Reasonable place to buy granite for countertops (houses, buying)

[koolstar16]

We want to replace our laminate countertops to Granite. Can any one please recommend where can we buy reasonable priced granite for countertops (preferably they doing installation also). Any more info on the price which we should keep in mind shall be helpful too.

[dedratermi]

Have you tried Lowes or Home Depot? They both sell granite countertops, installed. Price is all over the place. The basic builders-grade black granite with no special edging is around $40/sqft. Nicer colors are more, and custom edging is more. You could probably spend $80/sqft, maybe more. Price almost always includes installation, because it's not something you can fabricate and install yourself.

Also look at quartz, it's every bit as durable as granite, doesn't need to be sealed, and the seams aren't nearly as obvious as granite.

[Janecj]

I find that Home Depot and Lowes are more expensive (they use contractors) plus they have minimums. I have used Brazeal http://www.brazeal.net/ which do excellent work and also AB Stone http://www.abstoneboutique.com/. I found them to be professional, on time, and reasonable. Plus they have different stones other than the "popular" ones sold at home depot and Lowes.

[ljd1010]

Originally Posted by dedratermi

Have you tried Lowes or Home Depot? They both sell granite countertops, installed. Price is all over the place. The basic builders-grade black granite with no special edging is around $40/sqft. Nicer colors are more, and custom edging is more. You could probably spend $80/sqft, maybe more. Price almost always includes installation, because it's not something you can fabricate and install yourself.

Also look at quartz, it's every bit as durable as granite, doesn't need to be sealed, and the seams aren't nearly as obvious as granite.

Lowe's and Home Depot are definitely more expensive. A year before we moved here, we put granite countertops in our kitchen - quoted close to $80/sf installed at both places. We ended up going to a granite place....cost us $52/sf installed. We were also able to choose our own slab.

Our home here has Cambria Quartz countertops which I love. No upkeep/sealing.

[CHTransplant]

Originally Posted by dedratermi

Also look at quartz, it's every bit as durable as granite, [and] doesn't need to be sealed.

Originally Posted by ljd1010

Our home here has Cambria Quartz countertops which I love. No upkeep/sealing.

Note that not all granite needs to be sealed regularly. Generally, it needs to be sealed if the stone is porous, which can be tested by setting a wet sponge on it for a few minutes, wiping, and seeing if a dark/damp area remains where the sponge was.

[VickiR]

Lowes and Home Depot END up being more expensive because the price you see LISTED at the stores are not the price you pay. They charge extra for the edges (based on your choice) and the cut out for the sink and other small items. If you are going to price out granite countertops, get the "end price" to compare.

ALL granite is porus. That is what granite is...porus rock. You may see that the lighter color granite shows stains more than the darker granite but you should seal it. You can buy sealer at most hardware stores and do it yourself. It is like a wax that you just put on and take off.

A few years ago, I had someone convince me that I'd be happy with FAUX GRANITE. I hated it. I spent $1600 and threw it out about a year later. I now have granite. I love my kitchen. It is something that I see every day and worth every penny to ME!

I have seen houses with Silestone countertops and I would be equally happy with them but I don't know if they are that much less expensive than granite.

Vicki

[CHTransplant]

Originally Posted by VickiR

ALL granite is porus. That is what granite is...porus rock.

In absolute terms, yes, all granite has some porosity. But porosity varies, and granite is generally less porous than other igneous or metamorphic rocks, and there is great variation among different types of granite.

In addition, some producers of granite use a resin sealer or an impregnator after polishing to seal microscopic imperfections and strengthen the stone, which has the effect of reducing or eliminating most residual porosity.

Know what you're buying, and whether it has any chemical treatment already applied to it.

[sea2sea]

Check Craigslist under the "skilled trade services" section. I have seen prices starting at $30 sqft installed and some fabricators will throw in a stainless undermount sink.

I do not have experience with any of the advertisers so please do your due diligence.

[freshjiv]

Quartz cannot come close to the beauty that is Granite. Quartz looks very uniform and not exquisite at all, whereas each granite slab is different from one to the next. Quartz is too cookie cutter and boring.

[T|K]

I had Jason @ The Polished Edge do mine a few months back and it turned out great. Couldn't have asked for better service.