Kitchen and bathroom remodeling are top of mind for many homeowners today, and often, that includes putting in new countertops. The most popular choices are some type of stone, such as granite, marble, or quartz, but more options are actually available. Choosing the right one for you will depend on many factors, such as personal style and overall theme of the room’s design. However, cost is always a factor.
Here is a quick guide to the cost of different stone countertops. While it is not an exhaustive list, it does include the most popular ones out there and should help you narrow down your choices.
Cost factors
Many factors determine the final cost of stone countertops. These include the esthetics, size, and installation. You want the best countertops you can afford, but these are not necessarily the most expensive ones. Rare types of granite, for example, might be more expensive than common varieties, but they are equal in durability and quality. Nevertheless, these things do affect the cost of your stone countertops, so you should know about them to make the right choices.
Esthetics
Esthetics refers to the way the finished product looks. The color, patterns, edge profile, and finish of the stone all have an impact on the attractiveness and appearance of the countertops. If you want something out of the ordinary, you can choose uncommon colors, bold patterns, or non-standard edges and finishes for your countertops.
However, you should know that these special features come at a premium, particularly with natural stones when it comes to colors. Purple, red, and blue, for example, are rare in granite and marble, so choosing these for your countertops might mean giving up an arm and a leg. Special edge profiles such as a double ogee or a leathered finish will also pile on the extras.
If budget is not an issue, then go right ahead and go for making a dramatic statement. If it is, then you might want to go for simpler and more common, and make a statement in other ways.
Size
It goes without saying that size matters when it comes to cost. However, you might be surprised to know you have options even then. Natural stone and quartz countertops typically come in two standard thicknesses: 2 cm and 3 cm. Choosing the thinner stone translate to significant savings.
You might also not know that your installation costs diminish, as your countertops get larger. At some point, the price per square foot for stone countertops actually goes down. This is important to know if you outsource the installation of your countertops. You can also expect to pay extra for a sealer application. However, countertop specialists like KNC Granite offer package deals for granite countertops for as low as $34.99 per square foot, installed, with free sealer, so that is not much of an issue.
Installation
Other factors will affect the cost of installing your stone countertops. One of these is demolition. If you have old countertops, expect to pay for its removal. Nothing can stop you from doing it yourself, however, so that is one option. The thing is, you still have to find a way to get rid of the resulting debris, and that might be more trouble than you want.
The cost of the actual installation will vary depending on the material. With granite, marble, or quartz countertops, installation is usually included in the package. Concrete countertops, on the other hand, are usually expensive to install. Generally, the cost of installing stone countertops is the same as the cost of the countertops.
Cost Guide
With all these factors influencing the cost of your stone countertops in mind, the following guide should make more sense to you. These are the average costs, so expect some wiggle room when it comes to an actual estimate for your bathroom or kitchen remodel.
Granite
Granite continues to be a popular choice for many homeowners, mostly because they are readily available, durable, and attractive. Visit the local showroom of your granite supplier, and chances are you have hundreds of slabs from which to choose. The cost of the slabs is according to rarity, with level 1 being the most common. As such, level 1 granite slabs are the most affordable, and level 5 the most expensive. The cost ranges are (per square foot):
Level1: $34 to 44
Level2: $45 to $50
Level3: $51 to 64
Level4: $65 to $75
Level5: from $76
Marble
Marble countertops also continue to be popular choice with homeowners due to its unrivaled look of luxury. It does have some issues when it comes to maintenance, although not as much as most people believe. With reasonable care, marble is a durable choice for countertops, and the only option for some styles of kitchens and bathrooms.
The cost for marble varies according to rarity as well, although there is no standard classification for it. Generally, specific types of marble have an established market value.
For example, commonly available white marble such as Snow White from Canada costs about $40 per square foot. Calacatta marble, which is also a white marble, is from Italy and much rarer, so it can cost as much as $250 per square foot. The average cost of marble countertops, however, is about $55 per square foot.
Quartz
Quartz countertops are making the rounds in US homes as the most popular material for kitchen and bathroom countertops. The cost variations are based on brand and design rather than availability, as this is a manmade product and always available on demand.
On average, the cost of granite countertops is around $60 per square foot, not including installation. Some brands offer great products for as low as $33 per square foot, while others can go as high as $100 per square foot. Silestone is typically more expensive than other brands, but they do offer a transferable 25-year warranty.
You should know that most quartz manufacturers offer warranties, but these have with restrictions. One restriction is an authorized installer must do the installation. You can also only buy quartz countertops from authorized distributors, so make sure your contractor is authorized to sell and install quartz countertops.
Conclusion
This cost guide should give you an idea of what you will pay for your new stone countertops. We have limited the options to the top three to minimize analysis paralysis, but other options are out there if you care to check them out. At any rate, it makes sense to confer with a countertop specialist in your area to get some insights.
KNC Granite employs experts at fabricating and installing kitchen counters or bathroom vanities. We also specialize in kitchen remodeling and bathroom upgrade projects, delivering on time and on budget.
We have a large array of granite slabs from which to choose. You can check actual slabs at our showroom in Lanham, Maryland and we will walk you through how we can meet your budget and still give you quality granite countertops for your home.
We do not only supply top-quality granite stones, however. Aside from natural stones, we carry some of the top brands of engineered stone, including Cambria, Caesarstone, Silestone, and MSI, all of which come with manufacturer warranties.
Give us a call or email us for your free in-home consultation and quote!