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The facts on this page appeared in a leading consumer magazine. They compare granite
with engineered stone, ceramic tile, stainless steel, laminate, solid surface, marble, concrete, limestone and butcher block.
We believe that after you read what follows, you will engage The Granite Guy. Cost ramges cited here apply to "average-size
kitchens," and were published in summer 2008.
Butcher Block
If you like the
rustic ambiance of a country kitchen, butcher block is for you. In planning a new kitchen you will want to consider whether
or not you can add less-permanent decor that makes it "feel country" without committing the future resale value
of your home to a style which may have limited appeal. Butcher block is easy to install and repair, but it requires
regular cleaning and refinishing. Cost is $40 to $60 per square foot; $2,200 to $3,600 for an average kitchen.
Ceramic Tile
Heat-resistant and easy to install,
with lots of colors and patterns, it chips easily, and grout between tiles can stain. Cost is $10 ro $30 per square foot.
Depending on the quality of tile, an average kitchen will run $550 to $1650.
Concrete
Texture and color of concrete can be tailored to match
your preferences. As concrete driveway owners will testify, it requires "periodic sealing" to keep the stains
away, and it is easy to damage with heat, knives and rough surface contact. Cracks can develop in poorly fabricated and installed
counters. Cost ranges from $80 to $120 per square foot, and kitchens from $4,400 to $6,600.
Engineered Stone
Sometimes called "Quartz"
which most consumers consider a natural mineral once popular among hobbyists who made their own radio receivers,
engineered stone requires no sealing. Some color combinations and textures imitate granite, but edges of engineered
stone chip easily. Seams are visible as in moulded plastic. Cost is from $45 to $90 per square foot; average kitchens:$2.500
to $5,000.
Granite
"The real deal, direct from Mother Earth,"
granite takes extreme heat, knives and stains like water off a duck's back when properly sealed (about once a year.)
Chipping? Forget it. Won't happen! Because color and textures can differ slightly from catalog pictures, it's best
to personally visit The Granite Guy to be sure what you see in our showroom and on the fresh slabs in our lot matches your
great expectations from supplier photos you browsed elsewhere at our web site. Expect to pay $40 to $100 per square foot;
$2,200 to $5,000 for a kitchen.
Laminate
If low cost
is your primary concern, consider laminate, available in many colors. It resists stains and is easy to install. It is
also easily damaged and cannot be repaired. Rplacement is the only option. Some laminates have visible seals, but some don't.
Cost: $10 to $30 per square foot. Typical kitchen runs $550 to $1,650.
Limestone
Though it lacks the veining and textures of other natural stone, limestone can take extreme heat very well. Even when
sealed, however, limestone will stain, and it's easily scratched. Cost: $60 to $100 per square foot and $3,300 to $6,500
for a kitchen.
Marble
The classic stone that Michaelangelo sculpted
so well offers a vast range of veining, textures and colors. It is softer than granite, more vulnerable to scratches and excessive
wear, and must be sealed more frquently. The Granite Guy recommends marble for bathroom vanities and table tops not likely
to see frequent spills. Costs range the same as granite: $40 to $100 per square foot; $2,200 to $5,550 for a kitchen.
Solid Surface
A versatile option that can imitate natural stone,
engineered stone and concrete, solid surface is also seamless and stain-resistant. It scratches easily, however. Textures
and patterns, repeated often in solid surface, impart a predictable, "non-natural look." It costs $35 to $80 per
square foot; $1,950 to $4,400 for a kitchen.
Stainless Steel
Modern, institutional kitchens use stainless steel because it's durable and impervious to stains. Modern household appliances
may be purchased with stainless steel exteriors, so the "harmony factor" is obvious. On the other hand, it
will show the print from every finger that touches it. Special finishes minimize the effect of finger prints and minor
scratches. Cpsts begin at $70 per square foot and range to $120 per; $1,950 to $4,500 for a kitchen.
The Granite Guy also offers a wonderful variety
of tavertine and natural stone onyx. We will be happy to explain their capabilities and advantages as well. Just e-mail us
or call.
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