Do be sure that the rangetop isn't going to negatively affect the laminate. Perhaps use a little metal around it. There are ways of attaching the laminate top so that it's easy to remove. That doesn't have to be a problem.

The big problem I see is that, in general, later never comes. Most people who think they'll "upgrade" in X years, find out that they have another claim on the discretionary funds in year now+X, and the "interim" stuff is functional, so it stays.

My advice would be to either get permanent laminate that you really like (though it sounds like it doesn't make you particularly happy) or look into other surfaces that are less expensive than stone, that you could like better. Several members of this forum have done DIY copper countertops, which are just gorgeous. They're a very specific taste because they develop a strong patina with different spots that have oxidized or polished up, etc., but if you like a constantly changing, "living" surface, it's a good one. (Not literally living--it's said that copper is naturally anti-microbial.)

Another DIY possibility, if you have some skills, is concrete. Concrete can etch and stain, but if you keep it sealed and well waxed it has great possibilities. You might also find a local fabricator who can do it for a reasonable price. You can tint it, and shape it (e.g., for runnels), and get something really lovely.

Another popular choice here is the IKEA wood counters. They're long ways butcher block (not end grain), so not really for a lot of chopping, but good looking and inexpensive.

You can also do brilliant things with inexpensive tile and excellent installation, but a lot of people don't care for tile. (I love it, but that's mostly just me.)

If what you really want is stone, especially granite, go shopping. If you're willing to be pleased by one of the kinds that's in good supply you might find that it's not really that much more. And if it's what you really really want, it might be worth getting from day one.

I thought I would do laminate as it would be much cheaper. It turned out that the laminate I liked was going to be 2500.00( HD from wilsonart). The granite will be 3500.00 It isn't even an option anymore. For 1000.00 difference over the amount of time I will be using this kitchen, The cost is miniscule. Try shopping for granites. Some of the shops around here are 35-50 per sqft. That is installed. Good luck

I was able to get a category 2 granite for $38/sq ft by taking a big shop's flyer to a very small local company, that included fabrication, and I'm in the Boston metro area where nothing's ever cheap. I agree that I'd try to cut costs somewhere else -- we delayed putting in our island for a couple months, waiting until we could afford it. We had the wiring for it put into a junction box on the floor (and left the wires capped in the ceiling for the lights) and I bought a Boos rolling cart off Craigslist to use in the interim, which I sold again (at a profit) when we were ready for the "real island".

Laminate is only a truly inexpensive choice if you can DIY the fabrication and install from the in store blank slabs. If you need any fabrication or install services, then the price starts rising. Add in an upgraded finish (like the Formica 180FX) and one of the upgraded edges (like a bevel) and your laminate quote will be half or more of a granite quote, ala footballmom. IF your kitchen has complex layout, such as with a corner sink or with a breakfast bar peninsula joining regular depth cabinetry, then your layout is beyond most DIY and would be better suited for a solid counter like acrylic solid surface or granite. Also, if you having an undermount sink is a must, then you are definately locked into a solid countertop.

My suggestion is to explore some lower cost stone choices like Uba Tuba and if you can live with them instead of something exotic like Blue Bahia, then build your kitchen choices around using them so that everything looks designed from day one rather than you "settled" for something.

We did that, but we went super cheap and bought chunks of preformed laminate with backsplash lip from Menards and cut them off to about the right length - and to make it worse they are only 24" wide and our counters are 25". We spent not one dime more than needed, no edging or anything. I think we spent about $100 for our two temporary countertops.

When we started looking serioulsy at countertops, I found the lamintate I considered "acceptable" was not all that cheap - ended up with soapstone all fabricated for about $75 sq foot including shipping to SD (which was about 1/3 the cost). We will install it ourselves this weekend (YEA).

We are also putting in a different sink than what we used with the laminate.

Another possibility that is usually cheaper than having laminate installed would be to use butcherblock. But I have to agree with previous posters: commercially installed laminate isn't the budget choice it once was. Today the main reason to get laminate would be because you like it, since the savings over granite (if you aren't fussy about which granite you get) aren't nearly as big as they used to be.

We are doing a G Shape kitchen as well. Granite was just one of the options considered. The solid surface options are another. We are not really into status, peer pressure, or self worth linked to stuff as evidenced by my 96 SUV and my 98 KIA. :-) We have not done any serious shopping so far, just looking at HD etc and noticing the $75+ prices. I figured if HD wants that much the guy the builder uses will probably be more. The main goal is to get the house built and the bank happy enough to close. I live in Rochester MN home of Mayo Clinic. It seems that the cost of everything is more here due to the high concentration of Drs. I am just exploring ideas and this looks like a good place to get some. We did go to IKEA and I saw the butcher-block style counter tops. We both did like the look of them. Since we do not shop at IKEA very often I did not know if they counter tops were a DYI kind of think or if a subcontractor could / would use them. I guess that is something else to ask when interviewing builders or General contractors.
The kitchen is one of the main focus areas for both of us and the appliances and functionality is much more important than the looks. $150+ per linear foot for a flat surface just seems obscene to me while $4k per appliance does not. Go figure that one out. :-) The durability of solid surface is what has attracted us to it. I assume the wood tops from IKEA can be sealed etc so they are not subject to the dreaded grape kool-aid stain or maybe these days red wine.

Thanks for the input, keep it coming.

Fantmn - keep an eye on IKEA. We got our cabs there and they ran a special on counters at the time. We got 40% and were able to get Corian, a premium color, and it was approx $40 a sqft with installation. They have more than just the wood counters and can offer you almost every other kind such as laminate, granite, Silestone, Caesarstone, etc....

You can also keep an eye on CL for high end appliances. Some may be new but many are like new and you can shave a ton off your budget that way. No one has to know.... Many times it is a size issue or someone buys a house with an appliance that is not the color or configuration that the buyer wants. You can even get appliances from people who planned to reno but can no longer afford to. We have sold some oops items on CL because we had so long to plan and bought some stuff too early. We bought some wrong sizes and items we cannot use of all different kinds.
I also got some brand new items from the Habitat for Humanity Restore and the money we paid went to a good cause. Some people custom order things but don't take delivery. The company then donates to the HfHR for a tax write off. A scratch and dent outlet store can be a real lifesaver too. Not everything there has a s or d, but those that do often have them in non-visible places once installed. There are also other places like greendemolitions.com that sell full or part kitchens. You may be able to get a complete island or even just an island top for much less than retail. Showroom kitchen displays usually sell for great discounts too.
I'd rather see you economize overall and not waste time, energy, money and materials on counters you don't intend to keep.

fyi fantmn, our 180FX with ordinary 90 degree edges cost $1500 for 3 of the 4 sides of the G.

Installer is an independent guy we knew.

We had our builder put in standard laminate with the agreement that we would put in granite or silestone later. Well, first DH wanted to put in a stamped concrete patio, then he wanted to landscape the yard, then he built a free standing two car garage. See where I'm going here? I did get my granite last year - but only because a neighbor was getting granite and I could get a better deal because she was already getting it. If she hadn't gotten hers, I'd still be waiting. SO, my advice is to be sure your husband is in total agreement about doing it later. In fact, you might want for him to agree to a time-frame!

In this case I AM the husband (and the problem, hmmm stamped concrete.. ) and I have a bathroom that is still not complete after a start (the rip out to the studs part of the project) about 4 yrs ago. I had a hard time getting my DW to agree to a final plan and I travel a lot. So with all that in mind the DW is saying she wants it done once and right. End of story. When I interview builder / GC I plan to get their reaction to having me and my friends (all skilled folks) doing some of the major work basically as the sub. I have quite a bit of vacation that I can take to complete phases of the project. Lots of DYI experience (and completed projects too). With the help of my Brother in-law I completely finished the basement of our previous house including plumbing, wiring, framing, etc. and pass the inspections by the building inspector.
The good news about not completing the bathroom project is that I have a nice 6 ft jetted tub and all the plumbing fixtures for the master bath in hand and will not have to remove them from the existing house. This remodel starts with a bulldozer.
I think the final straw was when a snake showed up in the bathroom last summer. It is sometimes nice to have a 100+ yr old farm house, but the snake was it for DW. Turns out stacked stone basement is neither waterproof or snakeproof.

Fant

HI FantMN,

Have you thought about acting as your own GC?
I assume you live in MN. It is not terribly difficult to
act as your on GC in that state. You hire out the subs, you
need to get permits (but this is not as difficult as you
would think) and oversee the work. Acting as your own
GC is time consuming but it is cheaper in the long run.

On the question of Laminate? I think getting laminate would
be perfectly fine and upgrade later. The problem is that
Wilsonart, Formica, ... All charge BooCoo for countertops.
Laminate is about $35 while Granite is $40.
Not worth it to me, if you really want a stone. However, I
have a different idea. Why not use painted sealed plywood?
Plywood? Yes, plywood is truly a perfect option if you know
you will upgrade in 2-4 years. This plywood would go on
your counters. When the time comes to upgrade the marble,
granite, quartz... could go right on top of the plywood.
The plywood would be the added support. The counters might
be 1/2 inch taller but for many people 5 feet 5 inch this
is a perfect height.

In my kitchen we put plywood down while I searched for the
right stone for my countertop. Plywood is cheaper than
Formica, Wilsonart and actually prettier than some of the
prefab counter peices from a lowes or HD. Just an idea,
there is also tile or glass that might work. Although tile
can be pricey too.

~boxerpups

Here are some images to show you what I mean.

Flicker Plywood project

DIY network

Plywood from Kitkadesigntoronto

Faux Painted Marble is on plywood

Painted

Plywood countertop Painted

Painted Plywood from HGTV

Justin Chappel Painted Plywood

Recycled Wood Chip countertop (Super green friendly but
I have no idea on the price of this)

Glass is always an option, just wondering if it is expensive.

Oh and lastly, I almost forgot the molding to be put on
when you do get your stone counter. I used a cute
shoe molding on mine like this...

~boxer's shoe molding.

FantMN, I'm linking a supplier of laminates so you can get an idea of how much a DIY laminate counter top will cost.

While I think a lot of the stone c'tops are beautiful, I don't like the unforgiving hardness of stone. Nor the cold, living as I do in Central WI.

'Sides that, I'm fickle. I like to change things up every 7-10 years. Replacing the counters is one way to effect a nice change w/o making a huge, expensive & time-consuming mess of things.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bevel Edge