Thanks for the question. We are thinking of using tiles as our tub deck instead of a slab, so I can't wait to hear the responses.

I've installed several countertops using granite tiles, including with undermount sinks. Below is the link to my countertops gallery:

Here is a link that might be useful: My countertops gallery

Stephanie, I didn't even know they existed until yesterday, and to make me look like an idiot, it was in my own son's house! I babysit twice a week for their baby, I was cleaning their kitchen and that's when I noticed the tile! I was DUMBFOUNDED! I'd been over there a zillion times!

I noticed the edge of the cabinets were in that "sculpted" pattern, like a granite edge slab would normally be.

One thing I like about it is in their's, there was no "swirl" which I'm not particularly fond of.

And when we're done with the whole remodel and add-on, I'd like to save those big bucks for new furniture. lol

I don't know that the savings is all that great once you factor in the cost of the tiles for the edges. I know a buddy of ours did those, and I'm not positive he couldn't have done a slab for within a few hundred dollars- and that was installing it himself, using our wet saw. He did use 24x24 tiles though, and that is a nice touch.

I know ours cost exponentially more than we thought it would- and again, I'm not sure a slab would have been that much more. That was just treating the edges of the marble, not using prefab edges.

Some might say that tile is granite for people who can't afford slabs. I happen to prefer the look of granite tiles, especially when they have a lot of variation. At least I do when they aren't reminding me of a floor. Just kidding. Really, they can look wonderful. :)

But do be aware that among those who have priced out such things, it does scream "budget!", which is totally unfair as you might be selecting it just because it looks better!

I don't know that the savings is all that great once you factor in the cost of the tiles for the edges.

There are several other edge treatments possible other than bullnosing the tiles. But that's assuming that the bullnosing would drive the price up sufficiently to bring a tile counter even CLOSE to the price of slab. If someone charged you that much for granite tiles there there was virtually no difference in price with slab, then you got taken for a ride. Either that, or slab's extremely cheap in your area.

I have granite tile in my vacation home. The price difference is quite significant! We looked into granite slabs and the quote was $3,600. The granite tile with ogee edging tile and shipping was $1,196. The color is Baltic Brown. Another added bonus with the tile is that I found a "tile-in" sink so it's even with the tile.

I'm new so I don't know how to post pictures on this site but I do have some. I'm also not sure if I can post the manufacturer/supplier's name?

I'm also not sure if I can post the manufacturer/supplier's name?

You most certainly can, and as for pictures, go to photobucket.com and get a free account. With each pic you upload, you'll get what's called an "HTML" line. Click on it to highlight it, right click and copy it, and then paste it into your text, and the picture will show up when you post.

My son's home doesn't scream "budget" when you look at that kitchen and the rest of the large house.

I did talk to my DIL last night. While she loves the tile, she said in hindsight they should have gotten slab, only because in some areas the tile is slanted, but when I was cleaning it, I didn't notice it. She said food gets stuck in the grout. The edges of her tile are plain, the bullnosing is in the trim work around the counter top.

So I think we'll go with a slab, IF I can find one that doesn't make me dizzy. lol

We bought the granite tile from a place called Bedrock Creations. They do have a website with before and after photos. The downside is that they only have about 14 different colors. If you can find the color you like though, it's worth it.

Here are some pictures of it installed at our house. We just did a small kitchen facelift since it's a house in the mountains. (Hopefully this will work!)

[IMG]http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj372/ziggysun/elkgrovesinkcounter.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj372/ziggysun/elkgrovecounter.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/jj372/ziggysun/elkgrovekitchen.jpg[/IMG]

Here is a link to the company's website at the bottom too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bedrock Creations

Trying again, I picked the wrong web image tags to post...

Oakleyok-
Your question os a very good one, and I'm sure that there
will be a lot of folks that read this thread that will
benefit from what you are asking, and the various responses
from the folks that are here on GW......

Having done both types of applications, either will work for
you. In my experience - the biggest things that swing a consumer
one way (tile) or the other (slab) - is:
1. cost
and
2. joints

IF you have a guy like my Brother Bill Vincent for instance -
who is a master of the trade and could do beautiful first
class quality work in his sleep, or better yet - in a coma..
You'd be in way good hands. I'm not trying to blow smoke up
anybody's skirt here, but that fact of the matter is this -

When you hire a master craftsman that has years of experience
and a long list of happy, satisfied customers that
all rave about the quality of his work
(again - like Bill Vincent for example....)
You KNOW that you'll be getting a top notch application that you'll be
pleased to show off to friends and family,
as well as being happy every day you look at the finished
work......
THIS.... (in my opinion) is the biggest factor that separates the players from the spectators...

Many people opt for slab in lieu of tile for the "joint" factor:
they (the customer) prefer less joints for dirt and other
foriegn matter to collect in them (the joints).

Others prefer the tile method, as there is sometimes - more
variation from tile to tile, and that turns people on or off -
it all depends on their personal taste & sense of aesthetics.

As far as cost goes - speaking for myself - I only do slab
now - just because I can - and choose not to offer a tile
option to my customers (except as a backsplash application)

To use the tired cliche'of: "At the end of the day"... YOU
will have to be the one that decides which method you want to
go ahead with - based on cost and aesthetics for YOUR taste
and budget.

Guys like Bill Vincent make your deciding process a lot more
easy - since he can do either at a master level, and give you
real value which ever way you go.

hope that helps you (and I hope that you have a guy
like Bill Vincent in your area)

kevin

Kevin M. Padden
Fabricator, Trainer & Consultant to the Natural Stone Industry
www.azschoolofrock.com

JMO, but if you're hiring someone to do the tile or slabs, the price for each installation may be close in cost.

We did the granite tile ourselves, so we paid no labor, just the material cost and we already had a wet tile saw. We had also already done tile jobs in our houses before so it wasn't new territory for us. We saved around $2,200 doing the job ourselves.

It might not be to everyone's taste, but it worked for us.

I have granite tile, and I can't wait to rip it out and get a slab! I have the tile b/c it was essentially free (our contractor had it left over from another job). I will say that our contractor is not a master at tile so it's kind of uneven, but what I really hate is the grout lines. They are annoying to clean, catch everything and look awful (this may compounded by the fact that it's Absolute Black with black grout). It has very sharp on the edges--none of this good when you have two tiny kids in the house! Anyway, a really good tiler would have done a better job (I am sure of it) but the whole issue of tile--the joints--has turned me off forever! If you have a very skilled tile setter and don't mind the grout lines, and have someone who can do nice edges, it certainly will save some money.

That's the one drawback to using granite tile. Especially if you're someone who does alot of baking and likes to roll out your own dough, then slab is probably the only way you'll be happy with granite.

adanielo-- AB's tough to make look right. Either it's perfect, or it's no good because of the extreme reflection you get off of it:

We had granite tile in our last house, and it was great. Easy to take care of, always looked good, and couldn't see the dust! :-) We both work long hours, so not a lot of time to baby it. We didn't know it at the time, but we had a fabulous tile-person install it (it was a new build). I'm not sure what we're going to do in this house yet, but I haven't ruled out granite tile.

I have 12 x 12 granite tiles in my kitchen. It was a new build, and it was a standard feature. I've had it for almost 7 years, and it looks great. The grout lines are very small (1-2 mm), and the installer did a great job. I think the colour was called sunset gold. It is a beigey-gold, with flecks not swirls.