Landlord · Dallas, TX · Member since 2012 · 505 posts · 34 votes
What would be a good ballpark estimate to put in granite countertops in the kitchen? I was thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of $250 per linear ft.
For regular counter tops, at least here in Dallas TX, .75 cents per sq ft of the house will generally give you a conservative estimate.
Real Estate Investor · Virginia, DC &, MD · Member since 2008 · 261 posts · 71 votes
14y
Find a local granite company that is motivated to get rid of their in stock granite. The company I have been working with usually has 4 good choices. Usually costs about $30 per sq ft. That price includes a kitchen sink. I pay him in cash and usually have a bottle of Vodka for him. Most of my kitchens have cost between $1200 to $1500.
As a side note, I don't do a granite backsplash in the kitchen. We use a 3x6 travertine subway tile. Costs $5.49 sq ft and looks incredible.
Rental Property Investor · Mercer Island, WA · Member since 2008 · 22k+ posts · 14k+ votes
14y
Varies widely. I put two pre-fab pieces into a rental for about $1500 installed. Roughly 10 lineal ft. along the front edge, one corner. That was one of the cheapest granites the granite house had, but people who see the house love it.
OTOH. the stuff I have in my house was $15,000. About 24 lineal ft, two corners and a very wide peninsula. The peninsula is almost 4' wide, total with a eating space behind the range. Put in as part of a kitchen remodel many years ago before I understood the margins in the remodeling business.
Real Estate Investor · Virginia, DC &, MD · Member since 2008 · 261 posts · 71 votes
14y
Find a local granite company that is motivated to get rid of their in stock granite. The company I have been working with usually has 4 good choices. Usually costs about $30 per sq ft. That price includes a kitchen sink. I pay him in cash and usually have a bottle of Vodka for him. Most of my kitchens have cost between $1200 to $1500.
As a side note, I don't do a granite backsplash in the kitchen. We use a 3x6 travertine subway tile. Costs $5.49 sq ft and looks incredible.
Investor · Sarasota, FL · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 17k+ votes
14y
I'm in the same range as Jim...about $30/sf installed for the basic stuff with squared edging. Of course, if you want nicer stuff or more complex edging, it can be a whole lot more.
Landlord · Dallas, TX · Member since 2012 · 505 posts · 34 votes
14y
Originally posted by Jim S:
The company I have been working with usually has 4 good choices. Usually costs about $30 per sq ft. That price includes a kitchen sink. I pay him in cash and usually have a bottle of Vodka for him. Most of my kitchens have cost between $1200 to $1500.
That would mean the size of your typical kitchen is about 50 sq ft ($1500 / $30 per sq ft). That seems a bit on the small size. Is that correct or am I misinterpreting something here?
I guess it would be easier to understand if you provided the typical cost per linear ft.
Homeowner · Sacramento, CA · Member since 2010 · 52 posts · 8 votes
14y
Originally posted by Samantha M.:
What would be a good ballpark estimate to put in granite countertops in the kitchen? I was thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of $250 per linear ft.
For regular counter tops, at least here in Dallas TX, .75 cents per sq ft of the house will generally give you a conservative estimate.
Thanks for the input.
$250/LF would be high to me for a rental, but we are not even in the same state.
Labor cost may be vastly different between Sacramento and Dallas.
My 1400 sf 3br 2.5ba was 32LF, cost $2000 ($63/LF) for bullnose and 8" backsplash. All kitchen and bath counters done.
Granite was basic quality. Not including cost of sink/faucets nor plumbing hookup.
It's pretty hard to compare costs without a break down of hw grades.
I wonder if granite is a good choice for rentals. Few tenants will regularly reseal, recommended every 6 months? To be honest, I don't do it that much on my home. The sealant is expensive too.
SFR Investor · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2009 · 484 posts · 181 votes
14y
Originally posted by Phillip Dwyer:
At these entry level costs, what returns are you seeing versus laminate, tile or other? It seems like granite would be a no-brainer.
I can get granite at about $30/sq ft for basic stuff - on my most recent rehab granite would have cost ~$1200, laminate was ~$550 installed. fwiw, counters are about 2 feet deep, so $30 per sq ft would be $60 per linear ft.
Investor · Sarasota, FL · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 17k+ votes
14y
Originally posted by Samantha M.:
That would mean the size of your typical kitchen is about 50 sq ft ($1500 / $30 per sq ft). That seems a bit on the small size. Is that correct or am I misinterpreting something here?
To give some perspective on square footage, here is a picture of the countertop on my most recent granite install:
Contractor · washington, Washington D.C. · Member since 2011 · 204 posts · 64 votes
14y
We do a lot of kitchen installs you will range on the low about 32Sf to 65sf has to do with what level stone you get level 1 2 or 3. You can take the measurement and fax it over to a few stone companies to give you the best price and also ask if they have some stone they are trying to get rid of.The edge will change the price also you can stay square to keep cost down, alot of times they will have slabs were the clients don't want or sample or bad cut and you can get them from a mark down. Once you have the estimate in hand just ask if they can take 10 % off some say yes and some say no but the name of the game is to negotiate to get the best deal. Try to use the same company and send other people to them so they don't look at you as just a home owner calling and see you as business with lots of work when your phone # pops up more work for them.We have not did Laminate in a while but please do not rule it out ,they have a laminate on the market now that looks like stone, we installed a laminate and you would have to run your hand under the bottom to tell what for about 30-35% less than the stone cost it was looks like stone all the way.
Homeowner · Sacramento, CA · Member since 2010 · 52 posts · 8 votes
14y
Originally posted by Ahmed Porter:
....they have a laminate on the market now that looks like stone, we installed a laminate and you would have to run your hand under the bottom to tell what for about 30-35% less than the stone cost it was looks like stone all the way.
Investor · Southeast, MI · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
14y
Find a granite guy that works for himself. I deal with a great big guy from Kosovo. His English is how you say, not so good, but his prices are great. He can lift heavy counters with ease. I pay him in cash and he gives me counters for about $30 per square foot and another $200 for stainless undermount 60/40 sink installed. I'm happy with those prices.
Real Estate Investor · Audubon, PA · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 8k+ votes
14y
Originally posted by Samantha M.:
...
That would mean the size of your typical kitchen is about 50 sq ft ($1500 / $30 per sq ft). That seems a bit on the small size. Is that correct or am I misinterpreting something here?
...
50 sq ft is probably anywhere between 20 and 25 linear feet of counter (depending on corners). Do you really think that is "small size"?
Investor · Central Valley, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
14y
I did a U shaped kitchen on a rehab in January. I took whatever color the granite guy brought. He charged $600/side, all materials and labor included (and hauling off old counter top and plywood). The long side included a kitchen bar overhang. They mitered the two corners. They also did a 4" back splash piece all around. Total $1800.00. This was in a $120K house where I left the original cabinets (1980s) but painted them. I had him put granite counters in both baths for $250 each. The granite sold the house.
Developer · Santa Clarita, CA · Member since 2008 · 15k+ posts · 10k+ votes
14y
In CA, granite in a retail flip is necessary, even on a $125k home, which is a tiny, far from city home compared with a nice size newer home in other states.
Investor · Central Valley, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
14y
Originally posted by Will Barnard:
In CA, granite in a retail flip is necessary, even on a $125k home, which is a tiny, far from city home compared with a nice size newer home in other states.
Will Barnard What is "a tiny far from city home". My farm is full of 2000 sq ft. homes for $125K. By far from city do you mean far from L.A. :)
West, MI · Member since 2012 · 674 posts · 182 votes
14y
Someone mentioned putting granite in a rental, someone would have to give it to me to do that. I put 17 lin feet of prefab formica in a rental a couple weeks ago for $113 with tax, if it gets bad I just swap it for that money. I could swap it almost 15 times or take the money and go on a vacation like we are doing now.
Landlord · Dallas, TX · Member since 2012 · 505 posts · 34 votes
14y
Pardon my ignorance everyone, but the issue seems to be not understanding the math and the definition of average kitchen size. I would appreciate any clarification.
1) People in this thread are saying the average kitchen is 50 sq ft? That conflicts with what Will Barnard said with average range of 15 x 10 = 150 sq ft. Google is reporting 300 sq ft for average kitchen size. For people saying 50 sq ft, is that just for the L shape counters by themselves?
2) How do you convert sq ft to linear ft? For instance 45 square feet to linear ft.
West, MI · Member since 2012 · 674 posts · 182 votes
14y
We are talking about countertops which are typically around 25" deep. Lin feet is the total length of countertop. Islands are different, never saw a 10' wide island.
SFR Investor · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2009 · 484 posts · 181 votes
14y
Originally posted by Samantha M.:
Pardon my ignorance everyone, but the issue seems to be not understanding the math and the definition of average kitchen size. I would appreciate any clarification.
1) People in this thread are saying the average kitchen is 50 sq ft? That conflicts with what Will Barnard said with average range of 15 x 10 = 150 sq ft. Google is reporting 300 sq ft for average kitchen size. For people saying 50 sq ft, is that just for the L shape counters by themselves?
2) How do you convert sq ft to linear ft? For instance 45 square feet to linear ft.
A standard kitchen countertop is approximately two feet wide - so each linear foot of countertop is about two square feet of material.
In your example of 45 square feet, a guesstimate of the linear footage would be 22 feet - it might be lower if you had a wide island though.
SFR Investor · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2009 · 484 posts · 181 votes
14y
Originally posted by Ryan M.:
Someone mentioned putting granite in a rental, someone would have to give it to me to do that. I put 17 lin feet of prefab formica in a rental a couple weeks ago for $113 with tax, if it gets bad I just swap it for that money. I could swap it almost 15 times or take the money and go on a vacation like we are doing now.
There are multiple issues here - buying a chunk of laminate & installing it yourself can be fairly cheap, but the depot's price isn't that great, and the largest piece they have in stock is ten feet. My most recent rehab needed a chunk that was ten feet, six inches. Getting a chunk of laminate shipped without it being damaged in shipping would be a miracle. In my case, I was looking at saving a couple hundred bucks at best by doing it myself, or having it installed professionally in just a couple of days - and not worrying about getting a broken countertop shipped multiple times.
As for putting granite in rentals, It really depends on what your market is doing. Here, I couldn't get any more money for my rental with it, but I could rent faster & probably attract a better tenant with it. The local yard that caters to investors & flippers has monthly specials on the 3cm thick granite, which should be nearly indestructible, when compared to laminate.
That said, many landlords here leave the original countertops for decades, & still seem to make money - I suspect they get the tenants I've rejected.
Sandy Springs, GA · Member since 2011 · 126 posts · 31 votes
14y
I recently paid 18.95 a sq. ft installed for a flip. The quality was good and the house sold very quickly BUT the actual company is not one I would recommend. It took over a week for them to install and thery weren't as professional as I would like so as it's always said, you get what you pay for.
Investor · Groves, TX · Member since 2009 · 44 posts · 25 votes
14y
I have been installing granite in my rentals for the last year or so. I do the labor myself so of course there will be some saving there.
Anyway, I buy prefab 8ft counter tops that look great. After including the price of blades, epoxy, sealant, and core bits I am usually between $12-$16 a square foot.
My rentals are middle class (no war zones and no rough areas) and installing granite is an easy way to separate my properties from others. Almost every potential tenant loves them.
Installing granite is not all that different from cutting plywood after some practice. The key is to have help and the right tools. It takes some time and patience but the savings can be significant and they look great.
Just be careful, after word got around about how cheap I was installing countertops for I had a bunch of friends asking for my help.