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 |  | DIY Tile: $120-$1,250 |  | Prefabricated Slab: $750-$3,000 |  | Custom Cut Slab, Installed: $1.800-$3,000 |
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Granite is the most popular natural stone countertop material used in kitchens and bathrooms and comes in dozens of colors.
Typical costs: | - For Do-It-Yourselfers, granite tile countertops cost $4-$19 per square foot, or $120-$570 for a typical kitchen with 30 square feet of counter space. Granite tile countertop kits cost $95-$200 per section, and are sold by fabricators like BuildDirect[1] . A kit usually includes the tiles and backsplashes for a section of countertop, such as a 24-inch wide piece or a corner section. For a typical kitchen with 30 square feet of counter space, expect to pay $500-$1250 for a series of kits, which do not include mortar or tools for DIY installation. Some manufacturers require a minimum purchase.
- Slab granite countertops--solid pieces of granite custom cut to the width and shape of a countertop -- cost $60-$100 per square foot depending on the color and rarity of the granite, the style of edging. Expect to pay $1,800-$3,000 for a typical kitchen, installed. Custom cut granite slab countertops can be purchased at local high-end kitchen and bath stores, and at local stone yards.
- Prefabricated slab granite countertops, which can be purchased from retailers such as Artistic Stone Kitchen & Bath Inc[2] cost $25-$100 per square foot, or $750-$3,000 for a typical kitchen, for materials only. Prefabricated slabs come in standard lengths and widths rather than being custom cut, which can be installed with a minimum of seams created.
- No-stain slab granite countertops cost $50-$90 per square foot, or $1,500-$2,700 for an average kitchen, typically including professional installation.
Related articles: Stone Countertop, Quartz Countertop, Concrete Countertop, Tile Countertop, Solid Surface Countertop, Kitchen Countertops
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What should be included: | - Prefabricated granite countertop pieces should be polished and sealed by the fabricator and the outer edges should be shaped. Most prefabricated pieces sold at home improvement stores include attached matching backsplashes.
- Slab granite countertops should be custom cut to fit the kitchen, polished, sealed, and edged to specifications.
- Installation of slab granite countertops is included with the purchase of the countertop. Installation of a granite countertop should include a professional pre-installation measurement, preparation of the counters (including leveling and shimming), installation of the countertop, cleanup, and final inspection.
Additional costs: | - To install granite tiles, a DIYer must purchase all the materials (epoxy, sealant) to complete the installation. Thinset mortar costs $10-$35; it's usually sold dry in 10-50 pound sacks. Tile cutters range from $10-$200; small hand cutters are the cheapest, while table-saw style tile cutters cost $150-$200. Granite-cutting circular saw blades cost about $20; granite-cutting drill bits cost about $10.
- Most granite countertops require frequent resealing treatments to avoid damage to the surface. Sealant costs $15-$20 per ounce; one ounce treats 50 square feet of countertop. Popular sealant brands such as DuPont and Tile Guard are sold at home improvement stores like Lowes.
Discounts: | - Tile and prefabricated granite countertops can be installed by skilled DIYers.
- Home improvement stores occasionally offer specials on granite countertops.
Shopping for a granite countertop: | - Before beginning to price granite tiles or slabs, measure the countertop area. Home Depot provides a worksheet[3] to help calculate the measurements. The installer or contractor will do an official measurement later, but a good estimate can give a rough sense of the costs.
- Prefabricated granite countertop sections are fabricated in factories, often overseas. These are usually cheaper than slab countertops, and can be installed by a skilled DIYer or by a professional installer or contractor. Though there are fewer seams with modular sections than with granite tiles, those seams will still show.
- Slab granite countertops are the most expensive and most elegant style of granite countertop. Single slabs of granite are custom cut to fit the space; no seams are needed so the surface of the counter is perfectly smooth and unbroken. In most cases, a professional installer or contractor installs slab granite countertops.
- Decide whether to purchase "no stain" granite countertops. Made by Stonemark and sold by Home Depot, "no stain" granite is treated so as to resist any discolorations (guaranteed for 15 years). An expensive option, no stain granite countertops may be a good choice for active cooks and families. An article on This Old House[4] describes the properties of no-stain granite.
- Call ahead to schedule an appointment for a consultation at a kitchen & bath or home improvement store.
- Lowes[5] sells granite tiles in 12-inch and 18-inch square sizes, usually in cases of 6-10 tiles. Online retailers such as Amazon [6] offer granite tiles individually.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
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External Resources: | - www.builddirect.com/Granite-Countertops.aspx
- www.artisticstoneinc.com/kitchen.php?gclid=CMK5y_HHgqACFQ2kagod0zg5pg
- www.homedepot.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOM/Home_Services/Countertop_Installation/Docs/cou...
- www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1215049,00.html
- www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&N=0&new...
- www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=granite+ti...
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