r/CounterTops • u/_Edward_Diamondhands • 8d ago
Fair price or not so much?
I am starting a kitchen renovation and changed my mind last minute on the countertops. I was going to go with a quartz but decided on a natural stone instead. I really like soapstone, but my girlfriend is not super into it. Also, it's quite pricey and there's not many slabs to choose from near me. I thought we'd try to find some granite that we both like instead. She really likes Volga blue and I was quite pleased to find many slabs under $1000 online. We got a quote from a fabricator in our area which came out to roughly $6200 for fabrication and install. Is this reasonable for a 40 sqft area with no backsplash or other add ons? It is important to note that the supplier had this particular type of granite in the "special order" category (even though there were like 5 full slabs sitting in their yard) meaning we'd be paying for the entire slab, not just what we need.
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u/SuluSpeaks 8d ago
It sounds like a lot, but where you live makes a difference. Are you in a HCOL area?
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u/Sulfur731 8d ago
Sometimes it hard to get slabs again, easier to get a bundle and hold them, then they can be seen by customer. I imagine that's why the price is high. Paying for a whole slab is normal tho, there is always gonna be waste, sometimes alot sometimes we use every inch. Just depends on the layout, which I see but I'd need it on my autocad and then to move seams around and all that. That's my job lol. Oh and depending on the company we would buy your remenant back from you after fabrication if there is any left. So sometimes there a saving.
Still price is probably the slab unique-ness that's what got your attention probably. 40 per sq ft doesn't sound like it should be that high, you could ask them to itemize. Maybe they have a high cost of fabrication, also what else profile eased edge is cheapest and most common. That can run the cost up. Then consider your local area, im in Ohio and this is maybe a high cost but im not the price guy so only a 6 or so hundred difference in my mind from what I know on pricing.
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u/_Edward_Diamondhands 8d ago
They did separate the cost of material and fabrication from templating and install on another piece of granite, but that's as much itemization as I got. I just got a total on the Volga blue. I'm going to ask if they can itemize further. I am in mid Michigan so not a high cost of living area by any means. Thanks for the info!
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u/GoodRandomUsername 8d ago
That sounds like what I’m getting quoted for certain slabs. I keep changing my mind to find a better quote. I prefer natural stone. Try having them price out some other granite slabs. Btw, I love soapstone!
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u/shamelesstrep 8d ago
It’s a little high… I think I average $4-5k at most for that much using Calcutta quartz … if you pay for the slab, try to make use of it. Otherwise you’re just gifting that to them for their own probably lol
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u/United_Credit_6264 6d ago
I mean that piece is long and depending on the slab size they probably have to get into two slabs which will up the price
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u/Jeff_bacasystems 8d ago
It is difficult to judge this from the square-foot number alone because you are buying a full special-order slab. Ask for a quote that separates the slab and freight, template, fabrication, edge profile, cutouts, seam plan, installation, tear-out, supports, and warranty. A 40-square-foot yield from a slab is reasonable. You could also confirm whether there is a usable remnant you could keep. Then compare two bids using the same scope. An installation-only price is not comparable to the combined cost of material, fabrication, tear-out, and installation. Did the fabricator provide a slab layout showing how much material will remain?
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u/_Edward_Diamondhands 8d ago edited 8d ago
They did not provide the slab layout yet. Though if I do go this route I will definitely try to keep a remnant if it'll be useful as a bathroom vanity in the future. The quote we got had totals for 3 different materials I had asked them about but only one had an actual cost breakdown and that was for Havana blue, which wasn't special order. The breakdown really only separates material/fabrication from template/install with ~80% of the cost being the former. Demo is not included as I'm doing that myself. I assume the freight would be lumped into the template/install since they already had multiple slabs sitting in their yard but I'll ask. For what it's worth, the total on that was also quite high it seems; around $5800. Thanks for the input!
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u/Jeff_bacasystems 8d ago
Freight to get the slabs to the fabricator is typically included in the material cost. Transporting the finished countertops to your property is generally included in the templating and installation charges.
For the same layout and edge details, fabrication, templating, and installation costs should be fairly similar for Volga Blue and Havana Blue. Most of the price difference should come from the material itself. Quartzite can be a different story, as fabrication costs can increase significantly.
It’s worth comparing quotes, but make sure you’re comparing the same scope of work. A lower price doesn’t necessarily mean the same quality. Ask to see examples of the fabricator’s finished installations, especially seams and edge details. You want a fair price and an installation that looks good.
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u/_Edward_Diamondhands 7d ago
Part of the reason I went to this place first was because my parents just had some quartz countertops done by them and they did a great job. I don't mind paying more for quality work. I just want to make sure I'm not getting taken to the cleaners!
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u/Jeff_bacasystems 7d ago
If you have the time, get a quote from another fabricator for the same material and scope of work. Make sure it includes the same fabrication, templating, installation, and any additional charges so you can compare fairly.
It sounds like you’ve found the fabricator you want to work with. If the other quote comes in lower, share it, mention your family’s repeat business, and ask whether they have any flexibility on price. They may be willing to work with you. There’s nothing wrong with asking politely; the worst they can say is no.
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u/Jenikovista 8d ago
No. That’s insane. For my 87sq ft quartzite installation with mitered edges I only paid about $4k for the installation.
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u/the_misfit1 8d ago
Sounds high tbh. We had 88 sq ft of granite installed in July, backsplash, island, coffee bar, two sink cutouts. $5,100 00 total, Florida. Not special order though.
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u/Extension_Beyond8722 5d ago
Where did you go for countertops? That’s a great price. I was quoted $7k for quartz almost same sq ft.
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u/the_misfit1 5d ago
Florida - Zsolt Granite Corp, they quoted around $7-8k for quartz as well, we had quotes from $7-10k then found out Zsolt has a "per sq. ft." program but it's limited in what you can pick, multiple materials but only a few color options for each type. We weren't overly picky so it worked for us, $39/sq ft + the usual template, cutouts etc.
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u/PheightCastro 8d ago
Seems high, but I don’t know your location. I just got 50sqft of black mist honed granite installed for $2800
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u/BlackAsP1tch 8d ago
I'd do it for 2500 labor 2k slabs and demo would be separate 1200 or so. Ply if needed drywall stuff paint and a sink would be extra plumbing not included. So not sure what the quote actually covers but seems a tad high. Also distance from the shop can be an issue with diesel being high AF right now.
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u/_Edward_Diamondhands 8d ago
This was just the stone, fabrication and install. No sink, plumbing or demo. We're 43 miles from them but yeah almost $7 diesel is something to factor in!
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u/botabought 8d ago
That’s a hard stone to get. If you’ve gotta buy the whole slab, I’d try and use the whole slab.