quartz worktops help please.

[clarelouise]

Hi there,
my husband and I are seriously thinking of getting either granite or quartz worktops.
First question.
We have read on the internet that quartz stands up to more than granite.ie scratches,heat etc. Which would you choose?
second question.
We have 9 year old 18mm carcases they aren't wood,they are the standard type chipboard that we got from B&Q.Will they be substantial enough to hold the weight?
We are replacing all kitchen doors so not wanting to put in new carcases as it's a big job.
Third question.
Half of our kitchen has a concrete floor and half is floorboards.Would the part where it is floorboards be okay for the weight of the worktops on the units.Would the floor be strong enough?
How do I know also if it is a good company I am buying from?
I have had a quote from a company for granite black galaxy and there is about 11 metres in worktop (1 metre of this 90cm deep for breakfast bar .We need one sink cutout and 1 tap cutout and squared polished edges.
They have quoted �1550 including delivery and fitting.They cut out on site and polish.
This seems very cheap and I am a little concerned it's too good to be true.What do you think?
Please can anyone who has knowledge in this area help us make a decision.
We don't want to spend a lot of money and it be a big mistake.
Many thanks for any help.
Clare

[buildersmate]

1) Choose the colour that you like. Both materials should not be treated as either a chopping board or a place for hot pans. Both are more resistant than laminate but it is folly to belive that just because they are mineral materials, the shiny surface will not mark if mistreated.
2) Both carcases and floorboards will be strong enough (if the floorboards are sound)
3) �1550 does indeed sound cheap. First check out the quality of the actual pieces they will use. You will appreciate that granite is a natural material and the appearance of the patterning in the material varies. The best quality material gets sold to the highest bidder. However a very large cost element is the labour of getting the pieces exactly right. Conventionally this has been done in the past by sending a man out to make a template of the pieces required, then the pieces are prepared in the works, and the fitting team return to site. If one of those trips can be saved, saving at least 0.5 days in labour. If technology has enhanced so this specialist equipment all fits in a large van, it is going to help.
As always the best advice is to ask for previous customer references, and go and see the products in situ. There are huge margins in this line of business but large fixed costs to be covered. They must be very productive to be able to do it at such a price.