Granite Countertop Help Neede

[BigDeck]

Calling all grantie guys!!!

OK. we are balls deep into a what started as a kitchen remodel. It is now a full blown down stairs remodel with "change orders" coming left and right and I am starting to think they see us as an easy mark.

The latest go like this......

The wife picks out three granite slabs from the sub we are sent to. The granite guys says "well that one is rarer so I will have to add 1K". OK fine. Well we pick the edge and hear nothing.

Well today the "change order" bill hits to the toon of $3900. I see they want $2500 for the "2 1/4 inch deluxe butt edge detail" we picked.

They want $31 a foot to put that edge on???? Is that legit??? The edge envolves the least cutting of any they offer. It is basicaly flat with barely rounded top and bottom.

I need to hear fom some granite guys. Am I getting boned?? I haven't paid for the upcharge yet.

 

[rivermobster]

im courious about this as well. we will be going thru this same thing VERY soon here as well.

i was told we jus go pick out a slab, and have it shipped to a fabracation guy for finish and installation.

im installing the cabnets myself.

 

[MMD]

Typically granite and other surfaces will have a per square foot price that includes a standard (one or more) edges. Other edges typically cost more.


Example:
Q. What does the price of $26 or $28 per square foot include?
A. It includes cutting, edging, profiling and polishing the countertops for your specific installation with any of the standard edges listed above.
http://www.marblemaster.com/granite/granite_slab/faq.html


Edge profiles can be seen here:
http://www.fixturesetc.com/granite_edges_colors.htm

 

[rivergames]

Calling all grantie guys!!!

OK. we are balls deep into a what started as a kitchen remodel. It is now a full blown down stairs remodel with "change orders" coming left and right and I am starting to think they see us as an easy mark.

The latest go like this......

The wife picks out three granite slabs from the sub we are sent to. The granite guys says "well that one is rarer so I will have to add 1K". OK fine. Well we pick the edge and hear nothing.

Well today the "change order" bill hits to the toon of $3900. I see they want $2500 for the "2 1/4 inch deluxe butt edge detail" we picked.

They want $31 a foot to put that edge on???? Is that legit??? The edge envolves the least cutting of any they offer. It is basicaly flat with barely rounded top and bottom.

I need to hear fom some granite guys. Am I getting boned?? I haven't paid for the upcharge yet.

Thats bullshit, They should have told you the cost of the edge. Sounds like they are screwing you around. Do you have a written quote from them?

 

[BigDeck]

The $31 a foot is linear ft for the edges only. I have already paid their price for the sq ft on the granite.

 

[rivergames]

im courious about this as well. we will be going thru this same thing VERY soon here as well.

i was told we jus go pick out a slab, and have it shipped to a fabracation guy for finish and installation.

im installing the cabnets myself.

I have a Granite guy that we sub our work out to any time we need counter tops. Let me know when u are ready and I will give you his name and number

 

[rivermobster]

I have a Granite guy that we sub our work out to any time we need counter tops. Let me know when u are ready and I will give you his name and number

So is it best to go to one guy for everything? Or, buy the slap and have it shiped to a fabrcator for finish and installation?

 

[RiverDave]

The $31 a foot is linear ft for the edges only. I have already paid their price for the sq ft on the granite.

Big Deck, if this is in El Cajon, just stop where you're at.. I got a guy that kicks ass.. He did the granite / tile at my riverhouse and it came out bitchen.

On that note, I think you're getting boned.. We paid 900 for entire Exotic slabs when I did my remodel.. I can't hardly imagine what would be a 1K upcharge unless it's something really weird.

As well, I think you're getting boned on the edge.

RD

 

[rivergames]

So is it best to go to one guy for everything? Or, buy the slap and have it shiped to a fabrcator for finish and installation?

He can do it all. He is located around the Pasadena area

 

[mbrown2]

$31 a lin foot for the edge only sounds like horse shit...

 

[AFUEL7067]

your not getting boned for 2 1/4 edge if it was free everybody would have it...

 

[rivermobster]

He can do it all. He is located around the Pasadena area

Perfect. I work in Pasadena!



That what i heard as well. If you want that thick edge, that makes the counter look twice as think as it is, your gonna pay dearly for it.

 

[Magnuman]

2-1/4 " edge is a deep edge.

Typically stone slabs are 3/4" and standard edge is 1-1/2" (double lamination).

So your edge is a triple lamination or a lamination turned on edge.
Shops get way more for those type of edges.

Should have given you a breakdown on material cost and fabrication.

 

[BigDeck]

Just got the hard copy. The names have been changed to protect the guilty. So here it is. Is this fair? I told the guy to hold tight, I am not ready to committ to this upcharge yet. I have given him $5500 toward it but can get it back. And he will drop that part of the job.
The granite is called Juparana Persa.

KITCHEN
Countertop Fabrication - Approx. Sq. Ft. 82 @ $34.95 = $2,865.90
Backsplash Fabrication - Approx. Sq. Ft. 28 @ $34.95 = $978.60
Sink Cut-Out 2 @ $150.00 $300.00
Cook Top Cut-Out $0.00
2 1/4 Deluxe Butt Edge Detail 82 @ $31.00 $2,542.00
Steel Supports 4 @ $100.00 $400.00
Approx. number of Granite slabs needed 3 @ $888.46 = $2,665.38
Estimated Granite Price for Kitchen (Fabrication and Material) $9,751.88

 

[RiverDave]

2-1/4 " edge is a deep edge.

Typically stone slabs are 3/4" and standard edge is 1-1/2" (double lamination).

So your edge is a triple lamination or a lamination turned on edge.
Shops get way more for those type of edges.

Should have given you a breakdown on material cost and fabrication.

I'm not a granite guy, but why triple lamination over just cutting a longer edge and using one bond? Seems like it would be one less seem and actually look better.

RD

 

[Magnuman]

Countertop fabrication is 82 sq ft.

So you have aproximately 41 lineal ft of counter?
Thats a good deal of counter.

Figure $200 - $225 lineal ft of counter(material and install) w/o backsplash and large detailed edge.

Islands or peninsula have more finished edges, backsplashed have cutouts for receptacles, etc., etc.

 

[Magnuman]

I'm not a granite guy, but why triple lamination over just cutting a longer edge and using one bond? Seems like it would be one less seem and actually look better.

RD

All depends on the edge detail.
Some edges that I have designed need the depth of a triple lamination, others can be done with a butt joint with the lamination material going verticle, and others need a miter edge with the lamination material verticle.
Typically any horizontal laminated edge needs a step or reveal to make it look good.
It also is depends on the material and how it looks seamed up.
All square edged counters look better with a top miter edge and a little deeper than standard 1.5"

 

[Cole Trickle]

Must be a huge kitchen....

I paid $1600 for my granite installed and it look great.I didn't pick any fancy edging and only did a 6" backsplash.

There is no way I could justify 10K in counter tops unless were talking avout a multi million dollar house. The key to remodeling is setting a budget and sticking to it. If you do the its just a little more lets upgrade on everything you end up with a 50K remodel when the budget is 25K.

 

[OCMerrill]

Must be a huge kitchen....

I paid $1600 for my granite installed and it look great.I didn't pick any fancy edging and only did a 6" backsplash.

There is no way I could justify 10K in counter tops unless were talking avout a multi million dollar house. The key to remodeling is setting a budget and sticking to it. If you do the its just a little more lets upgrade on everything you end up with a 50K remodel when the budget is 25K.

I paid about the same including the backsplash and a complicated sink cut out.

 

[Cole Trickle]

I paid about the same including the backsplash and a complicated sink cut out.

Looks like they want him to pay close to $120 a sq foot.

That is bannanas imho..:skull

 

[Yellowboat]

$31 a lin foot for the edge only sounds like horse shit...

actually thats pretty cheap. Its alot of Work to put a edge on.

 

[AFUEL7067]

The price is good the egde is alot of extra work , its not uncommon for trick kitchens that size to be alot more, high grade goods and all the fluff add up in a hurry.

 

[Magnuman]

actually thats pretty cheap. Its alot of Work to put a edge on.

Agreed.
Also, price depends mostly (as with everything) on who you are doing business with.
I have seen granite fabricators and installers fabricating out of the back of their trucks and cutting stone with a skill saw. Laminations look like piss, countertop joints the same, veining going in all directions and overhangs on undermount sinks not consistant and on and on.

Most of the time, the better shops will have invested in proper CNC equipment, do fabricaion layouts and shop drawings of all the pieces.

If you are paying top dollar then these are the things you should be looking for.

 

[PLACECRAFT20]

I only use the 2cm here if it is the customers desire. 99% of mine are 3cm. If we laminate the edge it is about $5 per sqft. plus the material used @ what ever the sqft price the material is. I dont make you buy the slabs. I just charger for the square footage you are using.
All that being said, $888.00 is a cheap slab. (not knocking your material). The expensive ones here are $1500.00 and up for 3cm. I figured your bill using one of my expensive ones and ended up at about the same on money. Using your material I ended up about the same price laminated as they did.

 

[whiteworks]

You get what you pay for with granite, nothing fun or easy about quality granite work. Should be rough cut with water jet and finished cnc. Price seems legit for quality work and nice slabs, also slabs should have a 15 year warranty from supplier.

 

[citylife]

I had my kitchen done and granted I don't have a huge amount of counter space but edge install and sink install was around $2700. Call Heather at the project desk at Lowes in Havasu. She'll give you Frank Soto's #

 

[whiteworks]

FYI, my latest kitchens are averageing $5k, 2 slab jobs, standard edges and mid grade slabs with warrantys. I do know a guy named jose in anaheim that will do work so cheap its amazing, however his edges are wavy as shit and if the slab breaks "you" have to buy another. Also you don't want his leaking pos truck parked on your driveway. He is great for prefab junk work, can't beat the price.

 

[500bbc]

You are being totally ass reamed.

$35.00 sf to fab includes standard edge, ogee, double bullnose and any other of a dozen choices.
The extra 3/4" thickened edge should be a small upcharge if you're just getting a relieved edge.

Is there a general involved?

My guy may go that far and his work is impeccable, at least for the last fifteen years.

 

[plaster dave]

Just curious how many of you are in construction? I dont do granite but I do know if the guy is good he will charge accordingly.

 

[AFUEL7067]

GC for 30 years :blah:

 

[Magnuman]

Architecture/Interiors/Industrial Design - 35 years :smackhead

 

[rmarion]

theres always someone cheaper...you get what you pay for.... a quality contractor will have all the insurances required...and that don"t mean workers comp...... I pay over 150K in insurance annually (GL, Umbrella, Vehicule and oh work comp) our annual sales are 4-5 mil...

we can not complete with the scabs or illegals....

there are so many people out there that don't know their shit its unbleiveable:bash:

 

[BigDeck]

Thanks for all of the input. To answer a couple of the questions put out.

Yes there is a general. We hired one of the probably two top Kitchen/cabinet companies in San Diego. The guys we hired have a cabinet company and a general construction company.

As for the granite guys they sent us to. From what I have seen, they are top notch. They have been around and have a pretty nice place here in SD and in Anahiem. So it is no back of the truck operatation.

I have no problem paying for quality work and think everyone deserves to be paid fairly. I just had some concerns they thought they had found an easy mark for some upcharges.