looking for new counter tops for our kitchen

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Russianwolf

Russianwolf

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Martinsburg, WV, USA.
Not willing to pay $2k+ for granite or the like when I know my wife will want to change the cabinets in a couple years. So what other "nice" options are there?

She likes the solid surface sample I had in my shop (someone sent me some for pen laminates). She obviously likes granite. She's willing to go with tile if that's all we can find that isn't expensive. No laminates though.
 
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Solid Surface is as expensive or more than some of your lower end granite, Concrete is ok if you have the skill but if not its not for beginers. Tile will be your cheapes bet if your going to do the work your self. There are some very nice laminates if 2 years is all your going to keep them. Just Make sure its regular thicknes and not VT (vertical thickness).
 
I mentioned buying a bunch of Alumilite (since it has lower odor) and inviting a bunch of you guys over to make swirls and stuff in it. I'm goign to have two cut outs in this one, so that would make for a bunch of pen blank left overs. :wink:

I also mentioned the concrete, but I'm not about to do it and we can't find anyone with any experience.

Cav, there are times I'd like to. But right now, no one would buy our house and I can't afford a second. YET!

If I can find some granite that works for $10/sf or solid surface for that kind of price I'll go that direction. But most of what I'm seeing is $25/sf and more. Who knows, maybe I can get her to go with a cheap laminate, but I ahve a feeling that she'd rather have a nicer tile than that.
 
When we moved into our current home about four years ago, I replaced the old kitchen counter tops with Corian, including a Corian sink. While it looked nice, the Corian is actually fairly soft and the sink soon had to be replaced after my son dropped a large butcher knife into the sink point first by accident. Then about 18 months ago I won a $33,000 home make over on the local radio station which included Granite counter tops. What a difference. If I had it to do over again, I would save my money and go for the granite. They look beautiful, are maintenance free and are as hard as well... granite.

I know that's not what you wanted to hear, but since I've been through the kitchen upgrade recently, I thought I'd weigh in.

Jim Smith
 
Jim Smith said:
When we moved into our current home about four years ago, I replaced the old kitchen counter tops with Corian, including a Corian sink. While it looked nice, the Corian is actually fairly soft and the sink soon had to be replaced after my son dropped a large butcher knife into the sink point first by accident. Then about 18 months ago I won a $33,000 home make over on the local radio station which included Granite counter tops. What a difference. If I had it to do over again, I would save my money and go for the granite. They look beautiful, are maintenance free and are as hard as well... granite.

I know that's not what you wanted to hear, but since I've been through the kitchen upgrade recently, I thought I'd weigh in.

Jim Smith
Click to expand...
If I were replacing the cabinets now, I'd agree with you. The problem is if she decides to change the cabinets in a couple years, this counter would likely be damaged in removal and I'd be at square one again. That's why I want something cheaper now, and we can go to granite when we replace the cabinets.

That and a nice $2k counter will look really out of place sitting on top of the existing cabinets that don't even match each other (I had to buy a replacement when she had me remove the dishwasher , and now another that will be going in place of the stove. A cooktop without the oven is going in its place)
 
Granite

Second what Jim said about granite. It is worth the investment.

Just tell the wife when she mentions change that the granite is so heavy it welded to the cabinets and no way to get it out.

Really, I think she would be like my wife - she will like it so much that you could not pay her to take it out.
 
Jim's right -- the only way you can go wrong with granite is by selecting the wrong slab or the wrong installer. The guys that installed ours were a father and two sons from the mountains of ?????? in South America. These guys knew their stuff --- working with granite was all they had ever done. Hot pans, no problem. Use as a cutting board, no problem except your knife will be dull real quick. Virtually maintenance free. We have no regrets about putting them in.
 
If your cabinets dont match dont put the money into granite or Solid surface. If your capable put 2 1/2in ply wood sheets down for the base and a 1/2 concrete board on the top and tile it. Do you have the ability or skills and the tools to do it yourself or will you have to hire someone to do it for you?
 
From a GC:

Don't install granite or solid surface if you are changing the cabinets in the next couple of years. It will be a waste of money. Get a nice looking laminate and save up for the granite when you are done.

However, Granite is not hassle free, or maintenance free. Granite is porous, and needs to be sealed when installed, and every 6 months after. You can do this, it is easy and inexpensive. You also need to wipe up spills immediately on lighter colors.

Granite is also brittle. This is why taking it up is virtually impossible without cracking or breaking it. But it also means that once installed dropping heavy objects on it may crack or chip it. Cracks and chips can be filled and refinished to be nearly invisible by professionals.

My two cents...
 
I wouldn't change the counter top if you anticipate changing out the cabinets in a couple years. Unless you aren't REALLY going to change the cabinets...

See.... I hate my tile counter top. HATE IT!!!!! but I also despise the cabinets, so we aren't changing anything until we change it all. (and unfortunately for our time frame, I got laid off, and now our remodel is postponed indefinitely)

Plus, who wants to remodel the kitchen TWICE?
 
Granite

I had granite installed and it is great. I have absolutely no complaints. My nieghbor saw it and liked it, but decided to look for a cheaper installer. Long story short, it fits poorly and is a lighter color...he spilled red wine on it and left it sit for a while, and it stained it permanently.
Mike
 
Mike
I work for a granite fabricator and we do work in your area. Just get a laminate top for now and get granite when you change out your cabinets in a couple of years. If you are doing any research on granite countertops check out www.ciacounters.com


Rookieturner, There are treated granites available that do not require yearly maintenance. The only one I can think of in your area would be Sensa Granite at Lowes.
 
have you looked at granite tiles? I saw on the DIY tv shows that they make granite tiles that look pretty good and are supposedly much less costly. We put granite in our kitchen last year and have not looked back but it was a bit costly ($52/sq. ft.), but had we not done that I would have considered the tiles. They look good on tv!

Good luck!!

Jeff
 
Seven years ago we downsized and sold the big house in the country and moved into the city.....I know Shawnee's maybe not your Idea of a city... Anyway the wife wanted granite counter tops and said no tile...Well being the ever so clever person I am and cheap too I bought 12x12 granite tiles and layed them with no grout lines and filled in the little v grove with an epoxy grout the same color as the granite. We've had them for 7 years and they look as good today as when I installed them and everone thinks its solid surface... I also ordered the matching bull nose for the edge. If you want I can take a photo and e-mail it to you. BTW saved over $2500.00
 
Sealing it is a very easy job, we've had ours for seven years and have sealed it each spring, takes us about an hour, as to chipping we've yet to chip it and have dropped pots, glasses, platters and no chips also no scratches.
ROOKIETURNER said:
From a GC:

Don't install granite or solid surface if you are changing the cabinets in the next couple of years. It will be a waste of money. Get a nice looking laminate and save up for the granite when you are done.

However, Granite is not hassle free, or maintenance free. Granite is porous, and needs to be sealed when installed, and every 6 months after. You can do this, it is easy and inexpensive. You also need to wipe up spills immediately on lighter colors.

Granite is also brittle. This is why taking it up is virtually impossible without cracking or breaking it. But it also means that once installed dropping heavy objects on it may crack or chip it. Cracks and chips can be filled and refinished to be nearly invisible by professionals.

My two cents...
Click to expand...
 
2 years ago i priced solid surface for your kitchen over 7,000 did some research and found granit tile wholesale and installed my self for under 1,000 love it and if had to do over again whould do the same if you want some info on the wholesaler PM me
 
OKLAHOMAN said:
Sealing it is a very easy job, we've had ours for seven years and have sealed it each spring, takes us about an hour, as to chipping we've yet to chip it and have dropped pots, glasses, platters and no chips also no scratches.
Click to expand...

I thought that I stated to go with Granite, that it needed to be sealed, and that it was easy and inexpensive, but there are some cons to keep in mind. I also did not mean to imply that if you drop something on it it WILL chip or crack, but it can. I have dropped picture frames before and the glass did not break, but the potential is still there.

So again, get granite, but not until you replace the cabinets.
 
I have put down the granite tiles twice now and they looked really nice, One had 1/16" grout lines and one with no grout lines. They can save you a lot of money. Didn't luck out this last time--wife WAS HAVING solid granite$$$$.
 
We just traded a 18 X 21 foot metal barn for granite counter tops in our kitchen. They are coming back to polish it again. Not as shiny as we would like and a few other things. But the barter worked.
 
okay, wifey found a laminate that she's happy with. So now I'm off to get it ordered.

On the bright side I got the new convection over/microwave/hood installed last night. It's nearly twice the size internally than the old unit we had.
 
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