Cost of installing granite countertop.

[smokingolf]

I got my hands on some free granite. I have no idea on the cost of installing this. We are remodeling the Kitchen with new floor and cabinets and wondering what a fair price to fabricate and install the counter? And welcome to the first day of spring, the winter couldn't end soon enough.

Thanks

Brian

 

[gpcollen1]

Hmmm ... I couldnt even guess. Everything I have seen is for material and install - never for just cutting and install.

 

[Reggie Dunlap]

The cost of the actual granite is surprisingly low compared to the cost of templating, fabrication, and installation. Call a few local countertop shops and get a quote. Is your granite already milled to a 1" thickness?

 

[smokingolf]

My cost of the granite can't get any lower. A friend who does this type of work gave me a price of $60.00/sq. ft., I was shocked at the cost, like I said I have no clue as to what the cost is. I did a google search and found some info that the cost varies around the country from 50 to 75 per sq. ft. So I guess his price is good. I know him and know he will do a quality job.

This granite was left over from the skin of a hotel in New York and is 1 1/4" thick. About 4 kitchens will be done with this left over granite.


And I think I spoke too soon on welcome to the first day of Spring.

Brian

 

[btuser]

Depending on your kitchen layout and edges you could do it yourself. I've done two myself with just the rough stone. The first one was just 8' x26" pieces with a factory edge so all I had to do was cut a few straight lines and grind one mitered corner. I cut and polished the undermount sink and drilled for the faucet. Lots of dust, but the most stressfull part is lifting the pieces into place. The second one was a rough-edged slab and I cut + polished all 4 edges. Can I tell the difference? Yes, but you have to look. The cost of the stone is about $5-$20 sqft for raw material, and from there you can get to the exotic stuff that is the difference between cord wood and veneer logs: A special stone will get crazy money. A nice stone with a fancy edge and an intricate layout could run you $200/sqft in an upscale house.

Here's a tip: Rub some acetone on the stone and check for any discoloration. This will tell you if the stone has been doctored.