Let's Talk Remodeling

[SplshMtn99]

I can't wait to see it!! When you have time later, can you tell me how the price of silestone compared to granite, quartz & other materials? I've been looking at their site & I'm not clear on is this quartz slabs or a man made product using real quartz! They have a color I really like for the bathroom, so now it has me considering other counter surfaces besides granite.

Quartz countertops (Silestone, Cambria, Zodiac just to name a few companies) take small pieces of quartz, mix them together & fill the spaces with resin to form a solid surface slab. So, yes its man-made, but it is stone. The Silestone slabs are made in Spain, then shipped to USA, where the fabricator cuts & polishes them to finished product. No sealing required. Silestone contains microban. I don't believe other quartz companies do.

The color I choice was in Group D -- the highest priced Silestone price group. Of course! $85 / sq foot (not linear foot). I went with Eased edge which is no additional $. No backsplash. I got it during a 10% off sale & used a 10% coupon I got from ebay. $249 to cut an undermount sink hole for stainless steele sink. No charges for faucet holes - regardless of how many. So, with my 20% off, my 31.2 sq ft total came to $2427.76. I saved $600 from the 20% off. I saved another $500 by not getting a 4" backsplash. We will tile the hole backsplash instead.

31.2 sq ft translates to about 14' 9" of linear counter at the standard 25.5" depth.

Different edging would have added to the price also.

Granite quotes I had gotten elsewhere ranged from a special of $49 sq ft to $80 to even higher depending upon what you picked. They charged for edging, sink cut, faucet holes..... The granite quotes were $2400 to $3000+. I couldn't get any discounts. And DH & I weren't crazy about picking one we liked in the showroom, then having to go look thru eons of slabs in the sun to try to find a similar color & pattern to what we liked inside. Or waiting months for another container of slabs to be delivered to pick from. We liked the somewhat uniformity of Silestone. Some people don't care for that. Others do. Cambria also has some very nice colors. We had picked one of their colors for the condo we were building but didn't move to last year.

 

[SplshMtn99]

SplshMtn99: Your countertops look great!!!! What color is that? We have the same cabinets and that color would look great with ours too. It is not too dark and we need something like that. Our floor tiles are a little darker than your floor. Keep the pictures coming. I will post a few of our paint job when I get a chance.

Its Silestone Black Canyon. New color. But the sample pictures on their website are HIDEOUS!!! They look like green baby poop! uck. You would never had picked it from their website.

Here's some other online samples I found. Our brand new Home Depot had nice big color samples on display. Not those little 4x4 things. I brought in one cabinet door, my floor sample & anything else I had already picked like fabric & just started holding them up. That one was just perfect with the oak color in it. Nothing else even came close. My gay Home Depot "designer" (his words, not mine) agreed! He's been great (& fun) to work with. New store so they've been a little slow & he's given me lots of time & walked around the store with me looking at faucets & tile.

 

[shovan]

Quartz countertops (Silestone, Cambria, Zodiac just to name a few companies) take small pieces of quartz, mix them together & fill the spaces with resin to form a solid surface slab. So, yes its man-made, but it is stone. The Silestone slabs are made in Spain, then shipped to USA, where the fabricator cuts & polishes them to finished product. No sealing required. Silestone contains microban. I don't believe other quartz companies do.

The color I choice was in Group D -- the highest priced Silestone price group. Of course! $85 / sq foot (not linear foot). I went with Eased edge which is no additional $. No backsplash. I got it during a 10% off sale & used a 10% coupon I got from ebay. $249 to cut an undermount sink hole for stainless steele sink. No charges for faucet holes - regardless of how many. So, with my 20% off, my 31.2 sq ft total came to $2427.76. I saved $600 from the 20% off. I saved another $500 by not getting a 4" backsplash. We will tile the hole backsplash instead.

31.2 sq ft translates to about 14' 9" of linear counter at the standard 25.5" depth.

Different edging would have added to the price also.

Granite quotes I had gotten elsewhere ranged from a special of $49 sq ft to $80 to even higher depending upon what you picked. They charged for edging, sink cut, faucet holes..... The granite quotes were $2400 to $3000+. I couldn't get any discounts. And DH & I weren't crazy about picking one we liked in the showroom, then having to go look thru eons of slabs in the sun to try to find a similar color & pattern to what we liked inside. Or waiting months for another container of slabs to be delivered to pick from. We liked the somewhat uniformity of Silestone. Some people don't care for that. Others do. Cambria also has some very nice colors. We had picked one of their colors for the condo we were building but didn't move to last year.

Thanks for the info on that! I hunted all over the site, but couldn't find a clear answer as to how it was made!

I have Corian in my kitchen, so I'm not opposed to the man-made stuff at all! And the newer products seem to have improved quite a bit, like the Silestone made with real stone! I went with the Corian in the kitchen so I could get the molded sink. But I'll either go with under counter or mounted on top for the bath, so I can choose from all of the different products out there. I have an antique marble table in my bedroom & I'd like to come close to the color of that, so whatever product comes closests & will last, and won't break the bank, will be fine with me!

 

[mickeysgal]

Our brand new Home Depot had nice big color samples on display. Not those little 4x4 things. I brought in one cabinet door, my floor sample & anything else I had already picked like fabric & just started holding them up. That one was just perfect with the oak color in it. Nothing else even came close.

Perfect! Isn't that nice to see a larger sample? It makes things so easier.

Congratulations on the kitchen remodel. It's very pretty - very sleek and updated.

 

[SplshMtn99]

I just realized I never posted the links to the other sites with better samples of Black Canyon. duh
http://marketplace.hgtvpro.com/Product.aspx?Lid=2460-HGP706041
http://www.fidnet.com/~mbruno/Black Canyon (Small).jpg
http://www.kitchenandbath.com/images/colors/small/blackcanyon.jpg
http://www.e-counters.com/eSamples/ePPsamples.cfm?ProductID=SM4-7002

This is the HORRIBLE sample Silestone shows on their own site.
http://www.silestoneusa.com/colors/colors.cfm?ColorID=88

 

[Hixski]

I just realized I never posted the links to the other sites with better samples of Black Canyon. duh
http://marketplace.hgtvpro.com/Product.aspx?Lid=2460-HGP706041

I was looking at this website. I really like the Sienna Ridge color too. DH doesn't want too much black in the countertop especially since our flooring is tones of cream and tan. I will have to go look now at HD and check this out. Thanks for the links!!!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

Splash, great job! It looks wonderful!

 

[SplshMtn99]

Splash, great job! It looks wonderful!

Thanks.

The neighborhood "approval" committee (several friends) came to check it out since they say the truck here this morning. They like it too.

AND another unit owner is buying our 7 yr old blue/green countertops. WOOHOO!!!! And hiring our other neighbor to install.

 

[minnie56]

Ohhhh so painful a topic as I approach 18 months of a Kitchen remodel that ended up adding 200 sq ft to my house, ripping up both front and back yards and then for good measure we tore out the wood burning fireplace and replaced with gas and while we're at it...took out all the main floor carpeting and replaced with hardwood! It snowballed...both in what we set out to do and BOY in cost!!!!

I am awaiting Granite after 4 weeks and the family room flooring and Cherry Mantle then I think, other than of course a new front door (????-where'd that come from?) we are done. And pretty much, broke too

LOL.

Next time, well..there'll be NO next time!

 

[mickeysgal]

It snowballed...both in what we set out to do and BOY in cost!!!!

Next time, well..there'll be NO next time!

Oh...the towel bar syndrome!

Welcome!

As far as there will be NO next time... I've said that and sure enough here I am again going through yet another remodel after remodel. Apparently my memory fogs over and I forget the pain.

 

[minnie56]

Oh NO..I cannot do this again. We built a house 20+ years ago ...It took forever and forever before all the 'i's' were dotted and 't's' were crossed but this reallllllly is it! It is gruelling and stressful and not fun anymore!!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Splsh, I love it! It looks just great. I will be sure to post pics once ours is in, one week from tomorrow!

I am so excited.

 

[SplshMtn99]

I found something to add to the Quartz / Granite installation checklist.
Not a huge problem, just another thing to add to the list to deal with. lol

I've noticed the dishwasher is no longer centered in its opening & it's more forward than it used to be. The side you see when you enter the kitchen has a rather large gap between dishwasher & cabinet that was never there...resulting in being able to see some white from the side/inside of washer. And the bottom footplate / toe kick area sticks out further than cabinet toekick faceplate. (The dishwasher wasn't removed from its opening, but I did notice the guy nudging it. Now I'm wondering why. It was fine where it was. )

Main reason why I hate hiring people to do work. No one will pay attention to details as much as you would yourself. I inspected everything about the countertop before I signed off....but didn't think to check the dishwasher.

Luckily, the bracket that attached dishwasher to countertop has 5 different holes for you to use. So, we can use a different hole & move the new drilled hole far enough away from the existing drill hole that it would be a problem I think. Did that make any sense to you? lol

 

[mickeysgal]

I've noticed the dishwasher is no longer centered in its opening & it's more forward than it used to be. The side you see when you enter the kitchen has a rather large gap between dishwasher & cabinet that was never there...resulting in being able to see some white from the side/inside of washer. And the bottom footplate / toe kick area sticks out further than cabinet toekick faceplate. (The dishwasher wasn't removed from its opening, but I did notice the guy nudging it. Now I'm wondering why. It was fine where it was. )

Main reason why I hate hiring people to do work. No one will pay attention to details as much as you would yourself. I inspected everything about the countertop before I signed off....but didn't think to check the dishwasher.

Luckily, the bracket that attached dishwasher to countertop has 5 different holes for you to use. So, we can use a different hole & move the new drilled hole far enough away from the existing drill hole that it would be a problem I think. Did that make any sense to you? lol

Spash, do you have a picture?

Are you saying there is too much of a overhang from the countertop on the cabinet next to the dishwasher and therefore shows too much of a gap? Should the new cabinet been put closer to the dishwasher?

I think you're right. Can't the dishwasher be pulled out, centered, slid back in and bolted into place?

I'm sure I'm totally off...picture please!

 

[DisneyPhD]

I found something to add to the Quartz / Granite installation checklist.
Not a huge problem, just another thing to add to the list to deal with. lol

I've noticed the dishwasher is no longer centered in its opening & it's more forward than it used to be. The side you see when you enter the kitchen has a rather large gap between dishwasher & cabinet that was never there...resulting in being able to see some white from the side/inside of washer. And the bottom footplate / toe kick area sticks out further than cabinet toekick faceplate. (The dishwasher wasn't removed from its opening, but I did notice the guy nudging it. Now I'm wondering why. It was fine where it was. )

Main reason why I hate hiring people to do work. No one will pay attention to details as much as you would yourself. I inspected everything about the countertop before I signed off....but didn't think to check the dishwasher.

Luckily, the bracket that attached dishwasher to countertop has 5 different holes for you to use. So, we can use a different hole & move the new drilled hole far enough away from the existing drill hole that it would be a problem I think. Did that make any sense to you? lol

I had DH come in from working in the kitchen to look at this. Thanks! One week from today for us! I can't wait! Hardware goes on today.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Spash, do you have a picture?

Are you saying there is too much of a overhang from the countertop on the cabinet next to the dishwasher and therefore shows too much of a gap? Should the new cabinet been put closer to the dishwasher?

I think you're right. Can't the dishwasher be pulled out, centered, slid back in and bolted into place?

I'm sure I'm totally off...picture please!

Yeah I am not sure either. Our dishwasher was installed well after the counters went in because all the plumbing had been pulled out. I didn't have any issues when the plumber came out and installed the new plumbing and new dishwasher.

 

[minnie56]

You all seem pretty savvy with this stuff so I have a question that someone might know?? I ordered my Granite 4 weeks ago...here I am thinking 'any day now' and today they call from the Factory. The Slabs that I chose have some flaws and imperfections. He called them 'beauty marks'. Upon further discussion, I am told there are 6-8 of them approx (5 slabs in total) and they are pits in the finish..some with some crackling around them the size of a quarter. They will not cut until I approve them and go and visually see for myself.

Anyone have any info on whether this is typical? He said they will not affect wear or get worse. They can be felt upon running a hand over the surface and might be visible in sunlight. We chose an above mid-grade Granite and I am not a happy camper! I know it is a natural stone...but jeeeez. Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

You all seem pretty savvy with this stuff so I have a question that someone might know?? I ordered my Granite 4 weeks ago...here I am thinking 'any day now' and today they call from the Factory. The Slabs that I chose have some flaws and imperfections. He called them 'beauty marks'. Upon further discussion, I am told there are 6-8 of them approx (5 slabs in total) and they are pits in the finish..some with some crackling around them the size of a quarter. They will not cut until I approve them and go and visually see for myself.

Anyone have any info on whether this is typical? He said they will not affect wear or get worse. They can be felt upon running a hand over the surface and might be visible in sunlight. We chose an above mid-grade Granite and I am not a happy camper! I know it is a natural stone...but jeeeez. Thoughts?

Thanks!

What you're referring to, I believe are called inclusions. I don't know if I'd be satisfied with his response about them.

I hand-picked my slabs to avoid them. I have one, but it's smooth. It just looks like a black oval. My granite is very dark though and I have to point it out for anyone to notice it.

ETA: If one slab has an imperfection, chances are it'll run through the entire pallet of granite, since they're all cut from one large block, like sandwich slices.

 

[minnie56]

I hand picked mine too..but they were all stacked one in front of the other so until they were shipped from the Supplier to the Factory and laid out under a white light, they were not notcied by them either. He said some are minute and not noticable to the eye only by touch and unfortunately, given the design of the kitchen they cannot avoid using the areas that contain them.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I hand picked mine too..but they were all stacked one in front of the other so until they were shipped from the Supplier to the Factory and laid out under a white light, they were not notcied by them either. He said some are minute and not noticable to the eye only by touch and unfortunately, given the design of the kitchen they cannot avoid using the areas that contain them.

Can the inclusions be filled?

I have two small chips in mine already (thanks to my kids!) and I'm going to show them to my contractor when she comes on Tuesday, to see if she can have them filled.

What granite did you pick?