price for our trade customers to pass onto their clients. These materials are available in 20mm material and range from low to mid priced Quartz. Be sure to check out this range if you’re not coming directly to us and going through a kitchen company, kitchen fitter or builder instead!
CQ Ice Storm, CQ Samana, Unistone Sinai Pearl Honed, BQS Blanco Mist, BQS Carrara Extra, BQS Carrara Minari, BQS Opus White, BQS Rapture, CQ Mystery Gold and CQ Calacatta Luna.
High End Quartz
High end Quartz materials include brands such as Caesarstone and Nilestone. They provide plenty of elaborate designs and colours and feature a slightly more expensive Quartz Range. Silestone and Dekton are also considered to be luxury stone surfaces, with Dekton also being a suitable material for outdoor use.
What is the difference in cost between various stone materials?
Different Quartz manufacturers provide different ranges with varying prices. We have over 350+ Quartz samples in our Showroom and each one is a different price! Granite can also vary massively in regards to material cost, this depends on both the size of the slab and the design/ pattern. The lower end of Granite is typically a mid-priced Quartz slab cost.
Marble and Sintered Stone tend to be at the higher point of the price scale, depending on the pattern and stone thickness. Cosentino supply Dekton and Silestone which is seen as a luxury surface, with premium costs. They do have a yearly promotion on 6-8 materials which can help keep the cost down if you choose this material.
Quartz, Granite and Sintered Stone are all perfect for durable kitchen worktops. Granite requires some maintenance with annual re-sealing to ensure no liquids soak through the surface. While Quartz and Sintered Stone are both non-porous with scratch, heat resistant and stain resistant qualities. Sintered Stone such as Dekton can also be used for outdoor kitchens, while Marble is best suited to bathrooms.
Read more about the differences between these stone worktops on one of our latest blog posts!
How to make the most of your kitchen worktop material?
Depending on the size of your kitchen and what features you would like to include depends on how much material is required to complete the job.
For example an average sized kitchen may require two slabs to complete the job. If you then add waterfall ends to the island this may lead to needing an additional slab which can become expensive. However if they come out of the material then this will only be a small extra cost for cutting and polishing.
If you have a small amount of material left why not consider a bespoke chopping board or Lazy Susan to accessorize your kitchen!
Cutting Fabrication Costs
When it comes to quoting worktops, fabricators have to consider how much work is involved in terms of cutting and polishing costs which they include in the quotation. There are many factors to consider when designing your kitchen.
Sink Design
An undermount sink cut out will be more expensive to manufacture than an overmounted sink. This is due to the edges requiring polishing and a usually a set of drainage grooves are chosen to complete this section. This is typically the most popular choice for kitchens. An overmounted sink doesn’t require a polished cut out and the drainage grooves are already in the design!
A Belfast sink cut out sits between the two, with slightly less polishing required than an undermount sink.
Polished sink cut out with drainage grooves | Overmount sink with drainage grooves | Belfast Sink and Recessed Drainer.
Upstands VS Full Height Splashbacks
It is common to include a mix of 100mm upstands and full height splashbacks in your kitchen design. Adding a wall to wall splashback can sometimes be more cost effective as long as it doesn’t require an additional slab. This is due to the lack of polishing required, reducing the manufacture costs.
Upstands require polishing along the top edge, including an edge detail throughout to remove the sharp edges. This can sometimes be more costly than splashbacks due to the amount of polishing required, but requires significantly less material. The most cost effective option depends on your kitchen design, room plan, size and chosen material.
Sometimes it’s worth spending that little bit extra to get the kitchen you’ve always visioned! Stone worktops will last for years to come so it’s definately worth the investment and getting it right.
Worktop with full height splashback | Worktop with 100mm Upstands.
Standard Drainage Flutes VS Recessed Drainage Flutes
A standard set of drainage flutes requires less work and time than a recessed drainer. The difference between the two is that a standard set of flutes sits on the surface where as a recessed drainer is a flat shallow basin milled directly into the worktop. The recessed drainer requires more specialist skills and the cost reflects this, but it is typically more effective when washing up.
Recessed Drainer Grooves | Standard set of polished drainer grooves.
Does thickness and edge profile matter?
There are a wide range of options when it comes to edge thickness and profile. The majority of stone suppliers will supply 20mm and 30mm stone, with 30mm stone costing around 10% more than 20mm. Some suppliers offer 12mm options which are better priced than 20mm and 30mm stone. This option is generally only available from more expensive suppliers like Cosentino- Silestone and Dekton.
Low Silica and Silica Free Quartz can be more expensive than traditional Quartz depending on the supplier. Many suppliers are transitioning to low silica or silica free Quartz for their main range but some suppliers offer this as a premium, seperate range. Read more about the silica content in Quartz in one of our blog posts.
Edge details such as chamfer and pencil round are standard at Eaton Stonemasons and don’t cost extra. More elaborate edge details such as sharks nose, half bullnose, full bullnose and OGEE are an additional cost due to the time required to create these edges.
Many homeowners decide to have a standard edge detail on their main worktops and a special edge detail such as OGEE on their Island. It creates a beautiful stand out centre piece.
Island with OGEE edge detail | Worktop with Chamfered Edge detail | Below is a range of edge details available.
The ‘invisible costs’ of stone worktops.
Stone, unlike other materials, cannot be cut easily on site. It requires specialised off-site fabrication in a Workshop and professional installation. There is a cost for both visits, one for templating where we come to measure your kitchen using our Lazer Templater and a second a week later to install your new worktops.
These are often seen as the ‘invisible costs’ as templating is more ‘behind the scenes’ work but is actually the most important section of the process. Template day is where all the finer details and measurements are confirmed enabling us to manufacture to the exact specification.
We then manufacture your new worktops and a week later we arrive to install your new surfaces.
How does the cost of stone worktops compare to the other materials?
Stone worktops are a premium option, costing significantly more than laminate and wood in the short run. In the long run, stone will outlast these materials and typically only get changed when the kitchen gets updated. Laminate requires replacing every 10 years, or if it gets damaged by water, delamination, scratches or burns. Wood will last longer than laminate as long as it is looked after. Wood requires regular oiling to ensure it doesn’t start to rot over time.
Corian and Stainless Steel are a similar cost to stone surfaces and other popular choices for your kitchen. There is a value trade off between stone and other worktops, as although stone is more expensive it will last a lifetime and adds noticeable resale value to your home. Most people looking to purchase a property are aiming to have stone worktops in the kitchen, it increases the property value and people are generally happy to pay a bit more to have this feature.
Where to spend and where to save on your new kitchen?
Kitchen Units- Spend then Save!
Quality kitchen units are a MUST! Cabinets are the foundation of your kitchen and have to be functional since they are used everyday. Well made cabinets can last decades, making them an area to prioritise. HOWEVER, consider units that can be painted in case you want to update them in the future to keep up to date with design trends.
Worktops- Spend!
Your worktop is one of the most used surfaces in your home. Stone surfaces offer a high resistance to scratches and stains, as well as excellent durability. They are also timeless! Although they cost more upfront, they often outperform cheaper alternatives over time.
Appliances- Spend!
You don’t need every appliance to be top of the range but consider spending a bit more on the ones you use most often. A reliable oven, hob, fridge freezer and dishwasher makes a huge difference and adds ease to daily life. They also often provide better energy efficiency, warranties and are quieter when used.
Lighting- Save!
There are plenty of brands available providing decorative lighting which doesn’t cost the Earth! Make sure you look around to find your perfect spotlights or feature pieces!
Flooring- Spend!
Your flooring is one of the most important elements. It’s a massive part of your interior usually spanning throughout the hallway and kitchen. It is a real working element that is in constant use. Make sure you choose a flooring which will stand up to daily family life for years to come.
Gadgets and Technology- Save!
Sometimes gadgets may seem useful but can actually clutter the worksurfaces. It may seem a good idea at the start but sometimes can cost more than what it’s worth, especially when incorporating them in your worktops!
Hot Tap- Save!
Make sure to look around for your hot tap! Different brands offer very similar products using the same technology just without the price premium.
Tiles- Save!
Using tiles as splashbacks can add another element to your kitchen. They can sit at either end of the price spectrum. Consider well priced ceramic or porcelain tiles for an easy clean splashback or use the material from your kitchen worktops, especially if there is part of the slab leftover.
Professional Installation- Spend!
Even the highest quality kitchen wont perform well if it’s poorly fitted. Skilled installation ensures all elements work correctly, are level and that they all fit perfectly.
How much budget should I set aside for a kitchen renovation?
A UK kitchen renovations typically costs between £10,000 and £30,000 with more bespoke and bigger kitchens costing around £50,000. The cost depends on whether you are simply changing the cabinets, units and worktops or whether you require new flooring, tiling, appliances, plumbing and electrics or structural changes.
Find out more about the affordability of stone worktops for your home by visiting our Showroom in Wareham, Dorset or by giving us a call on 01929 550653.
