Granite or ???

sorry for the repeat question..

We want to install granite in the kitchen
of course, granite is $$$ and are looking into
alternatives.

What would you suggest/ or have as an alternative to granite? that is just as pretty, LOW maintenance and less $$, and on Long island?

Open to all suggestions.

TIA

Re: Granite or ???

Engineered quartz (like silestone)? Soapstone? Corian (or some other manufactured solid surface material)?

Honestly, granite is still the gold standard that most buyers look for. But if I was re-doing my kitchen, I would probably look into alternatives like quartz or soapstone. But I don't know that quartz or soapstone is all that much less expensive than granite (I think it depends on what you choose).

Corian would be less expensive and I think it's improved from what it was a few years ago.

Of course, I can't speak from experience because I still have ugly, dated white laminate counters in my kitchen!

Re: Granite or ???

we opted for quartz instead of granite
its a little cheaper (not much)
we paid $63 a sq foot for cambria quartz

eta - here is a link to a thread that i posted a few months ago when i was wondering the same thing:
quartz thread

Message edited 2/26/2014 1:38:00 PM.

Re: Granite or ???

yup.. agree granite is still gold standard, but appreciate the other alternatives.

pls keep the options coming... thxs !

Re: Granite or ???

Posted by Century 21 Dallow - Christine Braun

Engineered quartz (like silestone)? Soapstone? Corian (or some other manufactured solid surface material)?

Honestly, granite is still the gold standard that most buyers look for. But if I was re-doing my kitchen, I would probably look into alternatives like quartz or soapstone. But I don't know that quartz or soapstone is all that much less expensive than granite (I think it depends on what you choose).

Corian would be less expensive and I think it's improved from what it was a few years ago.

Of course, I can't speak from experience because I still have ugly, dated white laminate counters in my kitchen!

Granite or ???

Quartz is great. My parents have it in their bathroom and love it.

Granite or ???

I am going to be looking into concrete as a first choice and glass as a second. Don't know the cost difference, but I am kind of over granite.

Re: Granite or ???

Granite or ???

My MIL went with Silestone when they redid their kitchen. It was almost as expensive as granite would have been. IMO, go with granite.

My parents put Corian in their kitchen. It's much cheaper in price and a very solid stone.

My aunt and uncle did butcher block which is cheaper, but it's more maintenance.

Message edited 2/26/2014 1:52:51 PM.

Re: Granite or ???

I did not want granite in our kitchen. My first choice was marble, because to me, that is the gold standard. I was too worried about staining, scratching, etc, so we ended up doing a marble subway tile backsplash, which I love, and did a marble counter in our master bath.

My second choice, to go with the backsplash, was Caesarstone. We chose the concrete color because I wanted a solid surface (not textured, like you get with a natural stone). It's great. Hardly any care. You can use any cleaner on it. And there are a lot of color options. Let me know if you want to see some pictures and I can try and dig them up!

ETA: I think the caesarstone was just as expensive as granite would have been.

Message edited 2/27/2014 9:37:24 AM.