Factors That Determine The Price Of A Granite Countertop

When you are out shopping you will be looking to get a great price and a high quality granite countertop. You need to do some price comparison from different suppliers in your area.

If you understand the factors that determine the price then you will be in a better position to make an informed choice on the granite countertop you choose. Granite is mined underground and must go through an intensive mechanical process that will forge it into a single granite slab, the cost of the slab will depend on the production cost. Since granite is imported from other countries it costs more due to transportation and handling cost, unlike other countertop materials.



If the granite was able to be quarried, cut and fabricated in one place the cost would be relatively low but you most likely won't find this in the USA. The production process involves quarrying in one area transporting the granite rock to the cutting area and finally taking it to another facility for fabrication. The whole process is costly and this will reflect on the final price tag of granite countertops. The customization and the edge design will also determine how much you will pay for the granite slab, most homeowner with children prefer the full bullnose edge because it is not sharp. The complex edge treatment like the triple waterfall or the ogee will cost more since they take time to create and require skills.

There are no two granite slabs which are identical to one another a feature that has made them very popular since each slab looks unique. The reason as to why the slabs are different depend on the amount of mineral contained like feldspar and quartz since they determine the pattern and the color of a granite slab. The granite slabs that have consistent pattern, deeper color and which are rare to find will cost more. Finding a rare granite slab like Azul Macuba (light blue granite) gives the home owner the feeling of originality and uniqueness and for this reason its cost more than the common granite.

Some other factors that will determine how much you pay is the type of granite, there are 3 types of granite, tile granite, modular granite and granite slabs. Of the three the tile granite has the lowest cost and easy to install but it comes with a lot seams that can be an unwelcoming site. The tile granite will sell on average about $3 to $6 per square foot depending on the supplier. The modular granite will cost you about $15 to $30 per square foot and you can reduce the cost by installing it yourself. Modular granite is already edged and polished. So you have to just cut it to the correct size and place the granite on the countertop. Granite slab is the most expensive of the three and this is because it offers an original look plus you can avoid some seams. The granite installed will sell for about $25 to$200 per square foot and you will need a professional to do the installation.