What's cheaper, granite, quartz or Corian

[justsomeguy]

So, getting shipped out of town by my employer and my realtor has suggested we upgrade our counter tops before listing the house. Just wondering what folks experience is in terms of price? I want something that looks good but not overly concerned about super long term durability.

I've checked on-line but prices are all over the place, one article says granite is cheaper, next one says quartz, etc. I'm just looking for your basic stone, nothing fancy.

[Attilathecanuk]

Granite is probably your best bet, maybe not cheapest( don't know prices in the fort) but probably easier to get.

[cosmocreeper06]

We just did the run around. Looked at the real thing and then found something better. Phone Granite Transformations. Have them come in and give you the show and tell. Goes right over your present tops and looks the same. Have two friends that have done it and they look great. We are doing it for the same reasons..selling.

[CaberTosser]

I put in some LG brand quartz and like its strengths, but also have some reservations on if I'd spend that much again due to some of its less agreeable qualities (this would apply to granite as well as quartz).

For one its cold to lean on the eating bar, you also become very aware that putting down glassware, plates or ceramics too hard and they'll break. I also worry about which will break (counter or pot) when heaving around Mrs Cabers beloved enamelled cast iron cookware. It sure looks nice though, can't stain it and its super hygienic. Theres trade offs for sure though.

[omega50]

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

So, getting shipped out of town by my employer and my realtor has suggested we upgrade our counter tops before listing the house. Just wondering what folks experience is in terms of price? I want something that looks good but not overly concerned about super long term durability.

I've checked on-line but prices are all over the place, one article says granite is cheaper, next one says quartz, etc. I'm just looking for your basic stone, nothing fancy.

No issues- Tell the realtor to arrange it and tell them whatever they spend will come off of their commission-
Then it will be done to the Realtor's high standard

I might check with local builders to see what they may have excess to their needs.

[calebwest1987]

Hi my wife is a senior interior designer at a place here in edmonton. She swears by quartz or corian over granite as granite can crack, needs attention and maintainence and can become a breeding ground for bacteria. It needs to be sealed every 6 or so months , it's a hassle to enure it is doing "we'll"
It is also a natural product and can not be duplicated and it will look different on each countertop. Quartz is man made can be duplicated easily and does not need to be oiled, sealed etc.
Generally we push for quartz countertops for our clients

[CNP]

Is there a Home Depot in the Fort? If there is they will quote you on all three installed. Prices vary greatly with colour and the edge profile makes a difference too. Just had all my tops replaced with Corian. Took 5 weeks from the time I ordered it to installation.

[Albertadiver]

I work for an architectural firm, and we do a TON of multifamily work. (1000+ units a year) I don't do many single family homes unless thier huge.

Granite is nice - but seems to be losing some popularity.

We still see a lot of clients using laminate tops - for cost reasons.
I did laminate in my own home this spring - with a pretty high-end product, but it is laminate nonetheless. Link below

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=134231

I don't have much exposure to quartz, but I hear good things. I'm doing a high-end golf course clubhouse and we're about to install quartz bar countertops - will be interested to see how it turns out.

For corian - some people really like it, but for me, I'm kinda meh about it.

[7 REM MAG]

concrete

[diamond k]

Originally Posted by calebwest1987

Hi my wife is a senior interior designer at a place here in edmonton. She swears by quartz or corian over granite as granite can crack, needs attention and maintainence and can become a breeding ground for bacteria. It needs to be sealed every 6 or so months , it's a hassle to enure it is doing "we'll"
It is also a natural product and can not be duplicated and it will look different on each countertop. Quartz is man made can be duplicated easily and does not need to be oiled, sealed etc.
Generally we push for quartz countertops for our clients

Sorry this information is not entirely accurate. I build executive homes and have ever had a granite counter top crack, is not a breeding ground for bacteria and as far as I am concerned granite is definitly the best value of the three. I personally hate corian and quartz is nice but not a good investment for what your needs are. For resale I would do a nice laminate if the homeowners are that picky they will probably change it out anyway and would feel better about tearing out laminate. I would just tell the agent to provide a credit for counter tops and you can install before possesion if they prefer.

[Albertadiver]

Originally Posted by diamond k

Sorry this information is not entirely accurate. I build executive homes and have ever had a granite counter top crack, is not a breeding ground for bacteria and as far as I am concerned granite is definitly the best value of the three. I personally hate corian and quartz is nice but not a good investment for what your needs are. For resale I would do a nice laminate if the homeowners are that picky they will probably change it out anyway and would feel better about tearing out laminate. I would just tell the agent to provide a credit for counter tops and you can install before possesion if they prefer.

Looks like Diamond K and I are on the same page.

Here's the granite looking laminate I put in my own home as part of a total gut and tear in the link I posted above.

[Ceilidh69]

Originally Posted by diamond k

Sorry this information is not entirely accurate. I build executive homes and have ever had a granite counter top crack, is not a breeding ground for bacteria and as far as I am concerned granite is definitly the best value of the three. I personally hate corian and quartz is nice but not a good investment for what your needs are. For resale I would do a nice laminate if the homeowners are that picky they will probably change it out anyway and would feel better about tearing out laminate. I would just tell the agent to provide a credit for counter tops and you can install before possesion if they prefer.

X2 - Thanks for that - I have had granite in three houses, it does not crack and is not a bacterial hazard. Granite is a very personal choice - so if you do go with granite pick something mainstream that is not too showy.

[Clgy_Dave2.0]

Originally Posted by Ceilidh69

X2 - Thanks for that - I have had granite in three houses, it does not crack and is not a bacterial hazard. Granite is a very personal choice - so if you do go with granite pick something mainstream that is not too showy.

X3 on that. Over 30 years in the tile and granite trade. Granite is your best bet. But to drop $4-6,000 on a granite upgrade alone just to sell the house..I don't think you'll get your money's worth. I would take Diamond's suggestion as well.

[coreya3212]

Just to add to the above, I don't believe granite needs to be sealed either normally. I think the poster may have been thinking slate. I think slate requires a sealer to be applied in most circumstances.

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by calebwest1987

Hi my wife is a senior interior designer at a place here in edmonton. She swears by quartz or corian over granite as granite can crack, needs attention and maintainence and can become a breeding ground for bacteria. It needs to be sealed every 6 or so months , it's a hassle to enure it is doing "we'll"
It is also a natural product and can not be duplicated and it will look different on each countertop. Quartz is man made can be duplicated easily and does not need to be oiled, sealed etc.
Generally we push for quartz countertops for our clients

Stone type countertops are the latest fashion. Won't be long before something else replaces them. Not very practical for a woman who takes her kitchen seriously, but then who does any more.


Grizz

[diamond k]

By the way CONGRATULATIONS on getting transfered out of FT Mac.

[justsomeguy]

Actually we enjoy living here, have been here for a decade. Infrastructure is starting to catch up and we've got/are building some amazing rec facilities. If you're raising a family and stay away from the pubs/casino/strip clubs it's no different than living in any other medium size city. Tons of outdoor stuff, one of the best ranges I've ever seen and good job opportunities.

I've lived in small towns for 20 years and am use to the life of having limited shopping. We go to Edm every month or so, do some shopping, have a nice dinner, take in a show/hockey game/concert then go back home. Hence why we're moving to Okotoks not Calgary proper.

Now, if things had continued booming like they were in 07 it would be different story. The city was becoming a commuter town......and it appears to be starting to happen again. We've decided to go as both my wife and I's roles are being transferred to Calgary, and my employer is starting to transfer all the "senior technical" work as well, leaving behind mainly day to day operations support roles. Nothing wrong with that work but I've done it for almost 20 years, want something different more focused on longer term, complex work.

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

I want something that looks good but not overly concerned about super long term durability.

.

If it's an upgrade to sell it get granite. I think quartz is actually superior. Much stronger, more durable, less upkeep, and looks as good. We just put it in our kitchen. HOWEVER, granite is more known to home buyers and has more prestige to the uninformed, so that's what I'd get to move the house. We put granite in the condo we own in Edmonton and will probably sell some time, for that reason.

And get a traditional, conservative pattern, not something unique that you happen to love. You need it to appeal to the widest swath of people possible.

Note about discount granite. You can get granite from China that is much cheaper than from the usual places. It's cheaper because it's thinner than standard granite. It's OK if you are only looking to move the house. The drawback is that when you order it, that's when they put the order in to China, so it takes a really long time to arrive. Ours took like 6 months! That timeline may not fit your move plans. We got ours from Granite Direct. We actually got our high quality quartz through Costco (though they really just send you to a company they have a deal with. You don't actually deal with Costco after the initial contact)

[justsomeguy]

Guys,

Thanks for all the advice....I think I'm going to look into some basic granite, as solid a color as I can find in medium grey. I agree with the comments about quartz, a couple places we're looking at (builds or re-sales) have quartz and the boss prefers it, cost or not.

Okotoks eh........I'll be moving to your neck of the woods in July. Made the mistake of driving down the Deerfoot and up Crowchild between 3-5pm when we were in Cgy last summer scoping the city out....the wife was in near tears with the cars blasting by at 120, swerving all over the place with all the on/off ramps.

Next day we got up and took a leisurely drive down to Okotoks around 10:30 in the morning, did some shopping, the wife went to the quilt store, wandered around an empty Costco, had a nice lunch, drove around looking at houses and were back at our hotel by 3pm before rush hour. The wife was hooked and there was no turning back, Okotoks it is. Have been watching houses for 6 months now and about to pull the pin in the next month or so once the inventory builds up.

[Don K]

Granite is by far the best option. If you look at a Labrador Black or Galaxy Black in a leather finish it will look great and appeal to many. The leather finish is great and looks like a huge upgrade and it isn't...

[bonniesnyder]

It is Granite.

[KinAlberta]

Read post 21

[dukla]

We hummed and hawed a long time but went with granite. Never regretted it since.