What do you guys think of them in comparison to teh other products available?


My wife and I had thought about moving, but will liekly stay where we are. She has wanted an undermount sink for quite a long time and is getting a little insistant.

My estimates after cutting waste are around 63-68 sqft of counter plus whatever we do to the backsplash. I really didn't think my kitchen wa that big, but this is rapidly becoming a $5500 to $6000 job by the tiem you get the sink and faucet.

We also have a raised "bar" behind the sink that you can put stools on the otherside. We don't really use it for that, so ... my questions are:

1. What do you think about granite or other materials for counters?

2. Keep the rasied buffet/bar or lose it?

3. How much of the cost does one expect to recoup at selling time?

 

We did full granite for about 80 sq ft and a 4" splash in 3 cm granite including a bar. Just sold the house and I can say it is a huge selling point and we made back 90% of what we paid.

 

as far as countertops go, granite looks amazing. period.

 

A lot of information in here:

https://acurazine.com/forums/home-garden-37/counter-tops-319623/

 

You just can't beat granite for it's blend of beauty, durability, and flexibility. It has a timeless look that fits with ANY theme. Modern, retro, traditional, cottage... whatever... granite works.

Unlike many other counter types, you don't have to explain to people later on why it's worth what you're asking for. Granite holds its value.

Lastly, granite can be retrofitted in place. Meaning, later on, if you change your kitchen, you can typically have a good installer adjust/change/add to your granite as needed. This isn't possible with many other natural OR synthetic counters.


As for the bar, you have tons of options. In my case, we chose to design a glass bar raised above the counter behind the cooktop. We're still a month or two away from having this piece built.


If the rest of your kitchen (cabinets/appliances/layout) are up to par, you should be able to recoup 110-120% of your cost at selling time.

 

You better post pictures of that when its done, I am really curious how your project(s) are coming out.

 

We put Silestone in our kitchen. More expensive then Granite, but well worth it. Dosent need to be sealed and dosent scorch or stain...Put a pan right from the oven on top of it, dosent phase it...

We have the raised bar also and did a two tone with a darker "brown" for the bar top and a lighter "brown" for the rest. I'll see if I can get some pics for ya...

I think you could easily get double your money when it comes time to sell. Kitchens are a huge focal point for value.

 

Do you have any pictures? I'd really like to see them, if you can't host them shoot me a PM and I'll give you my email.

 

1. granite makes me wet
2. we need to see pics of said buffet/bar before the decision is made
3. depends on your area and the rest of the house

 

Well, I think we decided to keep the buffet. Otherwise it would be too much work to keep the dishes off the counter. At least with the little dip, you can't see the ones waiting for the dishwasher/I was too lazy to do the dishes the night before, ehatever.

We decided on a color called Key West, and went to go reserve the slab ... guess what, all the slabs had been reserved between the time we picked up samples and went back (about 4 days). More was ordered a month ago, but they don't have an ETA yet, so we are in a bit of a holding pattern.

So now, I am turning my attention to sinks. We are going with a stainless steel undermount sink, but they all look HUGE. Is there such a thing as a sink that is TOOOO big. I know that the "industrial" look is in, but the fabricators all stock sinks for around $400. I've found a few online I like, but I don't think I can get them for that good a price. What to do ... what to do ...

 

Have you considered looking at doing polished concrete countertops? I love them and I expect to do them in my next home.

http://www.acsconcrete.com/counters.html

You can even try to diy:
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/dp_sto...784160,00.html

 

in the kitchen at home with have all granite countertops, with the big island in the middle also being all granite. One thing that we have in our kitchen that not many people have yet is the backsplash being a staind glass if thats what you call it. The glass runs up all the way to where the cabinets start and it gives the kitchen such a nice look. PM me if you want some pics

 

BstonBruin, post the pics

 

I will as soon as i get home from school on Tuesday...sorry about the wait

 

stained glass? you mean glass mosaic tile? that's what I'm doing on the backsplash as well

 

Get a Franke. We compared alot of sinks and found these to be the best quality for your money.

Kohler, the big brand, had shitty low gauge steel for an easy 200/300 more than their competitors.

You can get a stainless undermount in any size. I went with a 30" split bowl undermount. In a perfect world, I'd of gone with a 36", but the sink having been such an afterthought... I hadn't designed enough space for more than a 33" cabinet for the sink.

Anyway, I highly highly recommend Franke. Go to a showroom and check them out. I went with a Franke Sink and Franke Pullout faucet and spent around $1000 on the pair.

 

As for deciding on granite - go for it.

That is a decision i regret not making. When we got our condo, we had planned all along for granite counters. When it came down to paying . . . i backed out and bought the cheap stuff. Now, my buddy lives in the same complex as me and he had to have graite also but he ended up waiting 6 months so he could afford that. Everytime i go over, i gotta hear ir from him how much nicer his kitchen is compared to mine

Next place we buy will definately be the right decision.

 

I love polished concrete. However, I feel like the trend of using them on counter tops will fizzle rather quickly.

Also, they only work in certain settings... like contemporary architecture. I can't see using concrete in a 100-yr old colonial.

Nevertheless, if you want to see some REALLLY REALLLY incredible concrete in the kitchen, check out some designs by Fu-Tung Cheng.

 

no its definitely not mosaic tile...im not sure what its called but just imagine a glass for a window, but stained with a light greenish color...its still see through though

 

Frosted Glass?

 

Like a Heineken bottle?

 

no its much much lighter than that

 

OHHHH I know what you're talking about. Like cracked tempered glass?

 

or like this:

 

My parents put granite in their cottage. It is definatly a great material for countertops

 

 

Is that your kitchen?

 

Looks like a Model Home to me. Very, very nice.

 

he said its his parents cottage

 

Here's mine.

https://acurazine.com/forums/home-garden-37/my-own-project-322148/

Make sure you have enough space to put the 3 to 4 holes for your faucet. I was only able to put 1 or else the faucet would be in front of one of the sides of the sink and not in the middle. Make sure when they install your sink they put the bigger side (if you get a double uneven like mine) away from the valves. I had to put my trash disposal under the smaller side so I can't do my major washing on the larger side.

Home Depot has these sinks for like $300 and I got mine for $200 from my installer.

 

Yes, like soopa said. Its my parents cottage. I didnt get to edit the previous post fast enought to add pics, and forgot to add here are pics of it when i added the pics