Need help getting new bathroom countertops

[Steve_O_Matic]

I want to replace the countertops/sinks in my two bathrooms, but have no idea where to go to get the best deal. I'd like to get something nice like granite or marble, but without breaking my bank. Perhaps a place where I could get them at a wholesale/surplus prices, then hire a contractor to install them. Any suggestions on where I should go/look? I'm in the Dallas area (Valley Ranch, to be specific). Thanks, in advance.

 

[HornBud]

Bathroom counters are relatively cheap, not a lot of surface area, but the sinks and hardware can outrageous in no time. Before deciding on what he "best deal" is, you have to first establish what you want, granite or marble?

Suggestions:
- Get 2cm. 3cm looks retarded in anything smaller than a sheik's bathroom.
- If you want to keep the budget down, get a generic porcelain sink and do a simple drop in.
- if you really want to be cheap about it, track down a pick up truck with an A-frame in the back, follow them, and ask them if they do any side jobs with extra stone. You forgo the company middle-man, and will be charged what amounts to a good night at the strip club.

 

[Steve_O_Matic]

I'd prefer granite. The countertops I have now have the sinks "built in," meaning the sink basins and the rest of the countertop is all one piece (they're not separate drop-in's). I was hoping I could have the same thing with my new one's. So I'm wondering if there are any specfic places in the Dallas area where I can save some money via wholesale/surplus pricing.

 

[old'un]

All granite/marble contractors have drop-offs that are left over from slabs that they keep. They usually feel that anything they can get from that material is gravy. Go to their yards and see what they have. They will probably make you a good deal just to use it up.

 

[kmac30]

how does cutting the hole for the sink and cleaning up the edges work in that situation? they do that cheap? or find someone else to do it?

 

[Xminus6]

In reply to:

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[HornBud]

It's actually pretty easy to cut a hole for a drop in, you just have to know the cutting technique, how to center the hole, and the size of the hole you need. If you call around to some shops, you might be able to find someone that will do it for 50 bucks or less. The undermounts are the ones that take some skill.
The real issue with getting a shop to just cut a hole for you, is that you need backsplash. And that really needs to be done onsite.

The other issue is that a scrap piece isn't going to be ready to just drop on the counter, it will have to be cut and polished onsite. This takes a lot of skill to get done right, as straight cuts don't just happen all by themselves.

 

[ScoPro]

We had faux marble countertops & sinks (all one piece) in our bathrooms until our son did a house remodel job for us last Fall.

I suggested that he cut out the built-in sink bowls with his circle saw - after drilling corner holes using the drop in sink template. He roughed up the faux marble tops with sandpaper, then laid 6" ceramic tiles directly on top, with matching bullnose edging.

Dropped in some nice rectangular Kohler sinks with cool-lookin' Delta faucets. He framed in the big mirrors above with wood trim.

It looks as upscale as any trendy granite countertop bathroom in the Bellagio or Venetian hotels.

Didn't cost that much either, for the 7' & 4' countertops.

You could use 12" granite tiles (3/8" thick) too - that's what we put on our kitchen countertops & backsplashes.

Looks great for about 1/3 the cost of slab granite - plus we can replace a 12" granite tile a heckuva lot cheaper than a large slab.

 

[Nonbryan]

We just did granite and we love it. We used Rock Hard Granite.

 

[wolfman]

I ran across this guy a while back when I was looking at granite. I had to put off my granite purchase but a friend of mine bought here and thought that he got a pretty good deal. This guy is in Ft Worth and sells/installs in D/FW

The Link

 

[kjgirl]

We have looking for a place to buy a granite counter top in Austin but will install ourselves. Anybody have suggestions of places to buy?

 

[HornBud]

^^I believe that there are places on the internet. I remember one of my kitchen customers doing just that. Said every thing came in perfect, he just glued it all down. Have to say, it looked pretty decent from a professional's point of view, but a single sink vanity is really just amazingly simple.