Stone kitchen countertop pricing

[branimal]

I'm getting ready to order a quartz countertop. I got 3 quotes in the $2500 range for 2 pieces totaling 42 sq ft. Thats about $60 a sq/ft. The quartz I'm selecting is a whitish top with marbling throughout. Turns out that's the most expensive quartz style.

The price includes: templating & installation.

Is that about what you guys are seeing for pricing nowadays. I'm in NYC.

 

[rlitman]

Sounds about right. It's cheap if you DIY it, but the fabrication is expensive.

 

[duneslider]

That's less than we are paying in my area.

 

[vrinner]

I've been lucky in getting in touch with the shops who do the fab work for the contractors and basically eliminate that middle man. My guys have a yard with a lot of left over slabs from other jobs and can usually get a pretty decent price if you can fine enough material for your job. You may not get exactly what you want but for a substantial savings it may be worth it. I had about 64sf put in a couple years ago for $2400.

 

[wake74]

I'm with vrinner on this one. If you have a less than slab need (which you do), you can likely get a better price by going to an actual fabricator / installer and wandering around their supply of remnants or broken slabs. We were able to to get a very premium piece of granite for the last project at less than builder grade pricing because the shop had received a broken slab, and we could work around the break.

 

[branimal]

I've been lucky in getting in touch with the shops who do the fab work for the contractors and basically eliminate that middle man. My guys have a yard with a lot of left over slabs from other jobs and can usually get a pretty decent price if you can fine enough material for your job. You may not get exactly what you want but for a substantial savings it may be worth it. I had about 64sf put in a couple years ago for $2400.

One of the places I went to does the fabrication on site and had the slab I wanted onsite. They have a lot of positive google reviews and it's fairly close by. But I'm not getting quoted anywhere near your number of $27.50 sq /ft. Maybe I'll try negotiating them down a bit. If I can get it done for $2000 installed I'm happy.

 

[Rod N]

The problem is convincing your wife that the cheaper offcut slab is nice when she wants something else!

 

[vrinner]

One of the places I went to does the fabrication on site and had the slab I wanted onsite. They have a lot of positive google reviews and it's fairly close by. But I'm not getting quoted anywhere near your number of $27.50 sq /ft. Maybe I'll try negotiating them down a bit. If I can get it done for $2000 installed I'm happy.

Also I'm in Southern California...although we are known for being expensive and over regulated, there are also a lot of ways to get good deals and cheap labor.

As for convincing the wife (now ex) I was lucky enough that she pretty much let me design the kitchen any way I wanted however finding these three slabs of very rustic looking granite and also doing a chiseled edge was a leap of faith but I think it turned out fitting in with my style.

 

[yeldogt]

Quartz is manmade ... you don't mine it. The "slab" size and makeup is based on the manufacturing process.

There can be all kinds of "stuff" in what is called Quartz. Cost depends on manufacturer and product

Countertops are like any other item that goes into a house ... trends rule. Modern manufacturing made granite affordable starting in the 90's and then downright cheap. Treatments made marble more durable -- it took off.

Current trends favor the simple looking Quartz -- they can give it a bit of luminescence like softer marble w/o any of the downsides of marble.

For a while that thick looking light marble island was big -- mostly because it could be done and to many it looked expensive. Now white and thin is in .. so Quartz is the perfect solution. I'm seeing wood islands again.

 

[Jsf721]

I'm getting ready to order a quartz countertop. I got 3 quotes in the $2500 range for 2 pieces totaling 42 sq ft. Thats about $60 a sq/ft. The quartz I'm selecting is a whitish top with marbling throughout. Turns out that's the most expensive quartz style.

The price includes: templating & installation.

Is that about what you guys are seeing for pricing nowadays. I'm in NYC.

If I were you I would call the stone depot in Hempstead, NY 11550 on Front Street
Good place to check a price.

They are a local to me company. I have not used them, but I see the contractors there all the time bc they are close to my work.

 

[tthornto]

Around $2500 installed doesn't sound too bad to me, especially with the labor market the way it is right now.

If your kitchen layout will work with straight pieces and you can install yourself then you can go with prefab stone countertops and get a good deal.
I'm not sure if Floor and Decor has locations in your area but here is a 112"x26" ready to install quartz counter with 6" backsplash for $693. https://www.flooranddecor.com/prefa...refab-slab-includes-backsplash-100427699.html This particular quartz is their most expensive option in prefab stone counters too, they offer the same size counter in various granites and 1 other less expensive quartz, prices go from $222 up to this one at $693.

This only works if you can transport it and install it though. The fit isn't custom templated, so if the walls aren't perfectly straight you will have gaps to caulk. there is no sink cutout, so you have to do it, if you want an undermount sink you will have to bevel/polish the cut edge. If a top-mount sink is OK then it's not to hard to do, you just need an angle grinder with a diamond blade and a spray bottle of water to keep it cool while cutting.

I'm planning to go this route for a straight bathroom counter. Kitchens are usually more difficult; undermount sinks, corner 45 joints, range cutouts, and islands requiring wider pieces are all common in kitchens and all add to the labor/difficulty of doing it yourself, making those $2500 quotes not look so bad.

 

[rlitman]

...I'm not sure if Floor and Decor has locations in your area...

There's one in Farmingdale, and another in Elizabeth if you want to go to NJ. I'm actually looking through their site for some parts for my bathroom right now, and it seems they offer custom fabrication as well.

 

[My Old Tools]

Quartz is man made, quartzite is natural stone and virtually impervius. Quartzite takes a lot more time to cut and shape. Be sure what you are being quoted. We love our quartzite countertops.

 

[branimal]

If I were you I would call the stone depot in Hempstead, NY 11550 on Front Street
Good place to check a price.

They are a local to me company. I have not used them, but I see the contractors there all the time bc they are close to my work.

Stone depot wants $2300 b/f tax for template, quartz and install. So in the range of my local suppliers.

 

[yeldogt]

Quartz is man made, quartzite is natural stone and virtually impervius. Quartzite takes a lot more time to cut and shape. Be sure what you are being quoted. We love our quartzite countertops.

It's harder than marble and softer than granite .. It can have a nice modern look. It will stain and chip in different ways than marble ....

I'm not sure why it's not more popular as it fits the lighter look people want the past 10 years

EDIT .... I'm talking about the natural stone Quartzite. Quartz has taken over because it can be sourced in large panels --- uniform -- great properties for a kitchen. Strong in thinner profiles

 

[branimal]

Around $2500 installed doesn't sound too bad to me, especially with the labor market the way it is right now.

If your kitchen layout will work with straight pieces and you can install yourself then you can go with prefab stone countertops and get a good deal.
I'm not sure if Floor and Decor has locations in your area but here is a 112"x26" ready to install quartz counter with 6" backsplash for $693. https://www.flooranddecor.com/prefa...refab-slab-includes-backsplash-100427699.html This particular quartz is their most expensive option in prefab stone counters too, they offer the same size counter in various granites and 1 other less expensive quartz, prices go from $222 up to this one at $693.

This only works if you can transport it and install it though. The fit isn't custom templated, so if the walls aren't perfectly straight you will have gaps to caulk. there is no sink cutout, so you have to do it, if you want an undermount sink you will have to bevel/polish the cut edge. If a top-mount sink is OK then it's not to hard to do, you just need an angle grinder with a diamond blade and a spray bottle of water to keep it cool while cutting.

I'm planning to go this route for a straight bathroom counter. Kitchens are usually more difficult; undermount sinks, corner 45 joints, range cutouts, and islands requiring wider pieces are all common in kitchens and all add to the labor/difficulty of doing it yourself, making those $2500 quotes not look so bad.

I've templated, transported and installed a small piece of quartz a couple of years ago. I used door bucks to stand them upright in my Jeep wrangler. Stressful operation, but it worked out great and I saved a ton of cash.

The pieces I need are too large for me to go this route. Here's my layout:

 

[branimal]

There's one in Farmingdale, and another in Elizabeth if you want to go to NJ. I'm actually looking through their site for some parts for my bathroom right now, and it seems they offer custom fabrication as well.

I called them up - they have great prices, but they don't do installations. I'm going to check these guy out for my tile backsplash.

 

[rlitman]

It's harder than marble and softer than granite .. It can have a nice modern look. It will stain and chip in different ways than marble ....

I'm not sure why it's not more popular as it fits the lighter look people want the past 10 years

EDIT .... I'm talking about the natural stone Quartzite. Quartz has taken over because it can be sourced in large panels --- uniform -- great properties for a kitchen. Strong in thinner profiles

Back in 2009, my office had a kitchen installed with a countertop I could have sworn was some sort of polished sedimentary stone that just looked too good. I was concerned at the time that the coffee maker (with is always surrounded by drips) would damage it (marble would surely have been etched by that). Well, it's Quartz, and it still looks like the day it was installed.

In 2018, I had a white Quartz countertop put into my basement kitchen. The occupant is a coffee slob, and there was significant staining around his coffee maker. In 2020, I had a sewage flood that required me to gut the kitchen. The remediator carefully removed the Quartz, and I eventually had the same installer come back to put it back in when the repairs were done. He asked me if I had any unsanded grout (I did not). We eventually settled on Bar Keeper's Friend mixed with acetone (that I had), and just a few seconds of rubbing and the staining was GONE. I cannot imagine what could actually stain Quartz (beneath the surface where you can't just rub it off). Purple PVC primer?

Anyway, unsanded grout is apparently abrasive enough to remove anything from Quartz, without actually dulling the polished surface. Pumice is probably the best bet.

I called them up - they have great prices, but they don't do installations. I'm going to check these guy out for my tile backsplash.

Yeah, the prices online seem to be great, but there's absolutely no way I'd try to install a stone countertop over maybe 60" on my own. Its just too heavy and risky. I did the granite in my kitchen, and man was that island top heavy, but my galley design and farmhouse sink broke up everything into manageable pieces. Your big section is way past what I'd try.

These are the guys who did my basement Quartz. Might want to give them a shout, but I can't say they're going to be far different from the going rate.

Welcome To Wilstone Incorporation

Wilstone Incorporation is a custom natural stone fabrication and installation business. We are a privately owned business with more than 17 years of experience

wilstoneinc.com

 

[yeldogt]

Back in 2009, my office had a kitchen installed with a countertop I could have sworn was some sort of polished sedimentary stone that just looked too good. I was concerned at the time that the coffee maker (with is always surrounded by drips) would damage it (marble would surely have been etched by that). Well, it's Quartz, and it still looks like the day it was installed.

In 2018, I had a white Quartz countertop put into my basement kitchen. The occupant is a coffee slob, and there was significant staining around his coffee maker. In 2020, I had a sewage flood that required me to gut the kitchen. The remediator carefully removed the Quartz, and I eventually had the same installer come back to put it back in when the repairs were done. He asked me if I had any unsanded grout (I did not). We eventually settled on Bar Keeper's Friend mixed with acetone (that I had), and just a few seconds of rubbing and the staining was GONE. I cannot imagine what could actually stain Quartz (beneath the surface where you can't just rub it off). Purple PVC primer?

Anyway, unsanded grout is apparently abrasive enough to remove anything from Quartz, without actually dulling the polished surface. Pumice is probably the best bet.


Yeah, the prices online seem to be great, but there's absolutely no way I'd try to install a stone countertop over maybe 60" on my own. Its just too heavy and risky. I did the granite in my kitchen, and man was that island top heavy, but my galley design and farmhouse sink broke up everything into manageable pieces. Your big section is way past what I'd try.

These are the guys who did my basement Quartz. Might want to give them a shout, but I can't say they're going to be far different from the going rate.

Welcome To Wilstone Incorporation

Wilstone Incorporation is a custom natural stone fabrication and installation business. We are a privately owned business with more than 17 years of experience

wilstoneinc.com

Quartz is the manmade product ... Quartzite is a mined stone like Marble and Granite. Quartz countertop material while it has been around for 60 odd years -- Caesarstone sort of bumped up the product. Large panels available -- interesting look to the product. It's being copied and there are many products out there now. It's really durable.

It sort of like how Corian took over in the 80's -- there it was for the built in sinks and a seamless look that could be achieved. They failed to update the product and like any fashion ... it went out. Quartz can be made to look like other products ...

Granite has fallen out of fashion and the industry is trying different finishes to make it less busy and match more of what is popular today

 

[My Old Tools]

It's harder than marble and softer than granite .. It can have a nice modern look. It will stain and chip in different ways than marble ....

I'm not sure why it's not more popular as it fits the lighter look people want the past 10 years

EDIT .... I'm talking about the natural stone Quartzite. Quartz has taken over because it can be sourced in large panels --- uniform -- great properties for a kitchen. Strong in thinner profiles

Quartzite is harder and more stain resistant than granite. Both granite and quartzite are very hard, but on the Mohs scale of hardness (from 1 to 10, with 10 being hardest) quartzite has the slight edge. It measures around 7 whereas granite measures around 6 to 6.5.

 

[yeldogt]

Quartzite is harder and more stain resistant than granite. Both granite and quartzite are very hard, but on the Mohs scale of hardness (from 1 to 10, with 10 being hardest) quartzite has the slight edge. It measures around 7 whereas granite measures around 6 to 6.5.

Maybe "hard" is a bad adj. It's been popular in NYC ..... light colored and the ability to get bigger slabs to wrap an island. The staining and chipping/ scratching always comes up in any discussion -- the installers talk about lack of heat tolorance (not something I have seen)

You can scratch Quartzite and it will chip in ways I have not seen granite. People moved to it because of Marble issues. Marble in a kitchen is very nice looking ... have to understand going in what's going to happen to the product.

 

[My Old Tools]

Ours has been perfect for 4 years. We use the kitchen. No signs of scratching, chipping, or heat issues. We take stuff out of a 450 degree oven and set it down all the time. Granite will absolutely absorb stains like red wine. I haven't seen any of that with quartzite.

 

[yeldogt]

Ours has been perfect for 4 years. We use the kitchen. No signs of scratching, chipping, or heat issues. We take stuff out of a 450 degree oven and set it down all the time. Granite will absolutely absorb stains like red wine. I haven't seen any of that with quartzite.

Are you sure we are not talking Quartz?

Most of the Quartzite has linear lines -- normally done thick edge

 

[My Old Tools]

Are you sure we are not talking Quartz?

Most of the Quartzite has linear lines -- normally done thick edge

Absolutely positive

 

[67carl]

I'd search your area for pre-made countertops. We have a place here (Granite Outlet) that has different lengths and widths imported already cut. It saves a bunch of money. They have installers as well who bring it to your house and cut it to fit. It was so much less that when my parents re-did their kitchen and got local quotes (very high), I went to Granite Outlet. To our surprise, they only charged $100 extra above regular installation charges to drive 180 miles each way to my parents. The total was about 70% of the lowest local quote. Of course this was in the Before Times...

 

[reader2580]

Getting in here late, but I paid around $2,000 in 2018 for almost the exact same square footage of quartz countertop installed. I think I bought the least expensive grade of color. I ended up buying from Home Depot as they had the best price at the time. Your price seems decent with inflation. I was going to go with the Menards DIY quartz countertops, but the installed price was about $400 more expensive.

I am surprised to read that anybody cuts this stuff onsite with the dust and the required diamond blades. The big thing they do in the shop is the polishing of the top and edges. I guess it works to field cut if not cutting an exposed end.

 

[branimal]

These are the guys who did my basement Quartz. Might want to give them a shout, but I can't say they're going to be far different from the going rate.

Welcome To Wilstone Incorporation

Wilstone Incorporation is a custom natural stone fabrication and installation business. We are a privately owned business with more than 17 years of experience

wilstoneinc.com

They're getting back to me. Thanks.

These stone providers always ask me if I'm the homeowner or contractor. I get the feeling I'm going to get better pricing as a contractor. I asked one guy if I get the drops (the sink cutout etc). He said "you mean a commission"?

Is final payment typically due after satisfactory install? I'd hate to discover a chip on the quartz after the vendor is holding full payment.

 

[branimal]

@rlitman Wilstone came back with $3600 for MSI Calacatta quartz 3cm.

I was on FB marketplace and found a guy selling quartz countertops. He's quoting me $1500 for the job. 3cm Quartz, fabrication, installation. The design of his Calacutta is Not as nice as the other Calacatta designs, but it looks good enough to me. Last pic is the actual stone they're selling me.

These guys have a big shop/yard in East New York on Atlantic avenue. I stopped by there took some pictures of the operation. Looks legit.

So comparing the 3 quotes I got around 2500 vs this quote of 1500, how is this guy making money? What's the catch?

 

[rlitman]

@rlitman Wilstone came back with $3600 for MSI Calacatta quartz 3cm.

I was on FB marketplace and found a guy selling quartz countertops. He's quoting me $1500 for the job. 3cm Quartz, fabrication, installation. The design of his Calacutta is Not as nice as the other Calacatta designs, but it looks good enough to me. Last pic is the actual stone they're selling me.

These guys have a big shop/yard in East New York on Atlantic avenue. I stopped by there took some pictures of the operation. Looks legit.

So comparing the 3 quotes I got around 2500 vs this quote of 1500, how is this guy making money? What's the catch?

Oof. Well, that slab is under $500 at Floor & Decor, and that's retail. It's all about labor. My guess is Wilstone either doesn't want to work in your area, or prefers to wholesale jobs through contractors and doesn't want to undercut their bread and butter.

 

[branimal]

Off. Well, that slab is under $500 at Floor & Decor, and that's retail. It's all about labor. My guess is Wilstone either doesn't want to work in your area, or prefers to wholesale jobs through contractors and doesn't want to undercut their bread and butter.

I guess it does come down to labor. None of the guys at the shop/yard spoke english. Even the contact guy speaks very little english. They're coming by to template it tonight. I'll write up a receipt in case they don't bring one. I'm sure they'll want some downpayment to get started.

 

[dcg9381]

There are lots of yards here where they have remnants. Lot and lots of (large) pieces that I'm sure these guys collect for free. The price is all about the labor associated with fabrication and install.
I WOULD review their reputation on install.. A few around here are "well known" for doing some damage to homes and walking away.

I finished a kitchen last year. $55-$65 per sqft installed. The shop that cut our large bar slab cut it incorrectly (too short) the first time. The second time, they oriented the sink incorrectly. They were able to "fix" the 2nd slab by offering a larger sink.

I cannot stress enough that you get a drawing of the slab cuts up front - that way, if there is a mistake, it's "clear" that it was not a communication issue.

I still have two large slabs in the garage left over from the kitchen. They're probably 300-400 lbs each... Trying to decide what to do with them, pretty sure I don't want to invest in the tools necessary to cut and polish myself.

 

[branimal]

I cannot stress enough that you get a drawing of the slab cuts up front - that way, if there is a mistake, it's "clear" that it was not a communication issue.

I thought getting a template made onsite would be adequate. But I'll ask for a drawing.

The contact guy told me he'd might have to put a seam somewhere on the 105" long piece. Where would be an ideal spot for the seam?

 

[mike93lx]

I guess it does come down to labor. None of the guys at the shop/yard spoke english. Even the contact guy speaks very little english. They're coming by to template it tonight. I'll write up a receipt in case they don't bring one. I'm sure they'll want some downpayment to get started.

I wouldnt hand over a penny up front to someone that I have no references for and their online presence is FB marketplace. If they can't float the cost of the quartz til day of install, they shouldnt be in the business

 

[rlitman]

...The contact guy told me he'd might have to put a seam somewhere on the 105" long piece. Where would be an ideal spot for the seam?

There's never an ideal spot for a seam. The guy who did my basement Quartz really wanted to put in a seam, and man did he complain about bringing it down the stairs and in the door, but in the end, he didn't need a seam and it didn't break.

My base layout is very similar. 36" D sink in the corner with a 9" wide spice rack to the left. To the right, 12" base, 24" DW, and 36" DB ending in a fridge side-wall on the right. We had to leave a gap at the left that was covered by the tile to get it in past the fridge wall (it was scribed to that molding).

 

[branimal]

There's never an ideal spot for a seam. The guy who did my basement Quartz really wanted to put in a seam, and man did he complain about bringing it down the stairs and in the door, but in the end, he didn't need a seam and it didn't break.

My base layout is very similar. 36" D sink in the corner with a 9" wide spice rack to the left. To the right, 12" base, 24" DW, and 36" DB ending in a fridge side-wall on the right. We had to leave a gap at the left that was covered by the tile to get it in past the fridge wall (it was scribed to that molding).

I'm pretty sure they can fit the large quartz piece up the stairwells. They have to bring it up 2 flights of stairs which may be a challenge. The farmhouse sink cutout makes it a bit challenging b/c of the twisting forces. I think if they clamp a 2x4 across the FM sink cutout, the twisting forces will be minimized.

 

[rlitman]

... I think if they clamp a 2x4 across the FM sink cutout, the twisting forces will be minimized.

Yes, that would make things difficult. When I did the granite in my kitchen myself, I just split the countertop with a seam on each side of the farmhouse sink. My sink is a huge zero radius stainless tub so there's only about a 5" deck behind it, and I was ok with doing that in a separate piece.

 

[nmk_61802]

I thought getting a template made onsite would be adequate. But I'll ask for a drawing.

The contact guy told me he'd might have to put a seam somewhere on the 105" long piece. Where would be an ideal spot for the seam?

Just seam behind your farmhouse sink. Centered on the faucet, it will be so small it will never be seen. Better to do it now then when they crack it bringing it in.

 

[rlitman]

Just seam behind your farmhouse sink. Centered on the faucet, it will be so small it will never be seen. Better to do it now then when they crack it bringing it in.

Agreed. However, not all farmhouses sinks are created equal. My huge cabinet filling zero-radius job has short cuts leading back from the corners, so they form a straight line back from the sides of the sink. If your sink has a large radius corner and isn't as big, the cuts will be off-corner, longer and likely not aligned with the sink sides (since they'll have to deal with the radius). More important is how your boss feels about the cuts.

 

[vrinner]

I thought getting a template made onsite would be adequate. But I'll ask for a drawing.

The contact guy told me he'd might have to put a seam somewhere on the 105" long piece. Where would be an ideal spot for the seam?

I'm pretty sure that before any cutting is done, you will need to have the templates made, your walls may not be as straight as your drawings or the actual build dimensions of your cabinet work my be different than the drawings.

If your local guy has a super low cost, maybe it's because the material is free to him because it's left over from another job already paid for.

 

[branimal]

The guys giving me the low bid showed up last night. The lead guy says his "cousin" owns the stone fabrication company I visited and he's doing this as side gig. I asked if his "cousin" is ok with that and of course he tells me yes. I guess he has access to slabs and the necessary tools to do the job. Access to slabs could mean a lot of things.

Anyway - he knows what he's talking about, we went over the job in detail - he wants to do 3 pieces. This means putting the seam on the farmhouse sink. Not a big deal considering it will mostly be hidden.

He quoted me $1400 for 42 sq/ft. He wants $700 before he cuts the slab. The plan is to template tonight and he's going to give me a drawing tomorrow. 50% upfront sounds like a lot. I'm going to offer him $350 (25%).

They left the white templating strips here last night.

He suggested using Zelle as proof of payment. Zelle nor paypal or venmo offer buyer protection on cash transfers.

If this is a scam, they are going through a lot of effort.