Stone/Synthetic stone kitchen counter tops
 

Hi.

Any and all may share their wisdom here. I am remodeling my kitchen
and it is now time for the counters. My wife and I have gone 'round
and 'round about what to use.

So, we found some Dupont Zodiaq (indus red) that we loved. Our
kitchen is U shaped, with a dining bar and one small counter top
opposite. We have a total of about 61 square feet f surface, and 33
feet of edge, plus a backsplach of maybe 25 square feet (up to the
bottom of cabinets).

We picked a plain, 45 degree bevel on a doubled edge (instead of
bullnose). Ouch! The bid was just under $8,000. OK $100 per square
foot.

What am I missing? I have done countless hours of reseach on the
internet to try to be an informed consumer, and I was thinking in the
$50 - $60 sq ft range. What did I ask for that blew the lid?

Since there are now a number of granite fabricators in my city
(northern california), I'm thinking of dropping by with my drawings.

I realize that some of the factors are shape, edge profile, amount of
edging and of course area. Chime in because I am very flexible with
respect to materials and design. I just can't seem to find someone
who will confide in me the factors that effec price.

Thanks!

PS, while I can eaily see the prices for stone materials on the web,
the synthetics are well hidden. Any clues as to material prices?

In article , Mr. Bill says...

Hi.

Any and all may share their wisdom here. I am remodeling my kitchen
and it is now time for the counters. My wife and I have gone 'round
and 'round about what to use.

So, we found some Dupont Zodiaq (indus red) that we loved. Our
kitchen is U shaped, with a dining bar and one small counter top
opposite. We have a total of about 61 square feet f surface, and 33
feet of edge, plus a backsplach of maybe 25 square feet (up to the
bottom of cabinets).

We picked a plain, 45 degree bevel on a doubled edge (instead of
bullnose). Ouch! The bid was just under $8,000. OK $100 per square
foot.

What am I missing? I have done countless hours of reseach on the
internet to try to be an informed consumer, and I was thinking in the
$50 - $60 sq ft range. What did I ask for that blew the lid?

Since there are now a number of granite fabricators in my city
(northern california), I'm thinking of dropping by with my drawings.

I realize that some of the factors are shape, edge profile, amount of
edging and of course area. Chime in because I am very flexible with
respect to materials and design. I just can't seem to find someone
who will confide in me the factors that effec price.

Thanks!

PS, while I can eaily see the prices for stone materials on the web,
the synthetics are well hidden. Any clues as to material prices?

I'm no expert, but we just had a Silestone countertop installed last week,
similar size as yours, 45 degree single bevel, also in Northern California. The
Silestone we selected was from their mid priced group. We have 90 sq feet of
surface and 31 linear feet of edge. Total cost for us was approx $5600.

As far as I can tell, you are correct - the only factors are area (including
backsplash) and edge, plus any additional travel time. The double edge bevel
may be costing you a chunk. Ask to see the cost sheet from the bidder. I had our
fabricator fax the sheet to me which allowed me to see how everything priced
out, and at the same time, found a major dimentional error.

In article , bregent says...

In article , Mr. Bill says...

Hi.

Any and all may share their wisdom here. I am remodeling my kitchen
and it is now time for the counters. My wife and I have gone 'round
and 'round about what to use.

So, we found some Dupont Zodiaq (indus red) that we loved. Our
kitchen is U shaped, with a dining bar and one small counter top
opposite. We have a total of about 61 square feet f surface, and 33
feet of edge, plus a backsplach of maybe 25 square feet (up to the
bottom of cabinets).

We picked a plain, 45 degree bevel on a doubled edge (instead of
bullnose). Ouch! The bid was just under $8,000. OK $100 per square
foot.

What am I missing? I have done countless hours of reseach on the
internet to try to be an informed consumer, and I was thinking in the
$50 - $60 sq ft range. What did I ask for that blew the lid?

Since there are now a number of granite fabricators in my city
(northern california), I'm thinking of dropping by with my drawings.

I realize that some of the factors are shape, edge profile, amount of
edging and of course area. Chime in because I am very flexible with
respect to materials and design. I just can't seem to find someone
who will confide in me the factors that effec price.

Thanks!

PS, while I can eaily see the prices for stone materials on the web,
the synthetics are well hidden. Any clues as to material prices?

I'm no expert, but we just had a Silestone countertop installed last week,
similar size as yours, 45 degree single bevel, also in Northern California. The
Silestone we selected was from their mid priced group. We have 90 sq feet of
surface and 31 linear feet of edge. Total cost for us was approx $5600.

As far as I can tell, you are correct - the only factors are area (including
backsplash) and edge, plus any additional travel time. The double edge bevel
may be costing you a chunk. Ask to see the cost sheet from the bidder. I had our
fabricator fax the sheet to me which allowed me to see how everything priced
out, and at the same time, found a major dimentional error.

Another thing I forgot to consider is your full height splash - there are
probably some additional costs for cutting out for switches and outlets.

"bregent" wrote in message
...
In article , Mr. Bill
says...

Hi.

Any and all may share their wisdom here. I am remodeling my kitchen
and it is now time for the counters. My wife and I have gone 'round
and 'round about what to use.

So, we found some Dupont Zodiaq (indus red) that we loved. Our
kitchen is U shaped, with a dining bar and one small counter top
opposite. We have a total of about 61 square feet f surface, and 33
feet of edge, plus a backsplach of maybe 25 square feet (up to the
bottom of cabinets).

We picked a plain, 45 degree bevel on a doubled edge (instead of
bullnose). Ouch! The bid was just under $8,000. OK $100 per square
foot.

What am I missing? I have done countless hours of reseach on the
internet to try to be an informed consumer, and I was thinking in the
$50 - $60 sq ft range. What did I ask for that blew the lid?

Since there are now a number of granite fabricators in my city
(northern california), I'm thinking of dropping by with my drawings.

I realize that some of the factors are shape, edge profile, amount of
edging and of course area. Chime in because I am very flexible with
respect to materials and design. I just can't seem to find someone
who will confide in me the factors that effec price.

Thanks!

PS, while I can eaily see the prices for stone materials on the web,
the synthetics are well hidden. Any clues as to material prices?

I'm no expert, but we just had a Silestone countertop installed last week,
similar size as yours, 45 degree single bevel, also in Northern
California. The
Silestone we selected was from their mid priced group. We have 90 sq feet
of
surface and 31 linear feet of edge. Total cost for us was approx $5600.

As far as I can tell, you are correct - the only factors are area (includi
ng
backsplash) and edge, plus any additional travel time. The double edge
bevel
may be costing you a chunk. Ask to see the cost sheet from the bidder. I
had our
fabricator fax the sheet to me which allowed me to see how everything
priced
out, and at the same time, found a major dimentional error.


I too, just had Silestone (Blue Sativa - upper level price group) 48 SF w/
20 LF of ogee bullnose/undermount sink installed last Monday - Total cost of
$3600 (or approx $80/sf). Can be viewed here
www.nctimes.net\~pray\House.htm
I'm in SoCal...

A co-worker had granite installed at about the same per sf cost earlier this
year..

One thing I quickly realized, while the per SF cost of the material was down
in the $50/sf range, this didn't include the edge treatment. And at $17.00
per LF, that quickly adds up...

Rick

"Mr. Bill" wrote in message
m...
Hi.

Any and all may share their wisdom here. I am remodeling my kitchen
and it is now time for the counters. My wife and I have gone 'round
and 'round about what to use.

So, we found some Dupont Zodiaq (indus red) that we loved. Our
kitchen is U shaped, with a dining bar and one small counter top
opposite. We have a total of about 61 square feet f surface, and 33
feet of edge, plus a backsplach of maybe 25 square feet (up to the
bottom of cabinets).

We picked a plain, 45 degree bevel on a doubled edge (instead of
bullnose). Ouch! The bid was just under $8,000. OK $100 per square
foot.

What am I missing? I have done countless hours of reseach on the
internet to try to be an informed consumer, and I was thinking in the
$50 - $60 sq ft range. What did I ask for that blew the lid?

Since there are now a number of granite fabricators in my city
(northern california), I'm thinking of dropping by with my drawings.

I realize that some of the factors are shape, edge profile, amount of
edging and of course area. Chime in because I am very flexible with
respect to materials and design. I just can't seem to find someone
who will confide in me the factors that effec price.

Thanks!

PS, while I can eaily see the prices for stone materials on the web,
the synthetics are well hidden. Any clues as to material prices?

I replaced my counter tops with syn in my last home. Under slung sink and
bullnose. Standard splash on the wall and then I tiled down to it.
I hated the sink as it was impossible to keep looking new. I cleaned my
Sharper image Ionic breeze in it once and the dirt/carbon stained the sink
and the counter top. After trial and error I found that Simple Green out of
the bottle would remove the stain.
I could never keep the counter top clean. It showed every mark and pot set
on it. just damp.

I will never own syn again. Stone maybe, syn absolutely not.

100 a foot is comparable here in Phoenix installed. Changing manufactures
to a lesser known name might save you 10 -15 a foot.

With out the training the manufactures usually will not sell retail. They do
not want the calls that "it screwed up".

If this is what you want then pay for it.


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Thanks for the quick replies. I would really like to find out what
the charges for various parts of the job are. There is a retail stone
dealer in Sacramento that sells 8' x 26.5" slabs of granite that are
bullnosed on 3 sides for ~$350 in the base group up to ~$650 for the
more varied and colorful slabs.

I realize that additional cutting, polisshing etc can add more to the
cost (plus installation), but with real stone at $17-$31 per square
foot for stone, I didn't expect synthetic to be so much mor (or for
the edges/holes to cost so much more).

I guess I'll drop by a couple of stone places and see about real
stone...

In article 95xbd.82552$a85.5692@fed1read04, SQLit says...


"Mr. Bill" wrote in message
om...
Hi.

Any and all may share their wisdom here. I am remodeling my kitchen
and it is now time for the counters. My wife and I have gone 'round
and 'round about what to use.

So, we found some Dupont Zodiaq (indus red) that we loved. Our
kitchen is U shaped, with a dining bar and one small counter top
opposite. We have a total of about 61 square feet f surface, and 33
feet of edge, plus a backsplach of maybe 25 square feet (up to the
bottom of cabinets).

We picked a plain, 45 degree bevel on a doubled edge (instead of
bullnose). Ouch! The bid was just under $8,000. OK $100 per square
foot.

What am I missing? I have done countless hours of reseach on the
internet to try to be an informed consumer, and I was thinking in the
$50 - $60 sq ft range. What did I ask for that blew the lid?

Since there are now a number of granite fabricators in my city
(northern california), I'm thinking of dropping by with my drawings.

I realize that some of the factors are shape, edge profile, amount of
edging and of course area. Chime in because I am very flexible with
respect to materials and design. I just can't seem to find someone
who will confide in me the factors that effec price.

Thanks!

PS, while I can eaily see the prices for stone materials on the web,
the synthetics are well hidden. Any clues as to material prices?

I replaced my counter tops with syn in my last home. Under slung sink and
bullnose. Standard splash on the wall and then I tiled down to it.
I hated the sink as it was impossible to keep looking new. I cleaned my
Sharper image Ionic breeze in it once and the dirt/carbon stained the sink
and the counter top. After trial and error I found that Simple Green out of
the bottle would remove the stain.
I could never keep the counter top clean. It showed every mark and pot set
on it. just damp.

I will never own syn again. Stone maybe, syn absolutely not.

Just to be clear, are you talking about solid surface, or a manufactured stone
product (zodiak) like the OP is refering to?