Cheshire Granite Worktpops LtdReviews 

CGW had agreed to take on order of marble worktop. The whole process has been filled with shortcomings resulting in failed install and being out of pocket by £1800.
Every step of the process has been poor, from templating site visit and lack of customer service from the team, to communications during the fabrication of the worktop when agreed finishes had been changed last minute due to being unable to fabricate as agreed, all the way up to failed install due to one worktop breaking in transit and other being poorly fabricated. Full of scuffs, pits and holes, sink cut outs for undermount sink are all skewed, you would have thought the worktop has been prepared by someone who has never done it before. CGW refused to remedy as per sale contract agreement and refused to refund the deposit of £1800, CGW were happy to state ' do not bother taking it to legal as you would never win'. It is just not something you would expect from a 'reputable' company. Currently in process of getting our money back through other available means. Read the rest of the reviews and take your business elsewhere!

Having been introduced to this company by our kitchen fitter, we clearly outlined where we were located and that the work would be in two stages. We then placed our faith and trust in their service. It turned out that we were mislead into believing that they could supply and fit the worktops we chose - it turned out not to be the case - they simply sub-contracted the work to outside agencies. The work of templating and installing was granted to another company some 100miles even further from our home with the excuse that the distance was too far from their office in Knutsford and in any event, Donna said she didn't want the job in the first place.....What? The work thus carried out was sub-standard. I was then taken into hospital for a heart condition and remained there for many weeks. During my stay, the first phase of the work took place to a less than satisfactory standard including a flood to the utility room containing the worktop.
Following my discharge from care, I was then faced with demands for more payments prompting my request for clarification as to what we were due to receive only to be met by intimidation, aggression and threats of 'consequences' if we didn't pay up. We were asked to pay for the rest of the material for the second phase although it was clear the calculations by CGW were in error and the allocated material was insufficient to fulfil the contract. Another £1000 was then demanded to complete the work. The outcome was a case brought to court which we are now progressing so are totally disinfranchised by the actions of this company. We broadly agree with the previous complaints about this company and would add a warning that if asked to pay up front, ensure your money is safe by using a credit card - I suspect this outfit won't be around much longer to fulfil any future obligations.

This company resprayed our kitchen doors about 18 months ago and due to faulty paint treatment one of our larder doors became badly chipped. It’s under a 5 year guarantee and in early August Tim Parrington of Cheshire Granite/ Aidlies/Elldans kitchens came and took the door away for a “couple of weeks “ before returning. As of today there’s no sign of it. I’ve had a single larder door for 6 weeks and no sign of it returning. I’ve sent numerous emails and had one response saying how busy he is. BUT WORSE IS THAT HE MOSTLY NEVER RESPONDS TO MESSAGES AND ITS SO DISAPPOINTING. He has no respect or consideration for good customers. BE WARNED! I have given him time & warnings about posting on Trustpilot and he just ignores everything. I just wish I hadn’t trusted him. Tim if you’re reading this I gave you notice that I would post if you didn’t respond!! And although you didn’t want me to you’ve forced my hand . JUST RESPOND AND DELIVER MY DOOR!!!

I ordered 30mm tops with 20mm upstands and splash back. When they came to fit I was told to keep out of the way and let them do their job. When I did get to see the finished job, they had used 30mm upstands and splashback and for some reason they had used about a 130mm upstand under the sill. Consequently the 30mm sill sat on a level with my glass window with the window frame completely covered. I pointed out this did not look right and was told I would get used to it. No idea why they did that. It caused a stepping effect rather than a smoothe transition from upstand to sill. Had there been a proplem with the height of my existing sill then this should have been pointed out at the templating stage. The sill along with the rest of my kitchen had been replastered in preparation. My inititial reaction was to have it all taken out but I was told it would be at least three weeks before they could get round to it. As I had already been without water in the kithen for three weeks I compromised and said I would keep the upstands and splashback if they redid the sill. This was eventually done but instead of reducing the upstand under the sill to 100mm to match the others, it stands about 5mm taller. In addition, they have measured the sill short so that both ends have had to be siliconed. Looks a mess. The other, and probably more worrying problem, is that due to the thickness of the splash back, I am left with not enough depth for my extractor fan to fit. All in all a very unprofessional and sloppy job. This, matched with lack of attention to detail and supplying the wrong size in the first place, has made me wish I hadn't chosen quartz or at least used a more professional company. For someone with 25 years masonary experience it is very worrying.

My experience has echoes of the other review here. Darren does not take care. Donna will not take responsibility for her mistakes.
Darren was in a bad mood for the template visit - perhaps because of being an hour late, given the wrong design by Donna or perhaps he just did not like me.
Donna had agreed by email that they could cut some extra pieces for a fire hearth which they changed their mind about after templating. My mistake was to have the audacity to tell her I was disappointed. So they refused to do the work. This after taking more than a thousand pound deposit and wasting a morning of my time with their template visit.
I have been in the property industry for 15 years and am used to managing contractors taking umbrage and storming off a job because they don't like what someone said. And I am used to coaxing them back with a quick apology and care to address their grievance.
They said they were worried about payment so I offered to pay in full upfront. They said they were worried I would not be satisfied so I said that I had watched Darren work and was confident in his stone skill (true).
But they refused to finish the job. The personal cost to me was my family kept out of their kitchen for 2 extra weeks plus hundreds of pounds extra for having to get another contractor at short notice.
How can they do this to anyone? I can't believe the way they treated me.
Very very unprofessional. If they were genuinely worried about my expectations they should have said clearly what I can expect. But to dump me like that in the middle of a kitchen project!!?
So don't think paying a deposit means anything to these people. They will finish the job if they feel like it...

1. Problems with fitting of splashback around cooker, adamant have to pay £100 call out, poor advice, no refund
I told Darren on 30 may 2017 that as the hole in the floor tiles will be probably small then I will live with it. This is essential to allow the wheels to roll forward to get the oven out. Darren did offer to take off the splashback to cut higher over the cooker so no hole. However it was too late as inevitable that wall covering will be shattered. Donna had earlier refused to accept such liability so I have 2 holes in floor unless can find another solution.
All this could have been avoided if Darren had come out to check whether the cooker could be removed before tiles on the walls. If Donna had said that if no fault found you would have been charged I could have accepted that. Donna wanted £100 to come out and was adamant pay or no visit
a. Cooker engineer found that the right hand side was so tight that it badly scratched the cooker when he pulled it out. It also took up the floor tiles which Darren saw.
b. If Donna had not advised on 30mm thickness instead of our preferred 20mm which was included in invoice price then:
i. the down lights in our cooker hood would not be so shielded. It spoilt the effect and my wife was very disappointed.
ii. The hole in the floor tiles may have been avoided.
iii. We would have probably paid for chamfer if splashback had been 20mm (although there was the 3 upstand 20cm pieces that we did not take but included in the price).
iv. If the chamfer had not been made splashback would have looked overbearing and totally blocked cooker hood down lights. When we asked for chamfer on recommendation of distributor, Donna said he should not have advised us to have this, then said can’t do it, then she wanted £100 despite all work paid for but not being done. Then Darren said no charge and he can do it.
2. Sink problems
I pointed out that 2 leaks- sink overflow poor fit which need replacing plus fitting needs tightening. After numerous emails to clarify position Donna replied I am totally incredulous that you are asking us to take responsibility and fix work never installed by us in the first place!!! Unbelievable.
Darren came to our house and confirmed that what I stated was correct. There must have been a misunderstanding between Donna and plumber. Neither Darren apologised at the time nor Donna following Darren’s visit to our home.
There were many emails to get the job done and I even had to deal with the sink supplier as Donna ordered wrong part and asked me to deal with them.

3. Other Issues

a. It took me 5 months of chasing and overcoming various problems but now resolved.
b. Sink fitted poorly. This issue not resolved as no reply.

4. Worktop

a. seal underneath worktop around sink not done. Darren came out next day to fix.
b. fitting very good with one joint excellent/invisible and another can feel difference in levels but not visible.
c. The kickboard on 30 November 2017 stuck presumably owing to weight of worktop. Had to break it so can repair dish washer which installed just prior to work top (came out easily then). Will have to get new kick board fitted. Also the invisible joint can now feel it.

5. Conclusion

I would not go through that experience again.

DD 1.12.17