Re: Real granite vs. manufactured "quartz" countertops
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,767
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,767 |
My installer let us 'sign out' the samples that we wanted to have a look at for a couple of days. Did that several times til we narrowed it down.
Beware - a bunch of these samples weight a ton, ha!!
TAM
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Re: Real granite vs. manufactured "quartz" countertops
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,077 Likes: 7
Founder, Axiom Upgrade Club shareholder in the making
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Founder, Axiom Upgrade Club shareholder in the making
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,077 Likes: 7 |
However, why spend money now and spend money again later? Just buy what you prefer, now, once. Just because the options for this new kind of surface are pretty limited, and, like I said, expensive ($92/sq ft. installed at Home Depot). The marble-looking Aura I thought looked nice on the website didn't look all that impressive in person. They had a black one I would have certainly considered at a lower price point, but it seems wrong to pay $92/sq ft. for a plain black, no matter how durable. In any case, I ended up going with a laminate. There was a darker pattern I liked more than the others, at $27/sq ft. installed. Right at $1k for the amount of countertop and backsplash I need. It would have been over $4k for the Dekton. But you're right about none of the laminate samples having a real wow factor. I think part of it, for me at least, is it's hard for me to visualize a full countertop from the tiny samples available. Hopefully I made an okay choice. I'll revisit the higher-end materials down the line once this starts looking ugly. In the meantime, all you guys with nicer counters can point and laugh. I'm just glad I finally pulled the trigger on something. I need to be able to use my kitchen!
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Re: Real granite vs. manufactured "quartz" countertops
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,928
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,928 |
I've found a local granite dealer in the GTA who imports pre-fab granite counter tops from China. Most of the actual stone originates in S. America ect but gets processed into 8 to 9 ft X 2 ft countertop sections with either a bullnose edge or 1/8 rad. Any further fabbing such as sink cutting, faucet drilling or installing is either done by a local fabricator or the consumer. We've already done our upstairs kitchen with some of their fancier granite and saved near $2G or 50% over your typical HD or Lowes. In fact, they have many different 'levels' of granite, from very basic to fancy to exotic. The cheapest finished 2 x 8 ft granite slabs they had, complete with finished edge were $150Can...less than $5 a sq ft(not installed) up to about $25 per sq ft for the most exotic stone. I'll be picking up 3 slabs and doing my own fab on our bar/kitchenette (part of the downstairs reno I'm doing).
Half of communication is listening. You can't listen with your mouth.
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Re: Real granite vs. manufactured "quartz" countertops
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,458
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,458 |
<<< I'll be picking up 3 slabs and doing my own >>>
You must have friends to help! I need me some of them things!
::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
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Re: Real granite vs. manufactured "quartz" countertops
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,015
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,015 |
I just finished installing a new dishwasher and also planning on replacing my counter top, sink, and electric stove top sometime soon. Current counter top is a cheap one from back in the 1950's. A laminate or whatever. Any recommendations for something fairly cheap, not too heavy and easy to cut and install?
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Re: Real granite vs. manufactured "quartz" countertops
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,745 Likes: 17
axiomite
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OP
axiomite
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,745 Likes: 17 |
Any recommendations for something fairly cheap, not too heavy and easy to cut and install? Yes. Laminate.
"Those who preach the myths of audio are ignorant of truth."
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Re: Real granite vs. manufactured "quartz" countertops
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044 |
Whaddya mean rocks are heavy?
I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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Re: Real granite vs. manufactured "quartz" countertops
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,015
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 6,015 |
Any recommendations for something fairly cheap, not too heavy and easy to cut and install? Yes. Laminate. What an idea? Laminate it is. Whaddya mean rocks are heavy? I would use rocks. But, they are too heavy.
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