FAQs

A: Trading for six years, The Surface Works are a company based in Motherwell who Design, Template, Fabricate and Install Kitchen worktops in a variety of stones. With a fabrication factory, designers, templaters and installation teams covering the whole of Scotland, we can provide bespoke granite worktop, quartz worktop and marble worktop solutions all over the country. Granite worktops, Quartz worktops, Marble worktops and Slate worktops are only some of the products that we can manufacture. We also template, fabricate and install granite and quartz fire hearths and fire surrounds along with granite, quartz and marble bespoke furniture such as Granite office desks, consol table tops and anything else which you desire. As we fabricate all of our products in our own factory, based in the central belt of Scotland, we can provide our service to the whole of Scotland and Northern England.

A: "Granite worktop components" are granite worktop slabs that are factory pre-cut to industry standard sizes. These standard sizes are available to accommodate countertops, bar tops, islands, backsplash, and more. Pre-cutting the granite at the factory allows us to remove natural imperfections in the pieces prior to shipping. It also ensures that product quality is consistent from one shipment to the next. There is no need to "pick your slab" from a granite yard - we maintain consistent colour and patterning in our products so that all pieces on a project will match.

A: Using granite worktop components, The Surface Works distributors are able to offer first quality granite worktops at reduced prices. By removing blemishes prior to shipping, only useable material is stocked in our inventory. Since components are pre-cut to industry standard sizes, there is less wasted material (that a customer usually gets charged for). By using standard sizes, we minimize the layout and design time required prior to final fabrication. By pre-cutting the sizes at the factory, only minimal time and labour is needed for the distributor to prepare the components for installation. We can measure, fabricate, and install projects in a matter of days where other shops require much longer lead times to accommodate their labour-intensive production process.

A: The Surface Works granite worktop components can be manipulated in many ways to accommodate a multitude of applications - kitchen worktops, vanity units, islands, bar tops, tabletops, backsplash, and more. For most projects, The Surface Works granite worktops is the most cost effective choice for granite worktops; however, some highly ornate designs may not be best-suited for using standard Surface Works components. In these instances we can cut from the "Scant" which is a sheet of granite cut straight from the block which has been blasted from the ground. This enables us to produce granite Work surfaces which are a bit more unique.

A: The Surface Works can source any colour of Granite worktop, quartz worktop and marble worktop. Some of the more unusual colours can take slightly longer to source, but due to the large network of suppliers that we work with, they are not a problem to get.

A: The standard finished edge profile for all The Surface Works components is a "eased" straight edge. The straight edge profile maximizes the bold appearance and quality of the 30mm thick material. Other edge profiles may be available for an extra charge - contact us for availability and pricing.

A: We are an authorized and certified installer of The Surface Works granite worktop components, but we are not licensed electricians or plumbers. Therefore, we can not assume any liability for making electrical or plumbing connections. We can, in most instances however, recommend reputable and licensed individuals or companies to complete these tasks for you.

A: Most granite worktop installations will require at least one or more joints called seams. During layout and design, we will try to minimize the number of seams required. Additionally, the factory-machined The Surface Works edges fit together very tightly to help lessen the appearance of visible seams. Finally, we are factory trained to colour-match the joint filler material to minimize visible seams.

A: We recommend you clean your granite worktops with just water. However, you may, on occasion, use window cleaner that does not contain harsh chemicals, such as acids or ammonia.

A: No. Granite worktops do not harbour bacteria. Just wash the counters as recommended above and you will be safe.

A: Yes, but it's not good for your knives. We recommend using a cutting board for this reason.

A: Only a diamond is harder than granite worktop. However, another piece of granite can scratch a granite countertop. It is rare, but such instances can occur, for example, when a small stone gets stuck to the bottom of a box of groceries that is then set on the counter.

A: Yes. Hot pans will not affect granite. We do not recommend putting red-hot pans on cold granite worktops.

A: Your granite countertops were sealed in our shop prior to installation, but depending on the type of granite you chose, an occasional application may be needed. Darker coloured granite worktops are harder than lighter colours, and as a result, less permeable. Therefore, dark granite countertops may never need resealing. Light coloured countertops may require an annual application depending on how quickly absorbed moisture evaporates out.