Ceasarstone came in $1600 more than white carrara marble for me.

I think it depends on where you live. Around here, up level caesarstone is about $20 more than up level corian which in turn is about equal to many mid-level granites.

Starter levels of corian and granite are about the same ($35) with Starter level caesarstone about $25 more.

When granite first became popular, it was a LOT more expensive than synthetic countertops. But then a granite shop seemed to open on every corner and competition has driven the price way down.

Both granite and manufactured quartz are expensive where I live but my Cambria was about $35/sf more than some of the cheaper granites. Quartz is very popular however. Of the four friends I know who have redone there kitchens in the past year, three of us did quartz, one is doing granite.

Thanks, everyone. I'm just so tired of granite, it seems. I think that's why every contemporary kitchen draws me in w/the dark cabinets and pure white countertops. Of course, that kitchen will scream "2010!" in five years, so I know I should go w/what truly moves me.

We'll see what happens ...

As beautiful as it is, I'm also tired of granite and have samples of Caesarstone and Cambria all over my kitchen trying to decide if I'll go with it. There is so much that I love about it. I especially love how it creates a more modern, industrial, clean look that can be well-suited to vintage, retro kitchens. (The PBS This Old House show did a beautiful quartz kitchen in Newton, MA last year.) However, my architect, who is not designing the kitchen, keeps warning me away from quartz. His argument? Anything manmade is going to date faster than a natural product like granite, slate, wood, soapstone, or marble. He provided the example of Formica and Corian to make his point. His comments have made me pause to think. But I still think I want quartz. I'd be curious if others on GW agree with my architect's point about manmade products dating faster than "natural" materials.

In our area there isn't a big difference in price between the two. We went with granite because of our type of house(post and beam) and the area in which we live (forested hills). We wanted an "organic" feel to the house and rock over man-made material did it for us. I find that granite gives a warmer feel to a house than man-made products but it does come down to personal preference. Why is your fabricator suggesting granite over Ceasarstone - is it because of price point or because of style?
My suggestion is to find the price point with which you are comfortable because it sounds like that is what is driving your decision and then pick the product with which you would be happiest and that fits that

I'm using Cambria on my perimeter counters and granite on my island to help appease my husband's "traditional" leanings and my desire for a contemporary feel. Somehow, I got the idea in my head that if I go a bit contemporary, it will make me look/feel younger! (HaHa) I live in Los Angeles, which is oversaturated with granite/tile stores, so my granite/installation costs less per sq. ft. than the quartz products. I was "told" by several retail outlets that depending on the manufacturers' promotions, the price of Cambria vs. Silestone vs. Ceasarstone, etc., can vary month-to-month. My final choice was based on color...

We were just quoted $85 for quartz, $77 for standard granite, $85 for select granite (Bianco Romano), and $130 for premium granite (Blue Pearl). We ended up going with the Bianco Romano for the perimeter counters ($11,357 which included upgraded edge and sink/stovetop cutouts), and Blue Pearl for the island ($2400). They were able to find a piece of "excess inventory" for the Blue Pearl which brought the cost down to $100.

Quite a bit more than we originally anticipated. I currently have Silestone, and that was DHs first choice for the new house. But when I brought home samples of the granite, he said "That's it". I'm sure it will be beautiful.

byronroad, you make a good point: our house is somewhat rural, and I'll bet most would agree that a more "organic" material would fit the house better. Even though the interior is going to be much more contemporary than the last time I built, there is still a "lodge" feel about the profile of the house.

I don't think my fabricator was pushing a particular choice; I asked him if he could get the primary orange Caesarstone - when he realized I was only thinking of using it on a bath vanity, he educated me about the fact that quartz is purchased by the slab just like granite.

In my mind, I'd thought of Caesarstone/Silestone, etc. as more of a man-made product (I automatically attach "engineered" to it in my head) and as such, could be purchased in amounts closer to the area needed (like tile.) Der! I hadn't done my research, and he was simply pointing out that in the five years since he did my first house, granite no longer held the title of "MOST EXPENSIVE."

Truly? I don't think price will be the deciding factor, because it sounds like you all have been quoted prices that - while more than some granites - aren't actually twice the cost. Especially since I have verrrry expensive taste in granite. ;)

francoise47: that's an interesting question posed by your architect. However, should we adjust our thinking to reflect the fact that Caesarstone/Cambria/Zodiaq, etc. are almost 100% quartz, which is a natural stone?

To me, what dated older materials was obvious areas of wear and age: laminate that separated or showed cut marks, for instance. I can't imagine the quartz products aging at all, really - from what I understand, they are more difficult to "hurt" than most granites.

Corian is something I'm very interested in for the aforementioned bath vanity top: they offer a solid primary blue (close to the LEGO blue I'm shooting for), but I'm still not quite clear on the true nature of Corian. Man-made, yes. Solid surface - esp w/the concern of color throughout the entire depth - yes. But I'm not really sure what it's made of!

That decision will come down to color, no doubt: I'm trying desperately to convince DH that an orange Caesarstone counter in DS's bath could be "LEGO-like" now, yet easily updated by changes in cab pulls, accent tiles, and the acrylic inserts in center panels of four cabinet doors.

I had almost talked myself out of even visiting a slab yard this time, because I knew I would see something amazing and all thoughts of my pure white countertops in the kitchen would be thrown away.

And sure enough, that's what happened yesterday: Crazy Horse, Aurora Borealis/Amadaeus, River White, Stillwater Gray, Snowdrift ... so many beautiful granites and not enough surfaces! But I wanted to gather opinions from the people who literally saved my sanity while building my first house. I value the opinions here so highly!

I guess I came looking for reassurance that the (now) more expensive surfaces I didn't even consider last time, weren't somehow superior to granite on every level. Clearly there are advantages/disadvantages to every surface choice (hence the agony of the decision process!), and I need to choose the product that will best serve my family & my kitchen well, for manymanymany years to come.

skyedog,yakkinyetti,dar5: I'd LOVE to see pictures, if you have any!!

I think the Pure White Ceasarstone color is their most expensive, so it very well might be more than some of even the higher priced granites. Most of the granites I've seen are a bit busy for the look I'm going for. I so wanted to go with a natural quartzite but, alas, it is not in my budget. I will most likely go with Ceasarstone in my kitchen (organic white) and my bathroom (pebble).

My cabinetmaker tells me that when you go for pure colors in "engineered" countertops it's more expensive because there is no room for mistake when they make it. More precision = higher price.

As far as being tired of granite, my friends and I had this conversation today. Two of us have granite and a third has Corian. I am ready to move onto wood countertops when we build next year. The others that are also building, want granite. I love my granite, but just want a different look. Perhaps I will still use some granite, but honed!

I never tire of pretty granite, but am very tired of so-so or ugly granite. I won't name granite names, because I don't want to be run out of the forum, lol. You have all seen ugly slabs at the slab yard, so you know what I mean, even if it is not the same ones I find ugly.

In some houses the granite is a major plus and in some, I'd want to rip it out on the first day. I guess it is in the eye of the beholder and the more expensive a material is, the more the beholder had better like it because it cost so much to use!

Riley, I wish I had pics to post, but I'm still a few weeks, maybe a month away from counters. :((

yes. outrageously. and insanely enough, i will have a laundry room outfitted with crema marfil counters. go figure!