The Ultimate Granite Buyer's Guide

FÓXGRANITE THE ULTIMATE GRANITE BUYER'S GUIDE Granite has become one of the most popular materials for household countertops, and it's easy to see why: a wide variety of colors and patterns ensures granite can complement any décor, and meanwhile, it's becoming more affordable than ever. Here's what you can expect when you shop for the perfect granite countertop. What Is Granite? One of the Earth's Made of interlocked hardest stones crystals from quartz, feldspar, and other minerals SIZE OF A TYPICAL SLAB 8-10 feet long WEIGHT OF A FINISHED SLAB 13-19 pounds per square inch, } depending on thickness Key Points When Consumer Reports tested 11 countertop materials, only granite "aced" most of the tests, which consisted of: Scratching Staining Scorching Slicing Only quartz scored slightly higher than granite Heat and impact-resistant But quartz is also $89 more expensive, averaging around Not subject to bacterial contamination per square foot Granite's value doesn't depreciate Picking the Perfect Slab PATTERN, COLOR, AND VEINING CAN VARY A GREAT DEAL BETWEEN SLABS Granite is available in just about every color, including: White Gold/yellow Blue Green Deep red Brown Gray Black Download the free DuPont mySurface App to compare countertop swatches What You'll Pay Low end: High end: $35-$40 $80-$100 = $5 O = $5 per square foot per square foot 56 ft? Average Cost for the average kitchen kitchen countertop: counter { $2,600-$5,600 } size: Custom edges Installation can increase costs may be costs by up to as much as ( $50 3X the cost of the granite per linear foot Don't forget to ask your contractor if his/her estimate { **.. Sink } lundermounting Decorative edges & -- l other special treatments } Faucet holes } { m includes fees for: and cutouts {4 tips for saving money } For bathroom countertops, seek out Remove existing countertops yourself leftover stone from other installations Opt for a cheaper tile backsplash dL Do your own plumbing reconnection SOURCES http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2012/05/16/14-tips-to-save-on-home-remodeling-costs/ http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/03/bathroom-countertops-get-splashier/index.htm http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/construction/materials/granite-countertops-on-their-way-out.htm http://www.dupont.com/products-and-services/construction-materials/surface-design-materials/brands/corian-solid-surfaces/videos/mysurfaceapp.html http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/august/home-garden/countertops/overview/index.htm http://www.1000granitecolors.com/ http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/kitchen/kitchen-remodeling/countertops/countertops/how-to-choose/countertops-how-to-choose.htm http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/construction/materials/granite-countertops4.htm http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/09/kitchen-countertops-buying-guide_n_3568552.html http://www.homedepot.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOM/HomePage/Categories/Kitchen/KitchenCountertops/Body/Docs/How-To-Buy-the-Right-Countertop-2012-eng.pdf http://quartzkitchencountertops.org/quartz-countertops-cost/ http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/construction/materials/granite-countertops2.htm 5-7 feet tall