I was originally planning to get either Silestone or granite from Home Depot (price was comparable to Lowe's). Then I checked out the prices and choices available from a granite company. Turned out to be much cheaper (by several hundred dollars) to order it from a granite company, and much better selection on granite, if you go that route. The real caution, however, is to get quotes from as many granite companies (for either Silestone or granite) as you can stand -- there's an incredibly WIDE range of prices for the exact same job. >:(

Thanks so much for all of the information My biggest concern is that in as much as I am wheelchair bound I can't even take a countertop measurement myself and after 2 phone calls to Costco's " My Countertop " + 2 emails to their subcontractor in a month's time......I have given up on Costco and don't want to use a subcontractor who obviously has so little interest in doing a countertop for me I just want somebody in Suffolk/Nassau County who will do a good job installing my countertop. I am not looking to " nickel & dime " anyone on price but I don't want to get anyone who will " nickel & dime " me either. I would love to find somebody who will do the entire job well ( including removing & discarding old countertop & sink and installing new countertop & sink ) I would also like to find someone who is willing to come to my house...take professional measurements ...discuss my options to me....make suggestions if needed and show me various samples I don't think that's too much to ask and I hope that there is a good fabricator out there who could do it all for me which I will gladly pay for

I had HD install a granite vanity and sink and they did a fine job. It could not have been done any better. Please be sure that you really want carrara marble. I have carrara marble for the floor and vanity top in a powder room, done about 20 years ago. They are worn and scratched and will be replaced next year for other reasons. At year 19, brown/yellow stains appeared within th stone which I have since learned is some kind of oxidation or rust. Theory is there is/was some water leaking. Also, I had Vermont Danby marble counters installed in my kitchen reno, 5 years ago. There are scratches, tons of etches but not one stain. Also, little white divots. If that's your cuppa, fine. Just be aware.

I suggest doing your research on fantasy brown if you are considering it. It sounds to me like a marble. (Super white is another that is often billed as quartzite but is is actually usually marble.). Not that there is anything wrong with marble--I chose it for the ktichen in our last house, but I did so knowing what I was getting. Those countertop geology threads are really informative.