Your Complete Guide to Stone Countertops
When I first started pulling together my mood board for my kitchen, I was decisive and knew exactly what I wanted visually. Contrasting cabinets in white oak and creamy white, gold latches, knobs and pulls, sconces above the windows, GE Cafe appliances, a dramatic marble slab backsplash and countertops, and Zellige tile backsplash just to name a few. This post Where to Save and Where to Splurge on a Kitchen Remodel, which goes into more detail on my original kitchen remodel.
However, as unforeseen costs have popped up, I’ve had to adjust. Generally speaking, I’ve been rolling with the punches and haven’t been too upset by some of the increased costs. I think of myself as fairly calm and decisive when it comes to numbers and sticking within a budget. The hardest adjustment that I’m still trying to make though is in regards to my countertops.
At the start of this whole endeavor, my entire vision was outlined AROUND my marble countertops and backsplash slab. I knew I wanted to make a dramatic statement with this natural stone no matter if it was more expensive or more porous. Well, funny thing is, countertops are one of the final touches on a kitchen, so although I had my eyes set on the target, obstacles jumped up along the way and made dents in my budget. Here I stand, an extra $12,000 in ($6,000 extra on electrical, $3,000 extra on floors, and $3,000 extra on drywall), and I’m having to rethink my stone choice to cut down on costs. Thank you knob & tube…not!
There are worst things in the world to deal with of course, so instead of pouting, I’m breaking down the facts and switching things up.
1
Types of countertop Stone
When picking out countertops, there are a number of different stones you can choose from that vary in coloring, price, and porousness.
Marble is my personal favorite. It has incredible color variations. No one slab looks alike because it is a gift from mother nature that took years to create. Marble is fairly porous and needs to be sealed up quite often. Over time it will show stains and scratches, but many feel that it adds to the character of the stone.
Quarzite is another favorite of mine. Not to be confused with quartz, quarzite is another natural stone but is slightly tougher than marble. It tends to chip less and certain types of quarzite are less porous than marble, making it a good substitute if you’re looking for a natural stone but don’t want to have to worry about as many dings and scratches. One thing to note with these beauties though, is since they are a harder stone, some fabricators don’t enjoy cutting them as much because they can be difficult.
Granite is a top choice for many because it is fairly low maintenance and more affordable than most marbles and quarzites. The natural variations in granite tend to have more of an all-over crystalized speckle affect that some prefer. It’s a great option if you’re looking for low cost and a natural stone.
Porcelain was a new option I hadn’t ever thought of before. I came across a GORGEOUS Arabescato slab that happened to be porcelain and was about to pull the trigger until I talked to the experts. What I found out was that porcelain doesn’t do well with heat and has a tendency to crack if you drop a glass or other kitchen items on the counter. It would be best if used as a slab backsplash in a kitchen, or leveraged in a bathroom remodel based on my discussions with a supplier.
Quartz is of course a fan favorite over the last few years. This fabricated stone is not a natural stone, but instead is made in a factory and then uses a print of a real stone to get the veining appearance of marbles. Because it is man made, it is much more affordable and durable. If you’re looking for the marble affect at a 25% discount, with less maintenance, quartz might be your answer.
2
The difference between Fabricator vs. Supplier
When I first started shopping for countertops, I was thrown for a loop. I had toured a handful of warehouses and when I approached a salesperson to ask them about the price of two different slabs, they couldn’t answer me. They said I would have to get a quote from “the fabricator”. News to me! Apparently the supplier is only their to secure and distribute the stone. You need a fabricator to measure, cut, and install your countertops. Because of the labor involved, suppliers don’t like to provide price quotes and instead label each stone in a price group - typically between 1-10. I of course loved all 8-10’s. Shocking I know.
3
cost of stone Countertops
When it comes to breaking down the cost of stone for countertops, I’m mostly going to follow suite with the suppliers because it varies by state, type of stone, fabricator rates, and a number of other factors. In general though, quartz, granite, and porcelain tend to be the most affordable, typically ranging between $60-$85/sq. ft. Natural stones such as marble and quartzite are a bit more expensive and generally range from $90-$150/sq. ft. The rarer or in-demand slabs tend to of course be higher, while your less popular colors and variations tend to be a bit less expensive.
4
HOw to install stone countertops
Everything in construction always tends to take longer than I had originally expected and stone countertops are no different. When you find the stone you are looking for, be sure to place it on hold. Remember, you have to find the stone at a supplier and then locate a fabricator to bid out the stone + labor. This bidding process so far has taken me 1.5 weeks.
From there, the fabricators have communicated to expect a 6-8 week procure, measure and install period, with the measurements and installation to be within the last 2-3 weeks. In other words, the material procurement is what eats up a good chunk of the timeline, mostly likely due to demand and labor shortage.
5
How many slabs you will need
The last tip I will leave you with is a goodie! Depending on the size of your project, you may need to purchase more than one slab of stone. Many fabricators don’t necessarily coach you on how much stone you will have remaining at the end of the project. Instead, they charge you for the full amount and may keep remnants to sell off at a discount. The key here is to just ask the question…
How many slabs do I need for my project?
What amount of stone will I have remaining and can that be used for a fireplace surround, shelving, etc.?
To cut your stone of choice it is only a few hundred dollars. The stone slab itself is a couple thousand dollars. Be sure to put the whole thing to good use if you end up paying for it.
Curious to know what stone I end up choosing? So will I! I thought I would for sure go with a marble or quartzite, but EVERY single one I liked was within the 8-10 price range…aka $140-$150/sq. ft. Currently I’m pricing out two quartz for countertops + backsplash and one porcelain for just my backsplash slab if I decide to mix and match. Although I am making adjustments to reduce my expenses, I want to ensure that I love it because it is going to cost me between $6,000-$9,000 for my little 10x12 kitchen. Say a prayer for me and my pocket book.
Cheers!
Jen
Real estate investor, landlord and DIYer, Realtor, Business consultant, Globe trotter & Converting vegan.
