Wood Grain Design Ltd

Granite is beautiful - but variable in quality. Pale granites will stain unless you seal them and regularly re-seal them. The best way to choose granite is to go to the supplier and choose a slab, especially if it's a very variable, veined colour.

Quartz composites - Silestone, Caesarstone, Compaq, Pianoforte, Zodiaq, Luxore, Artestone, Arenastone, Apollo Quartz ... and others. They're more practical than granite - because they're not porous - but some people think they're less beautiful. You treat them like granite and they're mostly a similar price to granite - depending on the colour.

Solid Surface worktops such as Corian, LG Hi-Macs and Avonite are acrylic resins - they're the ones with seamless joins and integral sinks. They can be made into lots of shapes - so you can have raised edges to stop liquids running off the surface and up-stands at the back. The surface layer is around 12mm thick - very hygienic - but susceptible to scratches and heat (they recommend that you don't pour even boiling water into the sinks). They are repairable though and scratches can be sanded out. They tend to be more expensive than granite - especially if you have any extras like the waterfall edges and up-stands.

Polyester resins are a cheaper versions of "Solid Surface" tops: Maia and Getacore and also Artis Smartstone and Minerelle and others ... but they only have a 2 to 3mm surface layer. That means that they don't need templating and the fitting is cheaper. Some people love them - some people think they're too likely to crack.

Granite Transformations is a cross between a quartz composite and a "Solid Surface". It has a 7mm surface layer with seamless joins but is very scratch resistant and temperature resistant to 150 degrees C. They market it for renovating old laminate worktops - by fitting it over the top - but it can just as easily be made into new tops. It will be more expensive than something like Maia - but cheaper than granite. Its main disadvantage is that you can't form tight rounded corners with it; only very shallow radius curves, or bevels. This type of worktop is not that common.

Wood worktops are cheaper than the Maia type worktops, some more expensive (like maple, walnut, wenge and teak). The disadvantage of wood is that you have to look after it and keep it oiled. If you're prepared to do that - it can be beautiful.

Here at Wood Grain Design Ltd we are able to offer any type of worktop, we have spent time sourcing the best suppliers in terms of cost and quality to ensure our clients get the best each and every time.

London based home improvement specialist Wood Grain Design is celebrating winning a ‘Best of Houzz 2016’ service award. This young but very talented design company specialising in home redesign services including kitchens and bathrooms was chosen by the more than 35 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, renovating and design industry professionals.
Wood Grain Design is now proudly sporting the Best of 2016 badge on its Houzz profile, which helps users of the platform identify top rated home design professionals. The service award is one of the most revered, as it is awarded on several factors including the quantity and quality of client reviews on the site.

The Best of Houzz honours are awarded internationally once a year in three different categories: customer service, design and photography.

“Anyone building, renovating or decorating looks to Houzz for the most talented and service-oriented professionals,” said Andrew Small, Managing Director of Houzz UK. “We’re so pleased to recognise Wood Grain Design Ltd, voted one of our “Best Of Houzz” professionals by our enormous community of homeowners and design enthusiasts actively renovating and decorating their homes.”

As home improvement experts, the team at Wood Grain Design specialise in kitchen and bathroom design and build and home renovations including loft conversions, garage conversions and extensions. The company has acquired a reputation for excellent craftsmanship, professionalism and exceptional customer service, which has been further cemented with this accolade from one of the world’s leading home refurbishment platforms.

Jeff Fenton, Commercial Director of Wood Grain Design Ltd said, “We are thrilled to receive the Best of Houzz 2016 service award. It’s fantastic to be recognised for all our hard work and dedication to the industry, and being given this honour tells us that our customers are happy. We are a small team of individuals with exceptional abilities, and coming together has enabled us to achieve excellence. What a great start to the year, we can’t wait to make more homeowner’s dreams come true in 2016.”

With many homeowners turning to the internet while planning a home renovation and before choosing a contractor, it’s essential for home improvement companies to be active in online communities such as Houzz. With an honourable badge on its profile, Wood Grain Design is expecting an increased demand in business over the coming months as homeowners seek out the most reliable companies.


Follow Wood Grain Design Ltd on Houzz http://www.houzz.co.uk/pro/woodgraindesignlondon/__public

About Wood Grain Design Ltd
Wood Grain Design Ltd, an Interior Design Company and home improvement specialist. If you are planning your home improvement project, we are here to make it happen.
We specialise in complete property refurbishments, from plumbing, electrics, carpentry, painting decorating to bathroom and kitchen installation. With a wealth of experience and a high regard for complete satisfaction, we endeavour to give you, the client, the professional advice required on all projects, large or small, bringing design to reality.
Wood Grain Design's culture is about working together in the best interests of our clients. Approachable, professional and enthusiastic, we are proud of the high standards that we set ourselves. We want clients to see us as a trusted adviser and it is this personal relationship that is our hallmark. For more information go to: http://www.woodgraindesign.co.uk/

About Houzz
Houzz is the leading platform for home renovation and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a small room to building a custom home and everything in between, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community empowered by technology, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow and Tokyo. Houzz and the Houzz logo are registered trademarks of Houzz Inc. worldwide. For more information, visit houzz.co.uk.

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WOOD GRAIN DESIGN LTD CELEBRATES LIVING WAGE COMMITMENT

The Living Wage Foundation is pleased to announce that Wood Grain Design Ltd, has today accredited as a Living Wage employer.

The Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Wood Grain Design Ltd, regardless of whether they are permanent employees or third-party contractors; receive a minimum hourly wage of £8.25 - significantly higher than the national minimum wage of £6.70 and the new minimum wage premium for over 25s of £7.20 per hour set to be introduced this April.


The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living using the ‘Minimum Income Standard’ for the UK. Decisions about what to include in this standard are set by the public; it is a social consensus about what people need to make ends meet.

Commercial Director, Jeff Fenton, commented, “This is a proud moment for us, our policy has always been to pay our staff above the living wage. Our commitment to our staff is paramount, as a team we are dedicated to deliver on our service promise each and every time.”

Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage enjoys cross party support, with public backing from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Living Wage Foundation Director, Katherine Chapman said: “We are delighted to welcome Wood Grain Design Ltd to the Living Wage movement as an accredited employer.

“The best employers are voluntarily signing up to pay the Living Wage now. The Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day’s work with a fair day’s pay.
“We have accredited over 2,500 leading employers, including Wood Grain Design Ltd, ranging from independent printers, bookshops and breweries, to well-known companies such as Nationwide, Aviva and SSE. These businesses recognise that clinging to the national minimum wage is not good for business. Customers expect better than that."

ENDS

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