morgana44 Thanks for this ideabook...very informative.

Granite Grannies Thanks for featuring our photos!!! I love that you said to "Befriend your supplier and fabricator." Not only does it make our job more fun, but the better we know the client and their tastes, the easier it is for us to find a stone that doesn't just look "good," but that excites them and takes their breath away every time they see it.

marklandandpark This is a very helpful tool for those beginning a renovation...thank you.

josefplatil Hi All,
lessons learnt from buying the perfect slab.
0. each slab is unique.
1. go to more than one store to find the best one.
2. once you have the slab, think about the key features. What would you like to have visible and what can be hidden.
3. consider what part of the slab will look best in horizontal position and what in vertical.
4. you may fall in love with your granite slab, but you may not use it for the countertop and backsplash at the same time.

Thanks
Josef

tsmith1231 can you tell me the name of a granite.... it is black with veining and flecks of blue in it. it seem like the seller said it was called "something blue eyes" or "bufferfly something" do you have an idea what it would be?

Max Marble & Granite, Inc. Informative piece. I have been involved in the natural stone industry for almost 30 years. Quarrying, importing and fabricating. The range of stones and their uses never ceases to amaze and delight me. Your suggestions are gold. Working hand in hand with your design and stone professionals is a must to ensure the best outcomes. Delivering expectations is our philosophy and creed.
Bruce Scott
Max Marble & Granite
Houston, Tx

beccamagence Seems like you have granite and quartzite mixed in these photos as if they are the same type of stone...

orleansrichard We are remodeling the kiitchen in a cottage.. granite is the way to go!! Visited a warehouse and looked at slabs. Then visited a local retail store and signed with them.

Max Marble & Granite, Inc. It is true that the stones here are mixed, but the author noted that many stones are called granite regardless of true geological type. Many quarries in Brazil do the same thing. Do your homework when selecting stones, ask questions of suitability and maintenance. You can use image recognition features in search engines to help.

departure: architecture planning interiors llc Thanks all for the good comments!

@Granite Grannies and @Bruce: Thanks for sharing the fabricators' perspective!

@beccamagence: You're right - quartzite is one of the stones under the 'granite' umbrella term that's not actually granite. The 'Composition' section above digs into that unusual classifying a bit.

Sharon McLeod @josefplatil, I agree and disagree with your #4
I think, depending on the pattern, the granite or quartz can be used as a backsplash and look fabulous (more subtle patterns). Some crazy patterns can be a but much.
Also, I must say, it can be stunning used in certain spots only like behind the range.

nscb Informative, simple article. Thanks!

Sharon McLeod *Personally* I prefer man-made quartz counter tops. Why? No sealing, no pores to harbour bacteria and stains.
Again - that's my *personal* opinion.
There are a lot of really beautiful granite colours, but Cambria has some really beautiful colours of quartz as well and they're always coming out with more!
(http://www.cambriacanada.com/en/our-collection/design-palette/)
I'm in love with Bradshaw. :)

lptboyer I am new to Houzz and am semi planning a kitchen renovation in the next year. I have never had granite anything before. What about if you are just going to somewhere like Lowes and picking your granite from a small sample piece? Is that like taboo? We don't have gobs of money to spend, but need to bring our kitchen up to the standards of where we live for resale. Please someone answer if buying my granite at a major all purpose store is not a good idea and explain why! Thanks!

djbittle I've been considering a manufactured granite product that is put right over the existing countertop because of the weight of the slab I would need. Has anyone got any opinion or experience with Transformation Granite?

Sharon McLeod @lptboyer if you go to a big-box store, and choose your granite from a small sample, this is no problem. The store doesn't do the install, they sub-contract granite suppliers to template, cut and install. During this process you will be requested to go to the granite suppliers to "view the slab" before they cut it. At that point you can request a different slab, or even a different colour. If you choose NOT to view the slab, you have no recourse.

Just find out where the supplier is, to make sure you're willing to make the drive (can be farther if you're rural). Also, if you change the slab choice, be aware that will add time to the process, as well as possibly cost if you change the colour (since granite has different price points depending on colour).

Hope this helps!

Max Marble & Granite, Inc. @lptboyer small samples are good for color representation, as long as the sample is current. While there are "stable/homogenous" stones, they all can have shade and structure changes lot to lot. You should see the slab itself when making the final choice. Big box stores can be competitive but they drpend on contract arrangements. Look for feedback forums for your area. Often times an indrpendent fabricator can compete privrwise and often exceed quality. Thay said, the big box team can handle multiple functions, electric, plumbing, etc

Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel Excellent information! Just curious, why avoid dyed granites? I love granite counters for their indestructibility. Can't understand why some designers recommend white marble, which stains constantly.

Lowe's Home Improvement #1060 If you were to purchase your granite at Lowes, you would be able to select your slabs at a granite warehouse typically by appt. You are also able to change your mind on color should you find one granite that speaks to you. Pricing may be affected. Lowes does a fine job vetting fabricators/installers so that everything goes smoothly. Lowes also has various credit options available so you can make the proper investment in your home. Hope this helps!

departure: architecture planning interiors llc @lptboyer: I agree with Sharon and Max Marble and Granite, and want to add one point. Granite can come in wonderfully wild and varied patterns, like many of the images above. In those cases, picking from a small sample would be a bad idea. However, there are many granite slabs that have a much smaller granular pattern. Those granite patterns are easier to select from a small sample, with all the caveats from Sharon and Max Marble and Granite.

@Fine Art & Portraits: Because dyes aren't a permanent part of your stone, the dyes can leach out over time or due to chemical reactions, resulting in a change of appearance to your slab. The permanence of stone is one of its best features - best to have a stone that you don't have to worry about changing if the dye leaches.

Sharon McLeod @departure
"However, there are many granite slabs that have a much smaller granular pattern. Those granite patterns are easier to select from a small sample, with all the caveats from Sharon and Max Marble and Granite."
Absolutely with all the caveats! I strongly suggest to all clients to view the slab anyway. There are often allowable 'spots' that is essentially a pooling of colour. Can be up to a quarter to loonie sized - which really stand out on a small granular pattern. If it's going to end up on the cutting room floor, that's one thing - but if it ends up front and centre it could be very distracting and irritating!

*Always view the slab!*

lptboyer Hey Guys,

Thanks! I didn't know that I would be able to view the slab and then possibly adjust my choice. I also appreciate the advice to find out where I would have to go to do that. I already live far away from everywhere! All of your advice helps a lot and I really appreciate your replies.

gypsyrose17 We made a rudimentary drawing with measurements of our countertops and brought it with us when we picked out our slab...it was a tremendous help. Best way to pick is to find a website where you can pull your cabinet, paint, appliance scheme and insert different granite choices to get an idea how they will look prior to going to the store/warehouse/yard to pick out your slabs.

susannels Great ideas and advice! Especially the befriending the supplier and fabricator and securing the exact slab. We did this with a smaller local company and were super pleased with the results. Our Crema Lumiere granite counters please us every time we look at it.

Granite Grannies @lptboyer While places like Home Depot and Lowes are great for hardware, tools, lumber etc, they are not good places to buy things that require specialized skills and training. They will sub the work out to other fabricators (i.e. specialized companies ) anyway, but what that means is they have to find a fabricator who uses cheap enough material and labor that they can still mark it up. If you are buying a product that has an extra middle man and still comes out less than the average specialized company, then you can image the low quality you are going to get.

vatech97 Not only should you be able to view your slab, but the salesperson should work with you to mark the placement of cuts. This is really important with strong patterns-- we did a tape layout on the slab so we knew exactly what our finished pieces would look like and could emphasize portions we liked by putting them in more visible places, while deemphasizing areas we didn't like as much. Also we went to a stone dealer and paid equivalent to the low end price per foot at a big box-- we were able to make our choice based on slabs rather than samples and this helped us choose something far more interesting than I'd originally planned.

Mackenzie Austin Design Just to reiterate what others have said: always pick your slab(s) and know what part of the slab is going on what location of your countertop. These are natural materials, and each is unique. Also, I would recommend selecting the stone before many other finishes so that you can base other colours (cabinetry, backsplash, floor...) around it.

lctpdc I was not able to swing all-granite for my reno, so I went with a granite bar and used coordinating man-made materials for the rest. I purchased the granite piece from the odds and ends stock at a local granite mill, and it was very affordable. The greatest part of the cost was to polish the edges. It looks great - - all-granite would have been too much.

unconformity I always wonder why most of the stone suppliers could not give the real name of the rocks... Do they only know granite and marble? I am a geologist and none of the above counters seem to be granite for me... Most of them are gneisses, the last one is definitely a limestone breccia and the nicely laminated one (with the wine bottle) is most probably a banded iron stone, which I would never chose for a place like kitchen or bathroom... In this case how can you avoid rusting? And I would like to also draw your attention that quartz is a mineral and quartzite is a rock made up of quartz crystals. But actually sandstone could be also made up by quartz grains and it looks completely different from quartzite. It is important to know exactly what rock type are you looking at to know its exact properties, before using it in the kitchen or any other place.

Max Marble & Granite, Inc. @unconformity. The promary reasons for not knowing the geology of the stones is that quarries amd importers classify the stones for export/import. These are broad categories. In general, fabricators are not geologists and use market nomenclature. And most do not take the professional courses that would help alleviate the problem.

CJ Sebert Great ideabook. Granite is so hit or miss. You hate to take it out if you move and the new house has an ugly veining or color, we lucked out I truly love the granite in our kitchen and would have picked it myself if it wasn't already there.

unconformity @Max Marble & Granite, Inc. Thank you for the answer! Indeed in this case it is the mistake of the importers. I could only hope that the mentioned broad categories at least include rocks with similar properties. I would be happy to be able to help in this question as a geologist, but it is true that the easiest way would be if the rocks would be sold on their real names.

Sharon McLeod @granitegrannies
Your comment to lptboyer : "While places like Home Depot and Lowes are great for hardware, tools, lumber etc, they are not good places to buy things that require specialized skills and training. They will sub the work out to other fabricators (i.e. specialized companies ) anyway, but what that means is they have to find a fabricator who uses cheap enough material and labor that they can still mark it up. If you are buying a product that has an extra middle man and still comes out less than the average specialized company, then you can image the low quality you are going to get."

What you fail to take into consideration are the granite companies that deal specifically with chains! The company we sub-contract only deals with us, and they supply high-end granite AND Cambria. Because they don't deal with the public, and don't have to have all the costs associated with multiple store-fronts, they don't have to mark their product up. Our product is as impressive, high quality and professionally installed as any out there.

Granite Grannies @Sharon I apologize. I should have been more specific. My comment applies to the greater Washington, DC area where Home Depot and Lowes use only one or two huge fabricators.

waffl3 I am told that Granite scratches easily. Is this true?

Sharon McLeod @waffl3
Any counter can scratch, and care should be taken to always use cutting boards, hot plates, and to NOT use citrus based products which clouds the finish!

Granite Grannies Granite doesn't scratch unless your taking a hammer to it. It definitely doesn't burn. I'd use a cutting board just because it will dull your knives, but your just cheating yourself of a wonderful kitchen experience by using a hotplate. We've been in the business for almost a decade, and we've never had a single customer burn or scratch granite. The only time granite can be damaged is if commercial grade granite is being put in the kitchen. I've seen super Absolute Black look-alikes etch or burn, but never quality sources granite.

Sharon McLeod I'm not so much worried about burning the counter (it is, after all, rock), but I do worry about cracking. Yes, it's thick, but ultimately, it IS stone and therefore has natural veins running through it. A hot pot in the wrong spot and granite WILL crack. Just do an image search on Google for cracked granite.

Granite Grannies Only if it's installed poorly. You always get what you pay for. Properly installed, granite is virtually indestructible. Even stones like the Rainforest Brown in this article (our installation) which we install at least several times a month.

Phoenix Granite & Marble, Inc. Hi, I've been in custom residential natural stone fabrication and installation for 23 years. Granite is extremely durable, requiring very little maintenance over the long haul. We also install a good amount of marble in high traffic areas such as kitchens, but I do advise against that. While the local appetite plays a large role in what we sell the most of, I have to emphasize that I am the complaint department after I sell the product. Any fabricator who does not take the time to educate their clients to best of their abiity with regard to how a stone wil perform in a particular application is doing an injustice to our business. It is a skilled trade, with many nuances of "good" vs. "bad" elements of different stones when it comes to fabrication. The customer needs a professional to help them through the process. You cannot sell that from a big box perspective. Plain and simple!

A. Peltier Interiors So helpful, I would love some tips on what makes a quality fabrication and install, those can really affect the look as well and it is hard to convey that to my clients sometimes. The blue in the first picture is also amazing! I rarely use color in granite because it can be too trendy but that one is so classic.

gypsyrose17 Sharon...It will crack if you use super force like slam something, I have dropped bowl from top shelf of cupboard and no damage to the counter, just a broken bowl...or if it is an overhang for a breakfast bar and someone sits on it in between the braces, however that will crack any counter surface and should be discouraged.

gypsyrose17 to A. Peltier Interiors...I used Cassarino Stone in Loomis, CA...they have a showroom, a warehouse ful of slabs and a yard of slabs. They handle every facet of the job; from the day we picked the slab to installation, (which included them coming out, measuring, making template and removing old counter and subsurface and install of new subsurface, then final installation) it took 2 1/2 weeks. Since you are in Pasadena, it might be worth a trip up here to let them educate you on the product, fabrications, finishes, edges, etc. they also have other surfaces, i.e. quartz, recycled glass, ec. (they are about 20 minutes from downtown Sacramento).

Sharon McLeod @Phoenix Granite & Marble, Inc.
I completely disagree.
I work for a "big box" store, albeit in a rural area. I go into peoples homes for the templating, I help customers decide what type of material and why, and I am involved and knowledgeable in every step of the process. We have highly skilled and professional granite experts completely committed to us and our customers.

I also disagree with the "little maintenance" comment. I don't consider sealing continuously 'little' maintenance. And *every* granite is porous, so needs to be sealed.

Any granite supplier will tell you not to put hot pots on it. Mainly "just in case", but they still tell you.

A. Peltier Interiors Thanks for the info gypsyrose17!!

lalumdane Heres something we learned the hard way - Water will make the colors of the slabs very different - looking at them after it has rained vs when it has been dry will change them significantly to the point that you might think you have a different slab entirely! Sign the slab you want and if it is a common granite make sure you are getting the slab you bought when they do the cutting. My mom bought 2 slabs of emerald pearl that was sooo dark it looked nearly black (it was gorgeous). When she got the counter in it was muddy and flecked with gold. She insisted it wasnt her slab that hers was much darker and they said nope it was her. There was a small section that was missing and they had to come back with it - when they did it was the color of her original slab! Apparently they had switched hers with someone elses!

Max Marble & Granite, Inc. A few general comments about stone. Granite is one of the hardest natural materials on the planet. Cracks in granite are generally the result of improper installation. At times, stones, granite included, contain micro fissures and voids that are internal to the slab and may result in a crack if undue pressure is put upon the stone. A good substrate, even for 3cm stone, is a must. Regarding, heat issues. Granite is an igneous/metamorphic rock. Heat that is normally found in a home - hot pots, oven pans, curling irons, etc, will not cause granite to crack. Marble, limestone, travertine are another issue. Any clouding to the finish is generally the sealer opaquing due to heat. This is easily remedied. Yes, granites should be sealed (all natural stone should be sealed if you want the coloration to remain constant and not patina) to keep liquids from percolating into the pores of the stone. In the main, granites are not absorptive, but discoloration can occur if liquids penetrate. This too is easily remedied with a poultice type stain remover. Acids do effect sealers. So general maintenance should be done with pH neutral cleaning products. Soap and water are fine, but be aware the life of the sealer can be affected. Generally, resealing does not need to be performed anually. Many sealers state that 3 - 5 years is typical, some boast 10 years. If water is beading up, the sealer is fine.

Scratching granite is difficult to do. However, abrasive surfaces/utensils/pots should not be dragged across the surface as this can scratch the stone.

For the most part, enjoy your granite. Again, issues with calcium or dolomitic stones are another issue. They are softer, they are absorptive and acids react harshly with the minerals. Polished surfaces will blemish (hone) or etching can occur. Make sure to ask questions questions questions about suitability. Marble/limestone/travertine in a kitchen is fine but be prepared for constant changes to the appearance of the stone. If you want it to always look new, then the maintenance requirements are high, as is the probability of refinishing from time to time. Your expectations and realitiesneed to be discussed.

Hope this helps.

Allied Stone Great article! Thank you for sharing the excellent tips and advice. We have enjoyed working with granite in the Dallas area for many years. It's always nice to see product information shared from a neutral source.

Max Marble & Granite, Inc. @granite grannies. what is the name of the stone in the last photo used in this article? The counter has an ogee edge. I believe it has been called Winter White, but one of my associates says it may be Ice White. Thanks, Bruce

pinxed Another important factor to understand with natural stone is that the slabs can vary in thickness slightly and they can warp too. I just finished a kitchen for a client and the joins didn’t fit together seamlessly. Once the glass splash back went on you could see the variance in the thickness along the slabs. The fact sheet on the material (Granite) said that the maximum allowable lippage at the centre of the countertop should be 0.8mm and the thickness of the stone slabs should not vary by more than 3mm between the thickest and thinnest slabs. Because of these tolerances slabs can be installed and not leave a perfect finish. The client needs to be fully aware of this before choosing Natural Stone as their bench top material

momof3pittsburgh Can you please tell me the name of the color granite in the first picture with the blue door behind it?

wench7 I've had my blue pearl granite for 12 years and love it. I've never sealed it and it looks as great as the day we installed it. I have even changed the overall colors in my great room/ kitchen area from blues and browns to charcoal grays and cremes
and it still works...while the new trend may be Carrera marble, I'm convinced my granite is more suitable for our life style. I use my island for a project area, it's had EVERYTHING on it and is indestructible. It was worth the expense in my opinion.

3D-Tile-Design - Bertram Tasch Great Article! - I have bookmarked it and will definitely use it for my clients.

Regards.

3D-Tile-Design - Bertram Tasch
Maple Ridge, BC (Greater Vancouver)
http://www.3D-Tile-Design.ca

susiebon I chose our Madura Gold countertop mainly because I could afford it! But it looks so good with the "fischgraete" pattern oak floor, I've gotten so many compliments on it, and it is such a delight to live with, that now, I'm loving it!

sclawson Great run-down of terms and tips!

Sharon McLeod @susiebon
Love how you ran it up the wall behind the range! Exactly what I was talking about earlier.

Phoenix Granite & Marble, Inc. Thanks for the great article, Houzz! Granite Grannies and Max, I appreciate your honesty. :)

Granite Grannies @Max Marble & Granite, Inc. That's Super White Quartzite aka White Fantasy or White Vermont. It's sold as granite sometimes, but it's a quartzite. For more info, check out our blog about the stone: http://granitegrannies.com/is-super-white-a-granite-or-a-marble/

Mackin Drafting & Design I would have to agree with Mackenzie Austin Design. A small sample, while it may be accurate to parts of the slab, won't give you the big picture. The countertops should be one of the first choices you make, considering the investment. It will be easier to find choices to
go with the countertops rather than the other way around.

elainems Great Ideabook and comments from very knowledgeable sources. I really, really love calcutta gold marble and wanted to use in my kitchen. Small island/counterspace. But we use our kitchen and have a bunch of kids and activity in the house,sooo could someone recomend a good stand in alternative in a more durable surface? Thank you,

Fabric Wall Effects Be sure to have your granite sealed by the installer. Cutting citrus fruits like lemons, limes, oranges, etc... will eat away the sealer and pit your granite. Even if you use a cutting board make sure you completely wipe your granite down after you are done.

Sharon McLeod The same goes for citrus based cleaning products. Long term use of them (such as wiping down the counters after/during washing the dishes) can cloud the sealer, and also slowly eats away at it.

justarose86 Love it, love it, so many ideas my head aches. I am interior design college graduate, not with job yet but my mind has designed sooooo many kitchens in my head and your ideas and tips make me go insane. Thanks for so much info and spirit. Brando

mimi224 I wish I had read this before purchasing my granite. I am building a new house, picked a slab, but I didn't choose what parts I liked best or ask about a template. He told me we would use the slab for the kitchen island and the master bath. 2 months later and 2 weeks before we close, he says there is not enough for the master bath and swears he never promised he would have enough for the bathroom!
Even though I had all the paperwork, it was a he said/she said argument and I am in a hurry to move in.
Lesson learned.

mimi224 I wish I had read this before purchasing my granite. I am building a new house, picked a slab, but I didn't choose what parts I liked best or ask about a template. He told me we would use the slab for the kitchen island and the master bath. 2 months later and 2 weeks before we close, he says there is not enough for the master bath and swears he never promised he would have enough for the bathroom!
Even though I had all the paperwork, it was a he said/she said argument and I am in a hurry to move in.
Lesson learned.

Sharon McLeod @elainems
Check out Cambria. :)

ndraper Recently purchased exotic granite from granite company and they came out and installed about 3 weeks ago.we have not moved in yet so not using the kitchen but the other day we happened to notice a place where the sink cutout is that appears to be patched with a putty looking hard substance that does not match the granite.It appears it may have shattered when they did the cutout. I called the granite place and they sent a man out to look at it and he agreed that it was a patch. He says they are going to send a man out to see if he can grind it and sand it and patch it better.My question is should I mske them replace it or shouldl the patch be good for the life of the granite. They say that if they replace the section where they made a seam on either side of the sink that it might shatter when they break it loose to replace the piece where the sink is that is damaged.

Granite Grannies @ndraper That is called "fill." To be honest, it's fair game on a highly exotic stone. To be honest, that is not a very well done fill. Definitely ask them to make it more appealing and blended. But other than that it should last the life of your countertops. Make sure to ask them if it should for some reason ever come loose would they come and fix it. They should have pointed out something that obvious to you before installing it, but sometimes with a very exotic stone there is nothing you can do to stop little bits from coming loose during the cutting and polishing process. It will never be invisible, but they should be able to make it blend more.

Fill is not necessarily a sign of a job poorly done. In our own showroom, our star piece is a countertop and full backplash of Wild Chianti. It's very hard to work with, and has several dime sized fills. They are not noticeable to someone who doesn't know what fill looks like. Sometimes a little fill is the price you pay for an otherwise breathtaking stone. Basically what I'm trying to say is, don't feel like you were ripped off or got shoddy work. Once they clean the patch up a bit, your kitchen will still be gorgeous if that little bit of granite is any indication of the rest of the stone.

Wendy Percival The granite people I dealt with suggested I pick the stone first... I fell in love with Creme Bordeaux from Brazil, then pick out the cabinets second...it was great advice as every time I looked at granite...I was drawn to the same kind of stone each time. I worked with the granite people for over a year and she kept an eye out for the perfect piece...as each set of slabs can vary quite a bit in colour. I was looking for a pc that has more burgundy, black and salmon than greys and cream veins...granite first, cabinets second...flooring third, then colour of walls.

fatima26 @ ndraper, please tell me the name of your stoneis it quartzite?

tupper69 DOES anybody know, or can tell me about RADIATION from GRANITE (countertops)? And what kind of radiation it might be? I read somewhere that it is unhealthy, but I cannot find that source.
I am thinking of rather going with wood if granite does EMIT unfriendly radiation.
Thank you.

Max Marble & Granite, Inc. This issue has been written about extensively by both the Marble Institute of American, the EPA and other sources. The short answer is that the "threat" has been debunked. Radon radiation is the "boogey man" here. The background radiation emanating from granite is no more than that found in some basements and is generally that found in nature due to the makeup of our planet. You can do a search for this issue using radon and radiation in granite counters. The origination of this conversation can be traced, in the main, to competitor sources to the natural stone countertop industry. Hope this helps.

Callie Henrichs To the person who was asking about granite overlays..the price was more than full granite counters. $50 approx. /sq. ft. granite overlay vs. $38/sq. ft. for the full granite counters installed.The overlays are a much thinner product. I would think twice before doing this.

annak1214 I bought my granite at a big box store ( not Lowes) and was horrified!! The small piece that I selected ( supposedly Volga Blue) was mislabeled and when I went to look at my slab it was completely different from the small sample instore.

.IN addition, the sink cut was misaligned so there is a gap with the sink that leaks and their installers hacked up a $1500 bathroom vanity cabinet. 4 crews had to come to finish the job. The big box store used inexperienced ( translated as the low cost to them )subcontractors for install.
At the end of the day, ( the job was $4635 in granite ) I saved a whopping $300 over the professionals at Ultimate Granite( Pittsburgh) who I had used in a kitchen. A foolish and huge mistake by me.

AVOID these stores at all costs!! When dealing with materials of this expense, you do get what you pay for. Only use fabricators who install --these are firms whose reputations depend on excellent measurements, quality installations and satisfied customers.

Callie Henrichs The install is only as good as the people who do it. I used Lowe's in Ames, Iowa, and they had Tops Unlimited from Ankeny do the entire job, milling, measuring, to install. They were 100% professional, and the counters turned out fantastic. They even did French seams without an extra charge. Guess we all should be checking who does our job ahead of time,and see their work. Lowe's however does guarantee the job, so there are built in assurances. Sorry yours didn't turn out as good.

Sharon McLeod annak1214
One bad experience and you're writing off ALL big box stores??? You specify it was NOT Lowe's, but won't specify which chain it was? Come on!

marjie1059 After 30 years of yukky ugly laminate, we now have Cosmic Gold granite which looks like Cosmic Black, but has just enough gold in it to merit the "gold" designation.
No one has mentioned the issue (that means necessity) of rodding a counter...a quick check online will bring up lots of horror stories about sinks falling because they were only glued. Yikes! Make sure your fabricator rods the sink!
Regarding the box store controversy--since our cabinets came from Lowe's, I looked into counters there and was put off by the insistence that I travel an hour to a cold warehouse, as well as by the price. What sold me on granite was something so simple as never having to worry about hot dishes. (Putting a fresh-from-the-oven/stovetop dish directly on the counter results in it feeling barely warm after a few minutes--no problem!) Well, that plus the sheer beauty and uniqueness of granite!
A friend who has a granite business turned out to be cheaper than Lowe's. He has some slabs at his business, but I ended up making that hour-long trek to the very chilly warehouse where I was totally awed by God's creation. I had no idea how beautiful granite could be, just going from the little samples at Lowe's! It took me four trips to choose the granite, but since I would choose the same exact slabs today, those trips were worth it. I would never choose a granite based on the samples in the store--the stone is just too varied.
I really love soapstone and almost chose it, partly because I didn't think I liked the extreme shininess of granite, but I don't mind it a bit, and I still don't know if I would have loved soapstone in my kitchen as much as I loved it at the warehouse.
I don't have any problem with stains, or looking dirty, or wiping down the counter making it look yukky. I don't know why others on this thread seem to. Different color?
Btw, I had the plain edge on mine and love it that way. I think the beauty of the stone comes out more with the simple edge rather than a fancy edge such as the ogee.
Sorry this is so long!

mpuchala Thought I clicked on a "Pros and Cons" to Granite link?

Callie Henrichs @mpuchala Here's some for you. I have multi-toned granite counters with black, creme, and tan. I had my reservations about granite vs. quartz however, granite has turned out to be very easy to care for. I love knowing they aren't going to wear out. They will last for as long as I care to have them. It hasn't stained like some say it can. I am careful to clean up any spills as soon as I see them though. The hubby has spilled coffee in the early morning and it comes right off with no staining several hours later. The only con I worry about at all is that I will need to reseal them at some point and not using the kitchen for a day after cleaning to allow them to dry will be a problem for a busy family of 5. We had laminate counters before and they stained, and started to show wear in about 15 years I would never go back to them and can't wait to put granite or quartz in our bathrooms. I love the look, the shine, and richness of the granite. Not to mention, it won't scratch like others will. I feel you get what you pay for when it comes to anything, and it certainly pays to spend it on the counters. Hope this helps you.

twelveoaks1 I have been looking for granite "jet mist" at granite stores. Found several, including "absolute black" at granite factories, but could not find "jet Mist". Is there another name used? And please educate me on honed vs. gloss, which is less maintenance if there is a difference? Thank you

joyful_lady My kitchen plan calls for a long counter top, 14' plus two 5' counters an island and smaller areas around the stove top.

My current kitchen has about a 9' counter and there is one seam near where my current stove and the long open counter meet.

For some reason I am becomng concerned that such a long counter will have seams that make it less beautiful.

How big do the slabs of granite come in?

I tend to like smaller patterns (not the large swirls and waves) which I think makes seams less noticable but I would still prefer to have this stretch of the counter seamless.

I would appreciate feedback from someone with experience of how big the slabs are. Also, since I will have other areas (two 5' sections and about 8' where the stove top is) will getting that much granite that looks the same be problematic? I am unsure now whether the island will be the same choice or another collor. The island is 3' x 8.

Thank you.

Sharon McLeod I personally don't like honed granite. I think the honed black granite looks like soapstone, so why not just get soapstone?
Soapstone doesn't stain, is easy to maintain, and non-porous.
Honed granite is porous, stains, and is difficult to maintain.

If you want the shiny look of beautiful granite, go that route. Otherwise, maybe soapstone is the answer you're looking for?

Max Marble & Granite, Inc. joyful_lady - First regarding slab sizes. Typically granite slabs average 118" x 68". There are several types of granites that are produced that exceed 120" in length (up to around 132") and over 72" in height. That said however, does not mean that you can have an island 132" x 72" or so in size. You have to consider access to your space, the weight of the slab (how many men it will take to move the slab into place), appliances and sinks etc.

If you have a good installation team and care has been taken to select slabs that have matching structures (reference book matched slabs), then seaming can be much less of an issue. We have finished another project where the island was over 11' in length. Both perimeter counters were well over 13' in length. We took extreme care in selecting the 3 slabs needed for the project, marking each slab with the client present and then executing extremely tight and smooth unions. (a trademark of our installation teams.) Patterning does not have to be a limiting factor nor does a more homogenous stone eliminate the need for good seaming or joinery.

With regard to the question of whether so much of one color is problematic or not is more a personal esthetic than anything. Decorative choices for your backsplash, counter based appliances, light fixtures, etc. will all play a role in how the counters are perceived. Many of our kitchens have over 130sf of stone surface. Not one of these kitchens appears overpowered by that much surface area. If you have a "parade of homes" event or if your builder/contractor has finished homes/kitchens available for viewing, then you might avail yourself of that opportunity. This will help give you a visual reference to how your actual kitchen will look.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Bruce

Sharon McLeod The average slab is 9-10' wide. You will definitely need seams. The manufacturer will work with you to ensure the seams look good, but yes you're correct in that smaller patterns are helpful - sometimes. Large swooping patterns can be done though. I know there is a guy at our manufacturer that that's all he does all day long. He has a computer program, they photograph the slab, and he plays with the "pieces" on-screen until he finds the absolute best layout.

And personally, I do love the "contrasting but complimentary" colour on the island idea. Especially if you do the cabinets different as well.

Callie Henrichs When our granite counters were installed, they did a French seam rather than a straight seam. We were told it would be less noticeable. They were right, you can barely see it. We have a fairly large kitchen, and lots of running feet of counter. Our peninsula is 3'x5' and is the first thing you see when you come into the kitchen. We went with a smaller pattern, and it certainly doesn't look like there is too much granite.

marjie1059 It would sure be nice to have photos to accompany some of these comments...I can't really visualize very well. (It made it very difficult to try to choose things when a major structural problem necessitated major kitchen changes!)

joyful_lady Bruce, Sharon and Callie - Thank you for the detailed feedback. All of it was very helpful.

I had not thought about computers being used to match the slabs. I love living NOW with all this wonderful technology making life so much easier and simplier!

marjie1059 joyful_lady: What is the square footage of your kitchen? It sounds enormous!
If sameness is a concern, you might think about the wall and base cabinets being a different color, rather than choosing different counter surfaces. Keeping the counter all the same would then help the room flow and be a cohesive whole. On the other hand, I've seen some pretty neat kitchen photos with the island counter different from the wall counters. No seams simply doesn't work if you have granite on a counter that long. A seam would annoy me, I think, but others tell me they don't even notice and it doesn't bother them at all.
Another idea to counteract sameness might be to get a color for the long counter that will show the counters less, and get a similar, complementary but bolder color for, say, the 8' section by the stove. Have you looked at slabs yet?
Bruce has good advice, and the issue with seams may really come down to who the fabricator is. Online research helped me know what questions to ask, and the friend who owns a granite business had all the right answers to every question. After the slabs were moved from the warehouse to his business, and after he measured to make the templates, I went in to choose exactly which part of which slab would go where--no uncertainty then. Btw, ask for the sink cutout part--you pay for it, and if you can use it, that's great. My son has mine and uses it as a base for his leatherworking business (bike seats, belts, etc.) as it deadens the noise and is indestructible.

joyful_lady Hi Marjie,

It is about 416 square feet. About 100 sq feet of counter top by my estimate. I have not looked at slabs yet for this house. I did for the one we live in now. We are in the design & planning stage on this home so it is too soon to go look and choose.

I've seen the same sort of pictures. I like the change in counter more than the change in island although we are considering a different base on the island than the rest of the kitchen. We're very traditional when it comes to cabinets and I haven't seen anything that I really like mixed with the cherry cabinets we are going to have. If I find the right goldish color then I will go for it. I like some of the greeens but then feel tied into a green kitchen. I have a green kitchen now and love it but I don't want to be hemmed in by the cabinet color. I may go back to the yellow family for my next kitchen - undecided now. I also have some beautiful italian items in blue and gold that I don't use now because they don't look good with my current granite.

The island should be fine. It is the 14' counter where the Great Room & Nook are on the far side that sounds like it will require a seam but it also sounds like it should be able to have only one on the big expanse. The island is not that big - just 8 x 3.

Granite, Quartz and those counters with the recycled glass are at the top of my current list although the recycled would probably get old too soon (from the perspective of I would tire of them - not their durability). I have not seen them installed. We'll be touring some homes as we move along and I hope to see one with that type of counter. I've also thought about using it in a bathroom and keep wondering if I would like it in our bathroom.

The door by the ovens goes into a butler pantry area combined with the laundry room - also egress from garage is through there. The other door goes directly into the formal dining room.

In this sketch 1 square = 1 foot.

Has any one used left over granite from their slab(s) as window ledges? We stayed in a hotel recently and I noticed they used granite for the window ledge. I would not want that everywhere but in windows where I plan to have plants it might be a nice touch if I have unused pieces that would work.

joyful_lady I know there is no window (before someone points it out). The open area of the counter faces walls of windows where the great room and gathering room/nook look out on the view. The set-up in relationship to the windows is not unlike my current kitchen with the exception of I currently have a smallish window over the sink but the new sink will have a much better view even with the windows a bit away.

marjie1059 Joyful_lady:
Cherry cabinets---*sigh*
We have cherry cabinets with whiskey black finish (I totally love the finish) and used cosmic gold granite for the counters. It looks more like cosmic black, really, but has enough gold to be more interesting. I realized that as I looked at photos, the dark counters (which I thought I would never get because I don't like dark rooms and thought it would darken the room) make a room look more elegant. I'm not an elegant person, nor is my 1895 farmhouse, but after a year, I would choose the same exact slabs.
I like the granite because it is God-made and not man-made and thus is not uniform. I'll try to get a couple closeups so you can see what I mean. I could look at my counters all day!
The fabricator attends our church and put in granite window ledges in most of the Sunday school rooms--looks classy, and you certainly wouldn't have to be concerned about water spills from the plants ruining the wooden window sill. Some fabricators will not charge you for the cost of the material itself, since a window ledge is a small piece that they probably have trouble getting rid of. Our fabricator has to pay someone every few months to haul away the little pieces that no one wants.

joyful_lady Marjie, Thank you! That information is most helpful. Sounds like Granite window sills are even more possible than I imagined.

My world view is a little different than yours in that I see God's hand in everything including man's hands so if man makes it, in my world view, it is still God made. But it is all good. The world would be awful if everyone had an identical perspective on things. I often carry that concept out to the final result in my classes to demonstrate. If everyone perceived identically then there would only be one house in the perfect location in the entire world and everyone would want that one. All who did not get that one would feel they had settled. Our different perspectives add great strenth to humanity and I am grateful for them.

Your kitchen does sound very elegant. I love how much you love it.

When it is time to look at slabs I will ask about window sills.

cindycaye We are building a new home & are considering using black leathered granite on our wall cabinets and bar and then using Starry Night or Maximus granite on the island between them. The island has a sink. We are planning to use Karndean flooring, and stained bottom cabinets with painted uppers. The kitchen flows into the great room with no partitions except the bar. Any ideas or suggestions for colors on walls, kitchen or lighting fixtures?

jacksonbeth Can someone tell me what color granite is in this photo?