Stone worktops in Keynsham

Worktops in Keynsham

Keynsham sits on the A4 between Bath and Bristol, where the River Chew meets the Avon. We fit quartz, granite, porcelain and marble worktops here, for replacement projects on existing kitchens and for new kitchens alike.

Newer homes and builder-fitted kitchens

Keynsham grew quickly in the second half of the 2010s, with hundreds of new homes. The best known is Somerdale, on the site of the former Fry’s and later Cadbury chocolate factory, which closed in 2011. Taylor Wimpey bought the site in 2012 with plans for around 700 homes, and house sales began in 2014. Part of the old factory became The Chocolate Quarter retirement village.

If you live in a newer home, the worktops were chosen by the builder. Replacing them with stone while keeping the units is often the simplest way to upgrade the kitchen:

• We check that the cabinets are level, secure and strong enough for stone.
• Stone is usually thinner than the laminate it replaces, so we look at the tiles and upstands.
• The hob and sink are refitted to new cut-outs, or replaced if you want an undermounted sink.
• If your home is under a new-home warranty, check the terms before altering the kitchen.

The older town

Keynsham’s history goes back much further than its new estates. The Church of St John the Baptist, begun in 1292, is listed Grade II*, and the Bridges Almshouses date from around 1685. Bath & North East Somerset Council has published an appraisal of the Keynsham Conservation Area. If your home is listed, check with the council before any works that alter historic fabric. A worktop replacement on a modern kitchen is not normally the concern.

Care with hard water

Like Bath, much of the area has hard water, which leaves limescale around taps and sinks. Quartz, granite and porcelain cope well with a simple wipe-down routine. Marble is more sensitive to the acidic cleaners people often use on limescale, so read our marble page before choosing it.