When you compare granite price, make sure you know what you're getting. Contractors price granite countertop jobs in several different ways. Sometimes discount granite is only cheaper because something has been excluded from the price.
Keep in mind, the granite countertop industry is always changing and granite counter price keeps coming down.
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Countertops
Granite prices are usually based on a menu of options. Many contractors quote granite square foot prices. Sometimes there's a little deception in this practice.
If you multiply the square footage of your project by their quoted square foot price, you'll seldom end up with the total price they charge. I was at a kitchen and bath show and asked a granite countertop salesman for a price quote.
Granite Price . . . Secrets to the best deal
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Negotiating the best countertop granite price
Make sure you get the best stone countertop price possible. It starts by knowing how your contractor prices jobs. The majority of granite countertop contractors are small businesses that have the ability to negotiate price. With large retailers like Home Depot and Lowes, this is not the case. So here's how to negotiate . . .
Ask your contractor how you can save money on your granite counter price. Does he have a deal on stone in stock? Is there a similar stone that is less expensive? Does he have the ability to make a certain edge treatment easier than others? Can you get a better price if you buy additional tops from unused portions of slabs from your job?
Ask your contractor for a cash discount. Pay for your tops with cash and your contractor realizes savings that can be passed on to you. The contractor pays no credit card fees and has no carrying cost. There are other savings that cash payments offer too. Cash should be worth an easy 5% discount.
Ask what it takes to get a wholesale price. Many contractors charge retail and wholesale granite prices. Wholesale price is lower.
Ask for a deal on remnants. If your project is small like a granite bathroom vanity or just a small kitchen, your contractor may have leftover granite pieces in stock called remnants. He should be dying to get rid of these, since contractors pay for every square inch of stone in a slab. You can make great deals on remnants sometimes saving 50% off the cost of new stone. See Granite Remnants to learn more about using remnants for countertops.
Ask for a quantity discount. If you plan to use granite in multiple areas, you can sometimes get an overall discount.
Offer to provide a referral or be a reference site to show others the contractor's work. Sometimes this may be worth a discount. If not, you might negotiate free bottles of granite countertop cleaner.
Payment Options. Typical payment terms for granite countertops include a deposit up front with the balance due at the time of installation. Deposits are generally 50% of the total price. You can pay with cash or check and, many times, with a credit card. Be sure to ask your contractor if prices are different when paying by credit card
Don't be afraid to ask for a deal on your granite. Contractors have several money saving options for you and the market is becoming more and more competitive. Take advantage of this to get a great counter price.
Granite countertop prices are determined by adding costs for stone, edge polishing cutouts for sinks and cooktops, backsplashes, and installation. Every granite slab costs the contractor a different amount - anywhere from $5.00 to $80.00 per square foot.
Granites vary in cost based on how rare they are and how hard it is to get them to this country. They are not priced based on quality or color options. Many times contractors will group stones into price categories such as Group 1, Group 2, etc.
Edge profiles vary in price based on their complexity. They are priced per lineal foot. Eased edge and roundovers are simple edges that are relatively inexpensive. Ogee and triple waterfall edges can be quite expensive.
Cutouts for sinks and cooktops add to the price of granite. Cutting holes in granite and polishing the sides to accommodate an undermount sink is time consuming and expensive. Cutouts generally add a few hundred dollars to your granite counter price.
Installation of your granite countertops may or may not be included in your price. Installation price can range from $10 to $25 per square foot on an average job.
Some contractors only fabricate granite counters while others may only install them. I strongly believe that you get a better deal and a higher quality installation from contractors who both fabricate and install their granite counters.
Installation
I've seen installation priced at 35% of the fabricated cost of the job when two different contractors are involved. That means, the more expensive your stone, the more it costs per square foot to install it.
Ask your contractor how you can save money on your granite counter price. Does he have a deal on stone in stock?
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His installed project price was double the per square foot price he originally told me. Beware of square foot pricing. Instead, have your completed project quoted.