FAQs

Granite weighs more that 90 kilograms per square meter. Ensure that cabinets are secured firmly to the wall, are level, have sufficient braces and that the floor can support the weight of granite worktops. Make sure you know the final locations of sinks, hobs, taps and any other fittings.Then, after templating, ensure that cabinets and supports are not moved. Measurements taken at the time are crucial to ensure a good fitting environment. Changes after we have taken our measurements and templates are likely to cause significant difficulties and could be very costly to deal with.

Granite is a very dense and heavy material so it is not practical to provide pieces of granite worktops larger that 3x2 meters. We also might need to add other joints if access is restricted and it is not practical to fit the granite worktop in one piece. This will be made clear when templating, we will work our hardest to get the joints in a position which is acceptable for you. In general, our joints are less than 1 mm wide, and will be filled with either silicone or a masonry resin compound.

Remove any cupboard fronts and any other items which may get damaged. When handling granite, our fitters are extremely careful. However the granite worktops are very heavy and can be difficult to handle in confined spaces in kitchens and bathrooms. Therefore, please remove cupboards fronts and any other items which may get damaged during fitting of the granite worktops. We cannot take responsibility for damage to any such items which are left in place.

On some occasions, especially when granite worktop pieces are particularly large and/or cumbersome (e.g. large islands of granite worktops), it may be necessary to arrange a few extra people to assist in lifting and moving the granite worktops into place. If you provide the extra people, we cannot accept liability for the well-being of those people. If you prefer that we provide additional helpers, a separate charge may be levied by Buckley Fireplaces for providing the necessary manpower. However, your templator will be able to identify such situations at an early stage, and all arrangements will be subject to negotiation.

On some occasions, especially when granite worktop pieces are particularly large and/or cumbersome (e.g. large islands of granite worktops), it may be necessary to arrange a few extra people to assist in lifting and moving the granite worktops into place. If you provide the extra people, we cannot accept liability for the well-being of those people. If you prefer that we provide additional helpers, a separate charge may be levied by Buckley Fireplaces for providing the necessary manpower. However, your templator will be able to identify such situations at an early stage, and all arrangements will be subject to negotiation.

You will need to ensure that suitable space and support is provided for sinks. In most cases a sink will come with fitting instructions that will explain how to adapt the base unit to provide adequate room and support for the sink. Our templator will explain what needs to be done by you before or after our worktop fitters do their work. If our fitters need to do extra work to accommodate sinks etc, they may need to make an additional charge at the time.

We fix sinks and hobs to the granite worktops, but you should ask a suitably qualified plumber and gas fitter to connect the water and gas supplies. We are not able to include this service.

Walls are rarely straight or square, to minimise the gaps between the wall and the granite worktops our fitters may need to chase out plaster etc. Naturally, every care is taken to minimise the impact and damage of such work, but Buckley Fireplaces cannot take responsibility for live plaster falls. You may need to arrange for the walls to be made good after your granite worktops are fitted. We are not able to make such repairs.

Granite is a natural material and on rare occasions can have defects or imperfections due to the natural working characteristics of materials supplied. There are many small chips which arise in the course of manufacture, delivery and instillation. We reserve the right to use chemical removers or fillers, some of which may already be present in the granite worktop, to affect any repairs.

Rinse with clean warm water (if you wish, add a non-abrasive light neutral detergent – PH7) and dry with a sponge or chamois leather or similar. Granite must not be rubbed with abrasive materials (such as metal pads, scouring detergents and wire wool or alkaline and chlorine based cleaners or bleach) instead, wash with clean warm water to which a non–abrasive, light, neutral detergent may be added. Drainer grooves can however be cleaned using wire wool.

Use water based stain remover for the removal of stains of an organic nature; such as wine, coffee, nicotine, and fruit juices, etc. Use alkaline degreaser for removal of dirt of an organic and greasy nature, spots, grease, pollution, smoke stains, lamp black, wax coating, etc.