If you are searching for honestly priced granite countertops for your kitchen or bathroom renovation, you've probably noticed the variation in granite countertop pricing. This can be incredibly frustrating as a consumer because there is no easy way to determine whose prices are the most cost-effective. In fact, we recently heard this comment from one of our Kitchens & Baths customers:
"It is very frustrating as a customer to select granite for my kitchen or bathroom as every granite warehouse uses a different system for price category and sometimes the names vary, which makes it hard to shop."
Ah yes! There are several issues with purchasing granite: prices, inconsistent patterns and name variations. So why the discrepancies?
Granite is a natural stone
If you have ever looked at a cloudy sky or compared two trees standing side by side, you know that Mother Nature is not consistent. Unlike synthetic materials made in a factory, no two natural stones are alike. So, when you view a granite sample, it is one small piece of a very large whole. In some cases, a slab of rock may have a very consistent pattern, in which case your sample will be indicative of the final product. In others, a sample may have the exact color scheme you want, only to find that the rest of the slab has a different color balance. These patterns usually determine the names of the granite slabs; since no two slabs are alike, the names vary as well.
Supply and demand
Some granite is cut from areas with a huge supply, these slabs are more affordable. Other slabs are cut from small, limited veins, which decreases the supply and makes the slab more rare; these will always be more expensive. This is a significant reason why granite countertop prices can seem inconsistent.
Installation requirements
A slab is only so big. It may or may not be enough to complete your countertop needs. As kitchens have become larger and kitchen islands more prevalent, one slab is often not enough for a single project, in which case you may need to purchase two whole slabs, even if it only takes 30% of the second slab to finish the job. This drives the price up.
How are they being priced?
You may seen an amazing add for a granite warehouse that has Level 4 granite slabs for just $25 per square foot. The problem is that this doesn't take anything else into account: the size of your countertops, the cut outs required, and the labor involved for installation and finish work. All of these charges will be extra.
Many fabricators will advertise a "special price" that isn't the final price. Make sure the quotes you are receiving for granite countertop prices are complete, including the fabrication and installation costs so you can compare apples with apples.
If you are looking for competitive and honest granite countertop prices, contact the design experts at Kitchens & Baths Unlimited, Inc.
