IF...big IF...I were to decide to attempt to replace my counters/sinks on my own...how much am I potentially biting off? Is it fairly easy or am I just asking for trouble?

 

Completely depends on what material you want to use and what shape your counters are going to be. Standard stuff? Can you just go to a big box and find something to throw down? Or do you have a lot of oddball cuts and corners.

Seem like a smart guy wise in many things, I'm sure you can handle this.

 

My counters are fairly simple and straight forward. Id want to replace with Granite or Ceramic. I think the first issue is figure out if my current cabinets can handle the weight...not sure how to do that, need to research.

But I know its so much more than just taking off and putting on new counters...there is resealing and the edges...having to repaint the walls...and if I do all that then I would probably attempt at installing a backsplash in the kitchen.

 

Back splash and paint is easy.

Granite yourself probably isn't going to happen. You wouldn't want to drop the coin on that kind of material and then do a 95% perfect DIY install job. Just my opinion.

Ceramic wouldn't be bad DIY though...

 

Might be worth checking out HD/Lowes to see if they have a clinic on doing that...

I don't think it would be TOO complicated. With the internet, there is nothing you can't learn to do. Question is, do you want the first time you do it to be on YOUR kitchen with a $2K counter top?

 

I like the satisfaction of knowing I can do it myself. Plus learning...this condo will become a rental sooner rather than later. So, yes I want it to look nice...but Ive done a lot of other upgrades myself with good success. I think my biggest fear is measuring correctly.

Quick snap of my kitchen...small, not much sq ft to cover.

 

I HATE the white tile counters...have ever since we bought the place...I don't love the sink either...im very picky with sinks...I really love this style where the sink dips below the lip of the counter, farmhouse style:

 

Doesn't look bad to me. Add some color on the cabinets and something fun on the backspalsh and leave the counters alone. IMO. Unless they are damaged or something.

That would likely only be 3 pieces of granite. All simple shapes. It probably wouldn't be too hard...

 

Ever had to deal with tile counters? They suck shit.

I'm not in love with the white cabinets either, but they work with the rest of the look of the apt...modern, the color of the floors, etc. I don't want to screw with painting or replacing them...I think a nice counter and backsplash can help make the white cabinets less boring.

But really, yeah....dealing with tile SUCKS.

 

I grew up with tile. It does suck.

The thing I know to be difficult with granite is the seams. I would see if there is a company that will come out, do their laser measuring thing, cut the granite, and then you install it.

It's not that much square footage. I'd just get a quote and see what they say for material/labor. It may not be that bad.

 

Thats a good idea.

I just need to total and see how much all the materials would cost...tight budget these days. Not even sure what I could spend right now.

 

For that little SqFt of counter space, the labor costs should be pretty low. Might be worth just letting the pros install it, seal the under mount sink to the counter and then you can do a back splash if you like.

 

That's what they do. They want happy customers. Seaming granite is not that simple. Just cause it looks like a 90 degree angle doesn't mean it is.

Is it really worth the price to measure wrong or drop a piece on the counter and have it crack.

wise foolish.

Go to the big box stores and call local mom and pop shops and see what the have.

 

Hey I'm a DIYer x10 but I wouldn't touch granite myself. Lol

 

With that much space I wouldn't be surprised if the labor was more than the granite itself.

That said, you could probably do that area for less than $1500 installed if you choose the basic granite and nothing exotic. You're not going to want to try and fabricate and install it yourself, it's a royal PITA because it will weigh hundreds of pounds per piece and unless you have accurate laser measurements of everything and a gigantic wet tile saw, it probably won't even be possible.

If you want something stylish and on the cheap, check this out:

http://www.younghouselove.com/2014/0...rete-counters/

The labor costs will be the same or more than the granite. We had a quote done on doing a granite top for our bathroom vanity and it came to ~$700 for a 31x22 piece with sink cut out and sink (no faucet). The price breakdown was $150 for sink cut out, $150 for faucet holes, and $50 for edging the slab. This was for a fairly basic style too. We said screw it and bought a stock size piece from Menards for $144 with sink and holes cut. Not the exact style we wanted but for $550 less, we were willing to compromise.

 

Not dead set on granite either Have options to look at.

 

That just looks like a royal pain in the nuts.

As much as I like the look of concrete and reclaimed wood...the fact you have to annually seal them is a pain.

I'll most likely look into ceramic at this point if I decide to move forward.

 

You have to seal granite every year or every other year too.

I helped a buddy do that ardex stuff and it's actually not that bad to do.

 

Yep I do a threestep process every year, clean, polish, seal. Well I have so far in the past two years at our house. It's funny too as granite looks like granite. It never really changes or gets dirty. But after the three step process they look so much nicer. Mainly the 'gloss'.

Dupont makes great products for these. I bought a kit with all three at a local tile / flooring store.

Sealing concrete is different though. With little ones around and Capri Sun packs being tossed everywhere, I'm not sure I would go concrete.

 

The way my wife treats the counters...concrete would look like a crime scene in 6 months...

 

Yours too?

 

yeah...its amazing the grout between the tiles has survived and stayed white.

 

You guys realize that it's concrete and not plastidip right? In that it's probably just as durable as granite. The only reason you have to seal is to seal the porosity of the material to prevent staining which is the same thing you have to do for granite, marble, quartz, etc.

Unless your kids are walking on the countertop swinging hammers or rocks, you should be fine.

 

Check youtube vids for this stuff. I'm not impressed with any of the DIY granite installs that I have seen. They have 1/4" seems like you would see with ceramic tile.
For granite I would just have a pro install it.

 

Already said I doubt I would do Granite cause of the cost....But concrete is more porous and would potentially require resealing more often....confirmed that notion by searching it.

 

Concrete is a lot more porous than granite/marble. Throw some evoo on granite and then on some concrete and lets see which one stains more.

Concrete is fashionable but not necessarily cheaper. It's less refined. IMO it's just a trend really.

 

concrete/granite cost about the same...I think quartz does as well.

Ive seen some really cool stuff with tempered glass...but thats more than I want to shell out, too.

I just booked work for the next couple weeks, which means I'll likely forget all about this for the time being

 

That's why you seal it...

I plan on doing the ardex thing in the basement when I finish my bar. I have no kids though so I don't have the wear and tear issue as much.

 

Sealing it is a pain, doable but a pain.

But when I rent this place out...I don't want to have to deal with that kind of maintenance if avoidable.

 

Look at quartz or silestone.

 

bingo already been looking there.

 

I did quartz. You should too. Well worth it.

 

My $0.02

That's not a tremendous amount of counter top space, so you may be able to find some really great, and cheap, remnants of granite. Guessing there are some granite stores around you (don't go to a big box)... Anyone that deals in this stuff and carries inventory will have slab remnants and you can save a ton. Also, some of the more popular colors, like uba tuba are in the $40 sq/ft range and given the amount of space you have shown, it wouldn't cost you too much.

 

If the cabinet structure is not melamine, it should bear the load, but a free estimate from a cabinet installer will verify that.

I rebuilt cabinets and made the island into a peninsula, moved the plumbing, HVAC and electric and refinished the floor, but elected not to DIY the counters and I'm glad.

We had a respectable kitchen shop do the counters. Took several guys to carry them and was very tough fitting them between walls and cabinets, such as you have. Measurements and cuts must be precise. They measured wrong and had to remake a 5' piece. Glad they ate that and not me.

However, installing the under-mount sink and plumbing is good DIY work.

 

Quartz is nice.

And I know you seal concrete. But even then it's not quite the same. And it requires maintenance to keep it at the level you want. As a working man with kids, a possibility of renting, that's not something he probably wants to deal with.

On that note I have helped my cousin do concrete counters at his house. We stained them and all. They look great. Rustic, somewhat, but nice.

 

Dont go to Big Box stores. Look at your local stone stores. Great and cheap deals can be had. My neighbor just paid $29 sqft installed for her granite counter tops.

 

Im not a big box store guy for this stuff...I much prefer the smaller mom and pop specialty shops.

And a big on Scrib's idea...hadnt even thought of that and I know people who have done it! Thanks.