Marble, granite and quartz questions

We don't publish prices, every worktop is priced on a free quote. The marble, the number of cut-outs and the length of polished edge make the most difference.

We quote for free once we've measured. It depends on the granite, the thickness, the cut-outs and how easy it is to get into the kitchen.

The same, on a free quote. Brand and colour change the figure, as do the cut-outs.

They're the same. Worktop is British, countertop American. In French it's plan de travail.

If the house is more than two years old and we supply and fit the stone, VAT is normally 10%. A slab bought without fitting is at 20%.

Yes. We can price from a sketch with sizes, photos and the stone you want. Someone has to let us in to measure and to fit.

Yes. If your French is limited, write rather than phone, both sides can use a translator.

Granite doesn't mind heat or knives. Quartz is even in colour but marks above about 180 °C. Marble looks lovely with age but lemon and wine leave marks.

Only if you're happy with marks, because guests spill wine. Go for a honed finish and reseal every 12 to 24 months.

Quartz contains resin and Dekton has none, so it copes better with heat and sun, but the edges are harder to shape.

We wouldn't, some pale quartz yellows in the sun. Granite or Dekton are safer.

Those are the two usual thicknesses in France. 20 mm is fine on continuous units. 30 mm is better for overhangs and big cut-outs, but it's heavier and uses more stone.

About 54 kg per m² in 20 mm and 80 kg per m² in 30 mm. A 3 m run in 30 mm is over 150 kg.

Yes, if the units are level, packed and fixed together. Under a big cut-out we sometimes add a support rail.

Undermount sits under the stone and is easier to wipe, but the polished cut-out costs more. Inset rests on top, cheaper, but the rim collects dirt.

Both come from around Carrara in Tuscany. Carrara is grey-white with fine veins. Calacatta is whiter with bold veins, and dearer.

Polished shines and shows acid marks. Honed is matt and hides them. Leathered has a texture, hides fingerprints and needs sealing more often.

More than granite. Marble is about 3 on the Mohs scale, granite 6 to 7. Use a chopping board.

Grease comes out with a poultice left 24 to 48 hours. A dull ring from lemon or wine is etching, not a stain, and needs honing and repolishing on the spot.

Yes. We hone it wet with finer and finer abrasives, then polish or crystallise it.

A treatment put on with a floor machine and steel wool. It reacts with the calcium in the marble, hardens the surface and brings the shine back.

A chipped edge can be filled with tinted resin and repolished. A crack can be glued, but you'll usually still see the line against the light.

Polished and wet, yes. A honed finish or grooves near the nosing help a lot.

Not in the Aube, it freezes too often. Water in the stone freezes and can crack it. Granite is a safer bet.

Travertine stays cool underfoot but it's porous and needs filling or sealing. Flamed granite is harder and stands up to frost better.

Yes. Use the quote form, call +33 7 45 20 76 39, or come to the workshop in La Chapelle-Saint-Luc.