When we started our Berkeley kitchen remodel, we thought picking out the countertops would be one of the easier steps. I figured you would just walk in, pick out the counter you want and that would be it. So after taking a quick look at Home Depot and not seeing the look we were going for, it was off to the granite warehouses around town and that is when the information overload began.
There are about 10 major granite and marble warehouses around Denver. The way they work is that you check in, don a nice hard hat, and with their inventory list, start walking up and down the aisles picking out the slabs that you like. Each slab is assigned a category number, typically from 1 to 5 with 1 being the least expensive and 5 the most expensive. The warehouse is wholesale only, so they won't give you a price on any of the slabs, you have to get that direct from a fabricator. A fabricator will calculate how much material you need based on your plans and they will be the ones to cut and install the countertops.
I know, that doesn't sound too difficult, but consider that one of the larger warehouses like The Stone Collection has over 11,000 slabs of granite, marble and quartz to choose from. After spending a half hour there, believe me, your head will start spinning. Not only do you have to decide on the colors you like, you also need to decide on the material. Granite is the hardest and most durable stone with the most color and price options. Marble is the whitest stone you will find and one of the most affordable but lots of people won't put it into a kitchen because it can stain and discolor. Man made counters like Silestone or Ceasarstone are incredibly durable, have a uniform look and are middle of the road in price so that can be an option too. And ready for another option? You can have the stone honed or leathered that gives it a completely different texture and look. Here are some examples of the standard shine verse leathered.
After spending way to many hours at warehouses and getting plenty of quotes, I found that a category 2 granite runs around $1,000 a slab and a category 5 is closer to $3,000-4,000 a slab. But it isn't that simple of course because all the slabs are different sized and you may end up having to buy two slabs instead of one depending on how much material you need so comparing a category 2 to 5 isn't exactly apples to apples. This is why working with a great fabricator is so important and I can't recommend Diedra with Brekhus Tile and Stone highly enough. She can be reached at 303-494-9255.
On top of the cost of the material, you also have to pay for fabrication and installation. Depending on the fabricator and edges that you choose, this can run between $45-55 a square foot. Once you have decided on the material you are going to go with, the next step is picking out the actual slabs. Most warehouses will move the slabs out for you to view and then you can put a hold on whichever slabs you want. Your fabricator will contact the warehouse and once you pay, the slabs will be delivered to the fabricator. When your cabinets are ready, the fabricator will then come to template the countertops and in 7 to 10 working days they will be installed.
If you are just getting started, or even if you know exactly what you want, I would recommend meeting with a fabricator like Diedra and then based on her recommendations, start checking out warehouses and letting your imagination run wild. Here are some warehouses that I recommend. Click on the names for their websites and to learn more.
Brehkus Tile and Stone,Capco,The Stone Collection,Galleria of Stone,Arizona Tile,Dal Tile
The variety of granite is endless. You can have some wild and crazy pieces like these that look like pieces of art all the way to the more subtle and clean pieces. Have fun shopping!
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