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The Cost of Granite Countertops -

by: Jason Gluckman

The beauty, hardness and utility of granite makes it a highly desirable material for countertops in home design. In addition to its natural strength, granite is a beautiful stone that adds color and warmth to a room. Though the cost to add granite countertops to any new kitchen or remodel can be quite high, they remain the premiere choice in many new and remodeled homes.

The price of granite countertops ranges from $60 to $120 a square foot, which may or may not include the cost of installation. Discount granite can be found for as little as $30 per foot, not including installation. The premium cost is not in the stone itself, but rather in the costs related to transportation and installation.

The stone industry remains unregulated, which can make it confusing. Every entity that handles the granite, from the quarry to the supplier and fabricator, can establish their own pricing based on the demand in the local market. Dealers who provide full service, so that a homeowner doesn't have to do the shopping or planning, will add a markup of up to 50%.

Granite suppliers will typically have three or four groupings (or �tiers�) of granite to choose from. The first tier will consist of the premium products that sell for the highest price. Stones are grouped based on several criteria including the country of origin, color, veins or patterns, thickness of the slab, amount of soft minerals in the stone, and current fashion trends. Some granite colors exhibit "movement", or a distinctive pattern within the color. The combination of color and movement also affect the final price of granite countertops.

Granite from lower tiers has the same beauty and utility as the slabs in the upper groupings. Additionally, stones in a lower tier could be harder than stones in a first tier, so it pays to get out and look around. A lower tier could also be referred to as �commercial grade.� Typically the commercial grades have a large number of �pits� that have been filled in. The presence of softer minerals may require additional cabinet supports or penetrating sealant, which adds to the final price of granite countertops.

Cheaper, thinner cut stone may be a little less than two centimeters instead of a recommended three, in which case the installer would laminate it to plywood backing for additional stability. Discount granite suppliers will typically deal with a thinner cut stone; many suppliers now carry stones that are intentionally cut thin and laminated at the quarry. It is now common for stone that originates in Asia or India to be cut thin and fabricated prior to shipping. Pre-fabrication does create a lower cost product with less waste being shipped to the supplier. In addition, the fabrication is done in countries with much lower wages, saving on the labor costs at the final destination.

The price of granite countertops is greatly affected by the number of seams and cuts that will have to be made in the stone slabs. Discuss how the cuts will be made when the installer or fabricator makes their preliminary measurements for the template. Another thing to question are the hidden costs of wasted material. Depending on the length of countertops being installed, there will be at least three square feet of waste by the time the fabricator is finished. The cost of wasted material is paid by the homeowner.

Shopping for granite countertops doesn't have to be frustrating. Focus on finding a reputable supplier and installer who are willing to answer all your questions. Despite the fact that labor expenses are the largest price of granite countertops, this is one project that needs to be left to the professionals. The oversized sheets are extremely delicate and must be precisely cut. Failure to properly set a granite countertop could create an expensive mistake for a do-it-yourself homeowner.

About the author:
Granite Countertops provides detailed information on granite kitchen and tile countertops, advice on installing and cleaning granite countertops, information on price and locations to purchase discount granite counter tops, and more. Granite Countertops is the sister site of Kitchen Sinks Web.

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How To Plan For Kitchen Remodeling
by: Johnathan Bakers

Kitchen remodeling is one of the most desirable home improvement projects for many homeowners. A new kitchen increases the value of your home and makes your life easier. The first step to your new kitchen is to set a budget. Decide how much money you are willing to spend. This will help drive your other decisions. Be sure to leave a cushion in your budget for additional, unexpected expenses.

When determining your budget, consider how long you intend to stay in your home. If you are planning to sell in the next year or so, you may want to spend less money. Decide which features you must have in your new kitchen. You can cut corners in other areas by substituting less expensive materials for the counter tops, flooring or cabinet doors.

Research Kitchen Trends

Before you start planning your remodeling project, do some research on the current trends and designs being used in kitchens. Look for information on the internet or in home decorating magazines. Visit your local home improvement center for more ideas. Start a file for pictures of kitchens you love, furniture, appliances, fabric swatches or anything else you find interesting. This will help when you are ready to start purchasing items for your new room.

Options in Kitchen Remodeling

Cabinets are an expensive item in any remodeling project. They often take up half of the overall budget for the room. If you can�t afford the cost of brand new cabinets, there are cheaper alternatives. Consider cabinet refacing rather than replacing the entire cabinet. In refacing, the doors are replaced and exterior wood areas are covered. This is much less expensive since you are using the same cabinets. An even cheaper alternative is to paint your existing cabinets and buy new hardware.

If you must have new cabinets, consider adding some extra features. Features such as tilt out drawers, pull out garbage cans or a lazy Susan inside a corner cabinet are great space savers and make the room more functional. The doors can be either solid wood, clear glass or stained glass. Shop around to find out what is available before making a purchase.

You can save money on flooring and countertops as well. Substitute vinyl flooring in place of more expensive ceramic tile to save money. If you can install ceramic tiles yourself, you can have them for about the price you would pay a contractor to install vinyl flooring.

Countertops vary widely in price depending on the material that is used. Counters that are more durable are also more expensive. You may want this if you want to be able to cut food directly on the counter. For most people, this is an easy way to cut the overall cost of your kitchen. You can find less expensive material that gives the look of marble, butcher�s block or other expensive materials.

Once you have decided what you want, consider how much of the job you can do yourself. Contractors can eat up a large portion of your budget. The more you can do, the more you will save in the overall cost of the room. Use the savings for great new furniture.

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