Questions about avg price for Granite Countertops

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1. What is the average price for a Granite countertop by sqft?

2. Have you ever seen a tiled Granite countertop? Is that just plain weird?

3. Does anyone know any contacts in Chicago that might offer me a good price on about 50 sqft of Black style Granite countertop?

[Jim & Michele Wilcox]

Solid granite is usually priced per slab at the yard - plus fabrication costs. Buying granite can be tricky since you can only get so many feet of counter from one slab. Many times you will need two slabs for a couple feet and the rest of that slab is waste - but you still pay for it.

Find a company where you can pick out your slabs - and have them tell you how many you'll need for the square footage you have. Sometimes you can find a way around buying that extra slab and save money. They can help with that. Talk to the fabricator too...he can do some creative things as well. Both of these people may have end cuts or remnants that cold work for a small bath counter.

There are different grades of granite too - most of the cheaper #1's are ugly. Usually, the more you like it the more expensive it is.

As for tiles - if they aren't done correctly, they don't look good. Any unevenness will ruin the look. It is cheaper though. If you want the look and the house doesn't warrant full solid granite counter tops, go with the tile. If the house does warrant it - opt for the solid granite.

Good luck ...