Kitchens Fitted Blog - T Foley Interiors

Searching for Kitchen Worktops

I’ve just come off a very interesting conversation with a Google adwords consultant and I was interested in hearing her expert opinion on how internet buyers choose what websites to visit after entering a search term such as"Corian worktops" into a search engine.

At this point it would be good to explain a few things before I continue with my thoughts

Organic search results are the natural listings that you will see when making a

Worktops - Why to buy from TFI

Why would you consider purchasing your Kitchen Worktops from TFI ?

Well I can think of every reason but I would wouldn't I? How can our services and products be distinguished from other companies wishing to win your business?

The answer to that is evident when you browse our website and you will immediately see that we don’t offer every worktop available to the buyer. The reason being is that we research to discover the true quality of a product before we offer it to our visitors.

That business ethos has served us very well because it’s my belief that

Kitchen Websites - Established in ?????

It’s not lost on me that many more consumers than ever undertake research when considering purchasing over the internet and the most frequent question I get asked is “How long have you been trading in kitchens?”

I can answer that we have been trading for over 30 years and that this history helps our case when a customer is deciding who they should order with but more recently there is an even greater concern about history on the internet and the fact that a website can be set up overnight by anybody wishing to trade and especially in our kitchen

Kitchen Units Protection - Unitsaver

I’ve just come off a call with yet another member of the kitchen buying public wanting to know where he can purchase our Unitsaver.

As with all enquiries for the Unitsaver I have to tell customers that it is not yet available to the buying public.

This particular customer is going into the store he purchased the kitchen from and is taking a print off image to show the manager what a great invention it is and said he will encourage the store to speak with me regarding offering the product.

I won’t hold my breath though – why?

Kitchen and worktop providers on the Internet

Before I begin this latest blog, I must remind readers that as a company we specialise in offering affordable bespoke Quartz and Corian worktops to UK kitchen buyers, so worktops are our business and I'm passionate about conveying my own experiences and expertise to help buyers when choosing a worktop. I have no double agenda and view competitors who offer a good service and trade ethically as being healthy. Indeed I am aware of some very good fabricators in our business but it wouldn't make good business sense for me to let our visitors know

Zodiaq Worktops

Given that I’m a huge admirer of Corian and the way DuPont regulate those who install and fabricate the material, I found it an easy choice to include Zodiaq worktops to sit alongside our other offerings on Kitchensfitted.co.uk

An engineered quartz stone manufactured on a Breton Machine, Zodiaq is non-porous, durable, resistant to stains and an easy to maintain worktop that has a wide choice of colours from which to choose.

DuPont, the manufacturers, subject the stone to similar regulations that govern the installation of Corian giving consumers greater peace of mind that your worktop project is produced and

Caesarstone Worktops

Caesarstone worktops are, like Silestone, Compac and Zodiaq, a quartz engineered stone manufactured on a Breton machine, yet what many buyers may not be aware of is that Caesarstone were the pioneers of the process that others followed. Founded in 1987 in Caesarea, hence the name, Caesarstone remain innovators in their field and with one of the longest guarantees of all the quartz surfaces we offer at 15 years, Caesarstone is a favourite with homeowners and commercial specifiers.

Caesarstone worktops are composed mostly of quartz, giving it exceptional toughness and a hardness of 7 on a scale of 10 (only

KitchensFitted Directory

Well, it's with great regret that I have to announce the removal of what I thought would become a ground breaking kitchen directory for consumers seeking suppliers who put faith in their products and services by providing a customer mission statement alongside their service or product offering.

What better way, I thought, to attract customers than to assure them of a providers committed and public belief in their services and products. We even offered to promote successful applicant members for free and offer them an option to leave the directory after the three month free period was up if they did

Worktops suitable for Outdoors

I was contacted by a journalist this week who wanted my take on an upcoming feature in a popular Kitchen Magazine.

The subject, Silestone worktops that have been utilised in an outside area and were installed two years ago. The client remains happy with the surfaces enough to allow them to be featured in the magazine yet perhaps what they are unaware of is that they are not covered by the Silestone warranty.

The colour pigments in Silestone, like all other quartz surfaces can be affected by Ultra Violet rays from direct sunlight.

So where does this leave the

Corian. Silestone and Quartz worktops - some clarity

I’ve had some interesting discussions this week with a number of people still confused about various issues related to bespoke worktops and I thought this might be a good opportunity to clarify a few things.

Silestone worktops are they different to other quartz worktops?

Silestone worktops are not uniquely classed material as some seem to believe. they are a quartz surface, like others such as Compac, Zodiaq and Caesarstone, and like them Silestone is manufactured on a Breton Machine. It is however the only quartz surface that incorporates an anti-bacterial compound, Microban, within

Silestone worktops vs Corian Worktops vs Prestige Quartz worktops

Here at Kitchensfitted you may have noticed we choose only to sell specific ranges of bespoke kitchen worktops and although each have their particular attractions, I’d like to take you through the reasons why we offer only Quartz Worktops and Corian Worktops, the differences between a Corian Worktop and a Quartz Worktop and hope this will assist you when choosing the correct surface for your own work top projects.

The World of Worktops is a place confusion exists and it’s our aim, not just to make solid worktops such as Silestone, Corian, Zodiaq Quartz and Prestige

New Kitchen Directory at KitchensFitted

Well, after over 10 years on the internet and almost 30 years serving the kitchen industry we've decided to put our expertise into the launch of a Kitchen Directory with a difference. Like many of you I've visited internet directories and what really rankles with me is that the ones I've witnessed are conceived or created by internet experts or web developers. What's more, the theme appears the same - get a basic listing for free whilst all the large companies take up the space at the top of the listings. What real

Buying Corian or Quartz worktops safely

I've had some interesting conversations this week. The first with a client who had purchased his Corian worktops via a retailer, not an internet retailer but a bricks and mortar showroom. A problem was discovered by the client two years after purchasing the tops and as Corian arrives with a 10 year manufacturers warranty, he attempted to contact the seller to request a call out to determine whether the problem was covered under the warranty. Disappointingly for the client, the retailer had since gone into administration and in his desperation he contacted me to obtain my advice. Unfortunately there was

A Genuine Worktops Offer

Well it is indeed coincidental that my last blog put "Special Offers" and RRP's (Recommended Retail Prices under the microscope because this Blog is one to inform all our visitors of a real offer right here at Kitchensfitted.

From January 14th 2010 up to February 11th 2010, we are offering a free, yes, you read it right, a free - you don't pay a penny for it I promise you, yes, a without charge undermount stainless steel sink. for every Prestige Quartz order in excess of £1500 ex vat.

No 50% off RRP or we pay your VAT gimmick but a free stainless

Corian and Quartz Worktops 50% off RRP - Gimmick

I'm keep coming across the term 50 or 60 or 40% off the RRP (Recommended Retail Price) for Corian or Silsetone or Compac and if anyone out there has a definitive list of what the recommended retail prices are I'd be grateful if you'd send it across to me. Truth is in reality there is no such thing other than a fabricated, unseen cost that;s designed to think you are getting a bargain with an everlasting promotional offer.

The only true way to guage if you are getting a good deal for Corian or Siestone worktops is to compare the prices

Worktop Prices and how they are calculated

I've recently been taking a number of calls from customers contacting us on the false assumption that, the cheaper the linear or square metre cost of a worktop from a fabricator, the more affordable will be the cost of the total project. - Not so.

The reason behind this is easier to understand when you consider the variation in cost of the following:

Templating

Fabrication

Installation

Templating, offered by most companies in the bespoke worktop sector, is the

Corian Worktop Offers - Genuine or just a Hook

Coming up to Christmas there's a rush of offers available from worktop providers and most of these can clearly be seen in the three sponsored links at the top of your google search page and those running down the right side but how can you tell if they are genuine and what should you look for before purchasing from them?

Well, first of all, there's nothing amiss in using the sponsored links to obtain more business although most people I know bypass them for the natural listings of a search page. Either way you can get stung without digging a little deeper and asking the questions

Corian and Quartz Worktops - Why to choose TFI

I often get asked why we only sell Corian and Quartz worktops at TFI. It's an easy one for me to answer - because our phone never rings with issues that are more associated with other inferior surfaces that are prevalent on a host of other internet worktop websites. Before we offer any surface we undertake long research into it's make up, the price and the manufacturers faith in the product - let's face it, if you offer a 5yr manufacturing defect guarantee on a bespoke surface, why wouldn't you opt for a laminate offering the same.
People also

Worktops - Compare the market

Price comparison websites are now being scrutinised for how they operate and Direct Line's advertising campaign, to take just one recent example, promotes their disassociation as a positive stance, intimating that they do not wish to be be part of the perception that the buyer is on to a winner.

How most of the Price Comparison websites work is through fee paying subscribers who wish to be included in the results pages yet this leaves many more, and in many cases many more affordable suppliers who do not wish to subscribe unlisted. Ironically the customer is then prevented

Corian Worktop - Essential advice before buying

Corian Worktops are the most popular choice of Solid Surfaces available and for good reason. DuPont, the manufacturers insist that any company fabricating or installing the surfaces must be on an approved list to do so. This offers the buyer greater peace of mind that your surfaces are manufactured and installed correctly and they convey the faith that a manufacturer puts into the products they sell.

Given the popularity of Corian, it's no surprise that some jump on the bandwagon of it's success by attempting to sell inferior surfaces using the Corian name, for instance, there is no such product as "Corian effect worktops" - a recent trend utilised by

Hi-Gloss Solid Acrylic Kitchen and Bathroom Doors

Not wishing this to sound like a typical advertisement and always mindful of avoiding the marketing hype associated with most new products whether good or bad, I considered a lot before offering our new Acrylic doors to visitors. First of all, is the range attractive? Can they be offered at prices better than similar products out there? Are they durable? Are they innovative? Can they be made to measure to fit all designs?

They ticked all the boxes and after much research in the market for a high quality door that would withstand the everyday chores and conditions that kitchens and bathrooms are

Compac Quartz Worktops

Just to alert all our visitors to the new range of Quartz worktops we now offer giving you a greater range of colours to choose from. Of all the quartz ranges we offer, I have to say that the Compac range of worktop colours is very impressive and a little different from most others. A number of the colours on offer, such as Apple, Lime and Orange, are contemporary, vibrant and a with very subtle mirror flecks unlike the very evident fragments of other ranges although these too form a part of the collection with the firm favourite "Sparkly Black" offered and titled "Azabache"..

In addition

Worktops - Don't believe all you read

Corian’s beauty and elegance outshines all other surfaces and its unique lustre will ensure it remains the No.1 choice for designers and buyers worldwide.
To the touch its stone like quality can be compared only to the finest jewels and its performance merits a trust and respect matched by its environmental beauty.
Just a wipe of a cloth will maintain Corians perfection and ensure its wonderfulness for all time.
If you managed to get to this point of my blog without dozing off you deserve a badge for the courage of your eyes.
No doubt many of you have read

Quartz Worktops - Solid Surface Worktops - The Differences Explained

The distinct differences between Quartz and Solid Surfaces are:

Quartz Surfaces have a sheen finish unless honed and Solid Surfaces are a matt finish.

Quartz surfaces have a greater heat resistance than Solid Surfaces but trivets or protection boards should be used on all surfaces and hot items should never be placed directly on any surface - Don't listen to a salesperson who tells you otherwise.

Quality Solid Surfaces can only truly be defined as those of greater thickness such as Corian, HiMacs

Buying a Worktop - who, how and what to choose

I have become more aware of late that people who call us to ask about worktops really have little idea of the differences and about who they should purchase them from.

In an effort to explain how we work, what our agenda is and what people should be sceptical of when considering purchasing a worktop, I've written this latest blog to assist you.

Firstly,established in 1999, we are primarily a resource website for kitchen buyers and we are here to assist on all things kitchen related so everyone is more than welcome to join our forum and pose a question, kitchen related

Quartz worktops in a Narrowboat

We’re fortunate enough to overlook the Bridgewater Canal here at our offices in Manchester and one of the aspects that make the scenery all the more worthwhile is the flow of narrow boats that meander through the locks down to Castlefield.

To city folk like myself, these boats are a delightful addition to the city landscape and I was cheered to see that TV’s Coronation Street have included one in their storyline. Having declared myself a big fan (although just to look at, having never been on one in my life!) you can imagine our pleasure when one of these Great

Corian Worktops, Hi-Macs, - are Solid Surfaces a good choice for my worktop

When it comes to making your choice for a surface in the kitchen Solid Surface worktops may be something you are considering.

What makes them the right choice for your kitchen worktop?

Well in presenting the facts I hope I can make it easier for you to make the correct decision.

There are a number of similar surfaces that in truth are little different in their make up and properties to Corian but as the pioneer of Solid Surfaces, Corian is the standard bearer and that does count for a

The Origin of Designer Lingo

For those who don't know me from Adam, I'm Tim Foley, owner of the website http://www.kitchensfitted.co.uk/ and aside from our very popular forum that assists those buying and fitting kitchens and our website articles detailing how to fit a kitchen, we provide and install bespoke quality Corian and Quartz surfaces nationwide. My background is entirely in kitchens from spending almost 30 years as an installer to working as a contractor leading teams of installers around the country, to that of Project Consultant to a number of TV Shows such as Better Homes, 60 Minute

Solid Plate Electric Hobs - My Mission

I'm starting my own personal campaign to rid the world of solid plate electric hobs.In an attempt to save my growing waistline from danger of further expansion, I've recently decided to let myself loose in the kitchen of my apartment and put a block on my substantial contribution to the success of Akbars, my local Indian restaurant. This has allowed me more time to familiarise myself with my appliances that had, until recently been purely decorative. The kitchen here is being updated shortly so I'd inherited an electric hob with which to apply

A Safer Way To Choose An Installer

As some of you may already know, I’ve been pretty vocal over the years on a particular subject – the regulation of kitchen installers.
In April 2002 I wrote the following to the KSA (Kitchen Specialists Association), now known as the KBSA, (Kitchen Bedroom and Bathroom Specialists Association)
“Surely there is a case for industry standards amongst installers and a vetting procedure along with proper training will not only benefit potential kitchen buyers but more importantly your members.
Currently there is an abundance of under qualified fitters calling themselves kitchen installers for the purpose of obtaining work from retailers

Savings in the Downturn

The downturn in the economy has led to consumers looking for better value and they are now doing much more research before spending.

For many retailers and service providers this is bad news. House builders in particular are suffering and this is certainly borne out by the reduction of quote requests from that sector via our own website over the past two months.

The encouraging thing for our own business and others that trade on offering high-end products at low-margin affordable prices, is that more and more consumers are now using the internet to source their goods.

We formed partnerships with several manufacturers,