I was hoping to find referrals for best place to purchase granite countertops for
my kitchen and recommended installers.
COMMENT 165389
|
2011-04-19 05:04 PM |
|
for the biggest selection between LA and SF, and at prices that are competitive, we purchased granite for our fireplace, kitchen, dining room, and 2 bathrooms from Lino Ripa at Stone West, Inc, 3510 Arundel Circle, Ventura. Pyramid Tile and Masonry of Santa Barbara did the fabricating and installation.
|
| |
COMMENT 165397P
|
2011-04-19 05:24 PM |
|
For the past 8 kitchens or so we have used Mission Granite for the material and Tops Unlimited for the installation. Very happy with both. We have used Stone West in Ventura once for the granite as we were looking for a special variety that Mission did not carry and they were great also.
|
| |
COMMENT 165401
|
2011-04-19 05:29 PM |
|
Two choices: have them custom made to fit the kitchen you have; or re-make your kitchen fit those already pre-cut from China.
|
| |
COMMENT 165411P
|
2011-04-19 06:04 PM |
|
I have recently heard that granite countertops are going "out of fashion." I say "heard that" because I do not myself pretend to know, or care very much. Styles and trends to change, it seems. I am not saying you should not get them, or even that I don't like them. However, if you are doing it as an "investment", consider they may not be as desirable in the future, and is perhaps not worth the extra cost. Sorry, I have no suggestions for a referral.
|
| |
COMMENT 165444P
|
2011-04-19 08:22 PM |
|
Granite is one of those things that can look really cheap if you don't get it from a good place. I'd recommend TileCo. They can hook you up with an install and they have a LOT of colors and finishes to choose from. You can also get some remnants there if you have a smaller or not standard size counter which can save you $$. We got a honed marble top from them about 10 years ago. I'm actually glad we went with that rather than granite. It's not as dated looking and they ahd some unusual colors that were more neutral than typical granite.
|
| |
COMMENT 165460P
|
2011-04-20 12:17 AM |
|
Don't get marble for a kitchen because acids will damage the surface. You'd be surprised how many foods are acidic enough. Marble is great in bathrooms.
|
| |
COMMENT 165467
|
2011-04-20 06:36 AM |
|
Century Stone. They will also do your tile backsplash and represent many lines of great looking quartz composite (stain proof and harder than granite).
|
| |
COMMENT 165473
|
2011-04-20 06:49 AM |
|
I also get the sense that granite is out of fashion. (And as a young, Eco-conscious homeowner, I will not be using granite when I remodel. Just sayin')
|
| |
COMMENT 165485
|
2011-04-20 07:06 AM |
|
I have had granite, Formica and Corion counter tops and all were fine. I break more glasses on the marble. Totally unforgiving surface. No problems with acids if you clean thing up - it has to be concentrated and sit for a while to do any damage. I see no advantage of granite. Corion, or its close competitors has held up fine, but Formica does not forgive a hot pot getting placed on it, but works fine for many years if not mishandled. Do you want a lifetime relationship with your choice or do you expect to redo it all over again in 20-25 years? Worst thing is the granite (installed by another owner) overlaps the counter and the drawers do not open fully directly underneath. So be careful if you are installing it over existing cabinetry drawers. It is heavy and thick so this is a nuisance -- don't know if it is the granites fault or the faulty installation that did not account for this overlap.
|
| |
COMMENT 165487
|
2011-04-20 07:12 AM |
|
Surfaces USA in Oxnard. they have many slabs, and some already fabricated countertops. Great selection fair prices.
|
| |
COMMENT 165489
|
2011-04-20 07:15 AM |
|
Don't do granite - not for fashion reasons, but because of maintenance and use issues. Look into quartz, which doesn't require annual sealing and doesn't scratch as easily. And don't drop heavy or breakable things on any surface - one needs to be careful and in the moment in the kitchen...
|
| |
COMMENT 165542
|
2011-04-20 08:59 AM |
|
I used "Granite Transformations" out of Ventura. Very fast installation and a beautiful job. Check out their website.
|
| |
COMMENT 165559
|
2011-04-20 09:36 AM |
|
Stone West, Venture...excellent selection
|
| |
COMMENT 165593
|
2011-04-20 10:18 AM |
|
Pete's Formica Shop could do any job!
|
| |
COMMENT 165597P
|
2011-04-20 10:21 AM |
|
oi vay! Lots of ideas and opinions and not many facts. Granite is not going out of fashion, but has become more common. Even if it is "on it's way out" who cares?! Get what you like!!! There is more maintenance with granite, as it needs to be sealed once a year... every 6 months for the more porous varieties such as marble. The lighter colors can stain, and the darker ones require more day to day upkeep, as they show everything. The quartz products are great for maintenance, but lack movement and life. They are more difficult to fabricate so most granite installers do not handle the quartz products... EVEN IF THEY SELL IT! They typically have it fabricated down in L.A.
Pyramid Tile is not the cheapest , but they have the best reputation and have the high end equipment that gives you the highest quality seams. Gilbert Sanchez is the TOP granite fabricator in town. He really is the best. He has worked on at least 100 of my projects in the last 9 years. He works with Mission Tile/Granite, Stone West in Ventura, Forte Stone in Goleta ( GREAT PEOPLE ) pretty much everyone. You do not need to worry about the overhang issue. It sounds like someone picked a lousy fabricator. They should have used a 3/4 sub top instead of the typical 5/8. Just pick a stone you like and go for it. This out of style thing is ridiculous. Who are you doing this for? Yourself or the judgmental ninny who just comes to your home to criticize? It is important to get a sample of the stone and look at it in the lighting of your home to make sure it is a good fit and goes with your existing cabinetry. Remember, this is supposed to be fun... so enjoy and make smart choices.
|
| |
COMMENT 165696
|
2011-04-20 12:53 PM |
|
Recycled quartz is great.
|
| |
COMMENT 165718
|
2011-04-20 01:39 PM |
|
Century fabricates their own quartz, has at least a hundred "patterns" to choose from (some even have "life") and stands behind their installations, even when your crumbling foundation movement is what is causing their installation to shift.
|
| |
COMMENT 165973
|
2011-04-21 08:27 AM |
|
We saved money because our Stone West granite was picked up and fabricated at the Pyramid Tile yard in Ventura, then transported and installed to our home in Santa Barbara. We love their finished product.
|
| |
COMMENT 166031
|
2011-04-21 09:26 AM |
|
Forte Stone in Goleta, at 6464 Hollister, for purchasing granite. It is owned and operated by a very knowledgeable, friendly young couple who are willing to spend a lot of time showing you different slabs, answering questions, etc. We felt that we got much more service and attention than at any of the other places we looked. Most places were reluctant to move slabs to show the ones underneath, claiming that ll the slabs of a certain type of granite were the same, so seeing one was all we needed to see in order to decide. That is NOT true, especially in granites that have any "movement" to them or color variations. Plus, you want to be sure the slabs you get don't have major flaws or cracks. The granite in the kitchen has been in place for four years, and we have never had to have it resealed or refinished. It still looks wonderful, and all I do is clean it with a spray-on granite cleaner from the supermarket.
|
| |
