We have somewhere around 140 sf of granite in the kitchen; big kitchen with big island plus a buffet separating kitchen and family room. So the $14k price from the second place is about $100/sf (for both material and install). This is a quote for the exact type of granite we chose - we went to yards to look at various slabs and chose the Blue Eyes as the one we liked the look of best. Then our GC sent out the dimensions of our requirements to the two shops for quotes for our specific requirements. From what I have seen/read the Blue Eyes is on the expensive side, it reads more as a gray with blue highlights than blue, but it does have the blue which I guess adds to the expense. But DH is in love with it... The Costa Esmerelda slabs are cheaper - $8500 installed for 4 slabs. I think we're about 110 sf there (quote includes slab granite for shower walls in addition to counter and tub) so about $77 per square foot. I think what we've chosen is on the more expensive side for granite; funny how it seems to work out that way. Original allowances from our contractor were $10k for kitchen and $4k for bath, so we're over that (bath one was for granite countertop and tile shower, but I'm really leaning towards the granite for both and no grout!)

With a mitered edge, the line tends to be hidden on the corner transition. Some of the quartzites are pretty expensive so the 3 cm might cost significantly more (though the fabricator will charge something for the labor of making a laminated edge and probably even more for a mitered edge so that offsets the extra cost of 3 cm unless you go for a 2 cm edge). Our quartzite is laminated, not mitered and the fabricator did a good job so I mostly don't notice the line. Only when I look for it. You don't need to do a laminated edge even if there is plywood under it. Two friends of mine did a 2 cm thin edge. One used a simple trim molding of wood matched to the cabinets to cover the edge of the plywood. The other left the plywood edge uncovered - I know because I put my head under the counter and looked into the shadow for it. If I was doing it, I'd probably cover with a trim piece because it would bother me, but only someone very TKO who looks for it would notice if you didn't.

"I have also been told that 2 cm is rarely used here anymore." and ..."oh, those over there are just 2 cm so don't bother looking at them." Not really. 2 cm is pretty much the standard on the west coast. I live in the very northern part of San Diego County and have been looking at granite for about 8 months. It turns out we live in Granite Yard City; there are at least 6 granite yards within 5 miles of my house and another 8 or so just 30 min. down the road towards San Diego. Lucky us, the closer ones seems to have a better selection. In any case, about 95% of what we've seen has been 2cm. The place I linked above is absolutely the exception in offering only 3 cm. In the end, our choice was made because we liked this outfit's work, not the thickness of the stone. There are benefits to each choice, but personally, I could readily go either way. I did see a 2 cm quartzite I loved, but it was pricey (!) and we would have needed 2 slabs to be sure there was enough to cut for the extra thickness on the edge. sigh The place we went with charges per square foot and they keep the leftovers. Had the quartzite people offered that, we would have seriously considered it. 2 cm or 3? Don't worry about it, just find one you like.

"Seek and ye shall find; ask and ye shall receive." Ten hours ago I posted " Plywood is incapable of applying constant upward pressure on a sink as straps on sinks do. And replacing the sink would be a nightmare." Well I went to work and my nightmare has come true. This sink, undermounted in 2cm stone, is supported by plywood and is leaking like a sieve. I don't know when I've seen a worse topical caulk job. A knife slides easily between the sink flange and the bottom of the stone. That leaking is contributing to the failing seam. If it leaks enough to rust a steel reinforcement rod, it can blow the front rail off and crack the rear. There's a dishwasher to the left and a wash machine to the right (small condo) that will have to be pulled so I can Rotozip the cabinet sides to gain access to the plywood so I can remove it to remove the sink. I'll have to patch the cabinet sides back together, install the sink harness or straps, remake the seams, and reinstall the sink and appliances. I'm practically writing my proposal in this post. I can change a strapped sink in an hour and a quarter. I'm going to propose a Kohler K-3942 as an alternative. The appliances could stay, no cabinet alterations, and the existing sink, plywood and all, would be cut out from the top. I won't have to make the front seam either. This bachelor likes stainless steel apron sinks. Wish me luck please. And never, ever, use plywood to support a sink.