Does it HAVE to be granite?

[UCFALUM]

We renovated and sold last year a modest ($250K) home and went with granite. The cost was only $700 more than laminate and it made a HUGE difference. DMIL even apologized to me after seeing it-how nice it was (note: I'm not sure what she had been saying about me/granite but it was the first time she ever apologized-lol) I always said the granite would sell the house and I think it did-esp in the stalled housing market we were selling in. Beyond how great it looked, I LOVED that my messy men could leave smugs/crumbs and you could not tell due to the grains. Sealing was not a big deal, basically an after thought. Good luck!!

 

[rockyroad]

Since you are, in essence, preparing the house for sale, then what matters is what sells and not what you personally like, you know?

If I could, I would go look at some homes on the market and in your price range and see what their amenities are.

If the house is in an area in which there will be other properties for sale at the same time and if granite is the norm in the area, then I would do granite.

I have noticed, when looking at homes, that the difference between the houses with granite, upgraded woodwork, ceramic tile, and hardwood floors and those with formica, vinyl, builder quality doors and woodwork, and carpet is really noticeable.

 

[kim_d]

I am a realtor in MA and concrete really doesn't go over well unless it is a contemporary loft or something like that. As an option to granite, I would go with silestone or another synthetic. We did that in our kitchen. It was the same price as granite but it is nonporous so does not need to be sealed. I can still cut right on it as well as place hot pots. I absolutely LOVE it!!! Silestone is the manufacturer so I believe other manufacturers have it as well. In addition, since it is synthetic, it all matches - unlike the granite slab. Just a thought.

We used Dupont Zodiac and love it. It is easier to care for than granite, but looks very similar. Although it is more expensive than granite when we priced it 3 years ago.

 

[disneymom2003]

To answer your question Yes. We remodeled our kitchen 3 years age and I love my granite. I don't want tile or laminate and if I am going to spend the money for a solid surface I want the real deal. My granite is very easy to take care and looks beautiful. The only way I would buy with out is if we were going to remodel the kitchen.

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

For me granite is a must but if you're ona budget maybe consider the stuff called granicrete or granitecrete something like that. It's concrete finished to look exactly like granite. It's pretty cool stuff.

 

[bzkds]

I think granite counters with stainless steel appliances is going to look very dated in another year or two. I am getting ready to redo my kitchen and really love the recycled glass countertops. My friend just put in marble countertops in her kitchen, they're gorgeous and a nice change from the granite that seems to be in EVERY house!

And, if I were buying a new house right now, I would not want to pay extra because someone had installed granite. But that's just me. I'd probably rip them out, lol.

Beth

 

[secretpantssam]

I am looking at houses now....I really don't think that granite counter tops are a make or break. If the kitchen looks nice and clean is all I care about. I wouldn't buy a house specifically because it had granite counter tops.

 

[Vijoge]

My folks just re-did their kitchen and they did the concrete countertops. They are GORGEOUS!!!!

Yup. That's what I want if and when we finally re-do our kitchen. I much prefer concrete to any other substance.

 

[wdwfan16]

If I was remodeling now and planned to sell within the next year I would put in whatever is popular in your area.

Green is the next granite (concrete, glass etc.) but it may not be that popular when you sell.

 

[distherapy]

I have granite in the kitchen and concrete in the wet bar area. The upkeep on the concrete is a thousand times worse than the granite. It chips if you hit it the right way. Ours was stained this really cool finish and I didn't read the BOOK that the previous owners had left and I let lime juice sit on the counter for a few minutes - now the stain is completely gone there. It needs to be resealed very frequently. TONS of things will take the finish off - limes, lemons, alcohol, I even heard milk does it.

Never, ever again.

 

[ceecee]

Since you are, in essence, preparing the house for sale, then what matters is what sells and not what you personally like, you know?

If I could, I would go look at some homes on the market and in your price range and see what their amenities are.

If the house is in an area in which there will be other properties for sale at the same time and if granite is the norm in the area, then I would do granite.

I have noticed, when looking at homes, that the difference between the houses with granite, upgraded woodwork, ceramic tile, and hardwood floors and those with formica, vinyl, builder quality doors and woodwork, and carpet is really noticeable.

I agree, if you're selling...do what will sell the house. I would not want concrete in my kitchen, I much prefer granite and they are not a lot of work to upkeep.

 

[It's A Small World]

I second the Silestone. We just installed it in our kitchen. I didn't want any unnecessary maintenance-like having to seal granite. Plus, I read recently that radon is apparently a concern with granite. Depending upon where the granite is mined, radon might play a factor. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Silestone counters. It was the 'best' splurge I made in our kitchen!

 

[hopemax]

DH and I are in the process of finding our first home, so we've been in a lot of houses lately. One had concrete. Not only on the counter tops but on the kitchen and bathroom floors. HATED IT! It could have just been done badly, weird color, but I think it was more than that. It just seemed unfinished.

I've seen a couple that had granite, and it isn't my favorite either. It seems too busy to me and, "Hey, look it's granite!" I don't think I want my kitchen to say that. I want each piece to look attractive, but I don't really want any one thing to jump out. The homes with quartz seemed to have a nice look without being too in your face.

I love, love, love the look of the recycled glass counter tops. Haven't seen any in the houses we're looking at, but eventually that's what I plan on having in our kitchen. I just hope that when I'm ready to do it in a few years, the price will have come down. Right now, I think there are so few manufacturers they can keep the price high.

Most of the houses have just had laminate, and on that line, our apartment has a grayish kind of stone looking laminate and similar vinyl floors, and I actually like it a lot. The kitchen isn't very big, and fancy floors and counter tops, IMO, wouldn't fit. Too much trying to put "lipstick on a pig." If you have a grand, open kitchen in a big or historical house, then by all means go for higher grade materials. But if you have a small kitchen in a 70's tract house starter homes, IMO, I think you can go with a cheaper material and have it be okay.

The biggest turnoff for me, as a buyer, though is seeing stuff that has seen better days. Cuts, stains, missing chunks. And by all means, people, give your kitchen a floor to ceiling deep cleaning!

 

[a1tinkfans]

Our remodel(kitchen)starts in about 3 weeks and I still have to pick out my counters. We were going to do concrete and DH was going to pour them but...we've decided we're going to sell next year and concrete is still unknown to the general public so-we're going with granite. I don't really love the idea of granite and all the upkeep - sealing regularly and so forth. I'm a low maintenance kind of gal. I don't like making work for myself, rather I prefer to cut down on the amt of chores. I only like the really expensive granite thus far and I'm not paying for it to go in a house I'm leaving so, I'm stuck with boring granite that I have to take care of. Yuk!

If you were looking for a home, would you expect granite counter tops? Does the kitchen REALLY sell the house?

YUP,. kitchen sell houses and YUP, everyone seems to love granite. I actually went with SILESTONE, which is Quartz, same look, a tad less BUT, no maintenance like Granite and no medical issues or concerns like granite...which can be very serious with young children in homes, just google it...
So, Me...I'd pass on granite...many people know about the granites issues

 

[Alice28]

We bought a house with the granite tiles- no problems, easy upkeep. I love how durable the countertop is compared to the laminate in our old house.

People do want granite- i love all those house hunter type shows- EVERYONE seems to want the granite and seem sorely disappointed when they tour homes that don't have it.

However- WOW- that recycled glass is stinking GORGEOUS- i Love it. There are many things I would love to change about our house, purely cosmetic things like that- won't happen but I do think it's beautiful.

 

[WDW4TheGirls]

Love our Silestone! We've had it for 5 years and it looks great. No upkeep like the granite.

 

[dex08]

Our builder offered granite, Dupont Zodiaq Quartz, Corian and laminate and we chose the Zodiaq and love it! I'm not into maintenance and I did not want to have to treat my countertop every year and I also did not want to have to worry about Koolaid or Cranberry Juice glass rings that can be soak into Granite.

At the time, three years ago, the price for the Quartz was comparable to the granite in my area.

 

[MrsPete]

Important question, which has been barely touched upon: What kind of house are we talking about? You cannot make the countertop decision without considering the rest of the house.

If it's a moderately-priced house in a moderately-priced neighborhood . . . if you have things like carpet, linoleum, Pergo flooring, slide-in stoves, etc., then you should go with a less-expensive countertop. In this situation, putting in an expensive countertop will be counterproductive; you'll never get your money back out. If this is your situation, I would not consider laminate; it's considered "too cheap" for anything except the least expensive houses these days.

On the other hand, if your house and neighborhood are more upscale . . . if your home is filled with hardwood flooring, multiple fireplaces, tilework in the kitchen and bath, French doors, etc., then buyers will expect to see granite, quartz, or marble in the kitchen. NOT having "the best" in this type of home will be a major factor in your sale.

I have to agree with the folks who say that if you're going to sell within a year, you're not putting this together for yourself -- you're putting it together for a potential buyer. I've seen some people on HGTV put in granite SQUARES instead of solid granite. I personally wouldn't want this alternative, but it is supposed to be much cheaper.

 

[JandJ]

I'm in the minority; don't like granite and hate stainless appliances. But, like I said I'm in the minority - everyone seems to love it and my friends who are redoing their kitchen are going with granite and stainless. When we redid our kitchen last year we went with Corian and I love, love, love it (but that's just me ). If it will help your house sell, and in most cases I think it will, go with granite.

 

[Purseval]

Since you are, in essence, preparing the house for sale, then what matters is what sells and not what you personally like, you know?