I'm told we need a new kitchen countertop. :-)

Apart from the Granite vs. eStone question, picking a fabricator/installer
looks like a real minefield. I was leaning towards granite, but there's a
wide range of qualities from the little I've read. I was under the
impression that you could kick the tires on the Granite (pick your lot), but
the one website I looked at had a long list of conditions (arranging to have
your existing CT removed for measurement, having your sinks/tap onsite
before measurement, then they would order your selection). This seems like
bad news, since the selection I pick could be far different than what gets
installed.

So is engineered stone less of a crapshoot than Granite? What to look for in
an installer other than references? It sounds like a full service kitchen
place would be less hassle than a countertop installer, but we don't want
new cabinets, so why pay for the overhead.

On May 24, 8:36*pm, "Bill Stock" wrote:
I'm told we need a new kitchen countertop. :-)

Apart from the Granite vs. eStone question, picking a fabricator/installer
looks like a real minefield. I was leaning towards granite, but there's a
wide range of qualities from the little I've read. I was under the
impression that you could kick the tires on the Granite (pick your lot), but
the one website I looked at had a long list of conditions (arranging to have
your existing CT removed for measurement, having your sinks/tap onsite
before measurement, then they would order your selection). This seems like
bad news, since the selection I pick could be far different than what gets
installed.

So is engineered stone less of a crapshoot than Granite? What to look for in
an installer other than references? It sounds like a full service kitchen
place would be less hassle than a countertop installer, but we don't want
new cabinets, so why pay for the overhead.

Will your present cabinets support the half ton of stone? If not, just
buy stone patterned Formica (which looks every bit as good) and save
way over half the cost.
Overheard an interesting tale at the box store checkout a while back:
Seems to happen now and then that a mishap at the edge of an under
mounted sink on a stone top results in a nasty edge chip in the stone.
Rather costly to replace, hard to ignore. Likely not a problem in a
trophy kitchen if the maid is careful. HTH

Joe

"Joe" wrote in message
...
On May 24, 8:36 pm, "Bill Stock" wrote:
I'm told we need a new kitchen countertop. :-)

Apart from the Granite vs. eStone question, picking a fabricator/installer
looks like a real minefield. I was leaning towards granite, but there's a
wide range of qualities from the little I've read. I was under the
impression that you could kick the tires on the Granite (pick your lot),
but
the one website I looked at had a long list of conditions (arranging to
have
your existing CT removed for measurement, having your sinks/tap onsite
before measurement, then they would order your selection). This seems like
bad news, since the selection I pick could be far different than what gets
installed.

So is engineered stone less of a crapshoot than Granite? What to look for
in
an installer other than references? It sounds like a full service kitchen
place would be less hassle than a countertop installer, but we don't want
new cabinets, so why pay for the overhead.

Will your present cabinets support the half ton of stone? If not, just
buy stone patterned Formica (which looks every bit as good) and save
way over half the cost.
Overheard an interesting tale at the box store checkout a while back:
Seems to happen now and then that a mishap at the edge of an under
mounted sink on a stone top results in a nasty edge chip in the stone.
Rather costly to replace, hard to ignore. Likely not a problem in a
trophy kitchen if the maid is careful. HTH

Joe

We got a granite looking countertop for my mother in law. About a grand
after special forming and add ons. And it looks good. Not like real
granite, but real good.

Steve

When I bought my Silestone countertop (after a lot of research) I got
it at Expo Design Center and they subcontracted to the local Silestone-
affiliated installer (authorized dealer, I guess). Installation was
included in the cost, and they did a fine job. And yes, you can see
the exact pattern since it's engineered. I think engineered stone is
better than granite because it's less porous. Seven years since
installation and it looks exactly the same.

Shaun Eli
www.BrainChampagne.com
Brain Champagne: Clever Comedy for Smart Minds (sm)

on 5/24/2008 9:36 PM Bill Stock said the following:
I'm told we need a new kitchen countertop. :-)

Apart from the Granite vs. eStone question, picking a fabricator/installer
looks like a real minefield. I was leaning towards granite, but there's a
wide range of qualities from the little I've read. I was under the
impression that you could kick the tires on the Granite (pick your lot), but
the one website I looked at had a long list of conditions (arranging to have
your existing CT removed for measurement, having your sinks/tap onsite
before measurement, then they would order your selection). This seems like
bad news, since the selection I pick could be far different than what gets
installed.

So is engineered stone less of a crapshoot than Granite? What to look for in
an installer other than references? It sounds like a full service kitchen
place would be less hassle than a countertop installer, but we don't want
new cabinets, so why pay for the overhead.

I replaced the clay tile countertop in my kitchen with 12" square by
1/4" thick granite tiles. I installed them myself, so the price was
just for the material, which was only a small fraction of the solid, one
piece granite.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

"Shaun Eli" wrote in message
...
When I bought my Silestone countertop (after a lot of research) I got
it at Expo Design Center and they subcontracted to the local Silestone-
affiliated installer (authorized dealer, I guess). Installation was
included in the cost, and they did a fine job. And yes, you can see
the exact pattern since it's engineered. I think engineered stone is
better than granite because it's less porous. Seven years since
installation and it looks exactly the same.

Shaun Eli
www.BrainChampagne.com
Brain Champagne: Clever Comedy for Smart Minds (sm)

I can say the same thing about my granite installation, but it's a crapshoot
with granite. You don't know if you have a porous piece that will stain
until AFTER installation. We got lucky, I guess. I know people who
weren't.

Steve

"Bill Stock" wrote in message
-Free...
I'm told we need a new kitchen countertop. :-)

Apart from the Granite vs. eStone question, picking a fabricator/installer
looks like a real minefield. I was leaning towards granite, but there's a
wide range of qualities from the little I've read. I was under the
impression that you could kick the tires on the Granite (pick your lot),
but the one website I looked at had a long list of conditions (arranging
to have your existing CT removed for measurement, having your sinks/tap
onsite before measurement, then they would order your selection). This
seems like bad news, since the selection I pick could be far different
than what gets installed.

This only happens if you select the stone from a bunch of samples in the big
box store or at an installers showroom that could be years old. Good
countertop manufacturers will provide you with the addresses of granite
supplier's warehouses where you go and choose the exact "in stock" slab(s)
of granite that you will reserve in behalf of the installer. He will take
the reservation slip and go and pick up the slabs you ordered and make your
countertop. This way the countertop is exactly the same as the stone you
selected, and not a "similar" stone to the one you chose from a 5 year old
sample. When we did our kitchen we went through about 20 granite warehouses
and finally chose some slabs that had the exact coloration that we were
looking for.

In article ,
says...

On Sun, 25 May 2008 07:57:26 -0800, "SteveB"
toquerville,utah@zionvistas wrote:


"Shaun Eli" wrote in message
...
When I bought my Silestone countertop (after a lot of research) I got
it at Expo Design Center and they subcontracted to the local Silestone-
affiliated installer (authorized dealer, I guess). Installation was
included in the cost, and they did a fine job. And yes, you can see
the exact pattern since it's engineered. I think engineered stone is
better than granite because it's less porous. Seven years since
installation and it looks exactly the same.

Shaun Eli
www.BrainChampagne.com
Brain Champagne: Clever Comedy for Smart Minds (sm)

I can say the same thing about my granite installation, but it's a crapshoot
with granite. You don't know if you have a porous piece that will stain
until AFTER installation. We got lucky, I guess. I know people who
weren't.

Steve

I have seen the same thing. Personally I bet granite will start
falling out of favor when these age in a kitchen that people actually
cook in. How do you keep from breaking everything that falls over on a
granite counter? Plastic dishes and tumblers?


Using a little sense and coordination. We haven't had that issue. And there's
always the issue of what would fall on the floor in a kitchen anyway. We have a
mix of earthenware and pyrex, nothing broken yet. On the other hand, when I had
a formica top, a pyrex plate fell on the corner of the sink and busted into a
bazillion pieces. OK - so, one plate down, clean up - the world didn't end.

I think there are perfectly good options other than granite and engineered stone
(although I have granite). But I think this "breaks everything" bit is just a
selling rant for other countertops. If you're particularly clumsy, then don't.
Don't have a tile or even a hardwood floor either. But then, maybe you should
stick to plastic anyway ;-)

Banty

In article s.com, EXT says...


"Bill Stock" wrote in message
-Free...
I'm told we need a new kitchen countertop. :-)

Apart from the Granite vs. eStone question, picking a fabricator/installer
looks like a real minefield. I was leaning towards granite, but there's a
wide range of qualities from the little I've read. I was under the
impression that you could kick the tires on the Granite (pick your lot),
but the one website I looked at had a long list of conditions (arranging
to have your existing CT removed for measurement, having your sinks/tap
onsite before measurement, then they would order your selection). This
seems like bad news, since the selection I pick could be far different
than what gets installed.

This only happens if you select the stone from a bunch of samples in the big
box store or at an installers showroom that could be years old. Good
countertop manufacturers will provide you with the addresses of granite
supplier's warehouses where you go and choose the exact "in stock" slab(s)
of granite that you will reserve in behalf of the installer. He will take
the reservation slip and go and pick up the slabs you ordered and make your
countertop. This way the countertop is exactly the same as the stone you
selected, and not a "similar" stone to the one you chose from a 5 year old
sample. When we did our kitchen we went through about 20 granite warehouses
and finally chose some slabs that had the exact coloration that we were
looking for.


Right. I went right to the installer, who had slabs set up in his site for the
choosing, as well as searchable stock of area granite dealers. It's half the
fun of getting it anyway.

Banty

"Banty" wrote

Using a little sense and coordination. We haven't had that issue. And
there's
always the issue of what would fall on the floor in a kitchen anyway. We
have a
mix of earthenware and pyrex, nothing broken yet. On the other hand, when
I had
a formica top, a pyrex plate fell on the corner of the sink and busted
into a
bazillion pieces. OK - so, one plate down, clean up - the world didn't
end.

I think there are perfectly good options other than granite and engineered
stone
(although I have granite). But I think this "breaks everything" bit is
just a
selling rant for other countertops. If you're particularly clumsy, then
don't.
Don't have a tile or even a hardwood floor either. But then, maybe you
should
stick to plastic anyway ;-)

Banty

Hold your phone calls, folks, we have a winner!

I have granite and travertine in one particular kitchen. If you drop
something, it's a coin flip whether it's a big deal or not. I've had stuff
not break. People who drop a lot of things need to go get checked. Or as
Banty suggests, stick to RubberMaid and Tupperware.

Steve