Our slab of granite is planning to make a 1000 mile trip. It is not what I call huge ,though, at 76"X 46". I am certain a good remodeller has ndealt with this before, if you saw it in multiple homes.

Happy Hunting!

A friend of mine looked into this. Since the granite is new the owner, through the realtor, should be able to tell you who sold and installed their granite. You could then call the installer and ask them if they would be able to move that piece. The place my friend dealt with said they could do it, so it's possible (but probably depends on many factors!).

Trying to reuse granite locks you into the existing layout. That's not always a good thing. In fact, most of the time it isn't.

Granite can probably be removed just fine if the cabinets are sacrifice and you don't want to keep them. However, it does risk cracking that granite. It would be much better to just consider everything as demolition and put it on craigslist and let someone else deal with the headaches of trying to salvage it.

Then put in something that works for you rather than trying to "work around" the limitations of the previously existing granite. In Florida, granite is VERY cheap because it's one of the import stops for the boat loads of it. You wouldn't exactly be "sacrificing" thousands by selling it to someone else that wants it.

LWO brings up some good points about layout. You can definitely donate it and let someone else deal with the headache.

new cabinets in a poor layout are even worse than new granite on ugly cabinets.

Wouldn't it also depend on the granite thickness? In my area, there are realtors that recommend people put granite on their kitchens just before listing (my friend actually did this!). But, when I went over, it was the thin granite (supported by plywood--like a cap), rather than 3cm granite. It was what was recommended by the RE agent, but I don't think it would transfer well at all--way too easy to break, IMO.

Lucky you to be in Florida where it is inexpensive!

I'm with you, Jane. Throwing out the beautiful (new!) granite would kill me. How do you feel about the existing layout? Can you use it as is, or with minor layout changes which would make the granite still usable? If that isn't going to work, do you see a layout where the existing piece could be modified and used on an island or peninsula? If either of those seem possible to you, maybe you should speak to the installers. I'll bet the possibility of removing and reinstalling is pretty good.

Salmon pink formica? Really? WHAT were they thinking when they left that in place?

The kitchen that came with this builder spec house had granite that I couldn't stand with an edge I disliked. The granite is 3cm, laid directly on top of the cabinets (no underlayment.) Our non-granite professionals (floor guys, actually, working in their off hours as handymen of sorts) handily removed it for us, including cutting the stuff out of the seams with a razor knife, and carried it out to the garage, putting it on top of the old cabinets out there. Only one piece cracked, that was the thin part by the drop-in cooktop hole, and that was only because they set it down on an unlevel surface. Except for that they were just very careful and deliberate about everything they did. I think the key was carefully separating the granite underneath (and at the seams as stated already) before trying to remove it.

"Throwing out the beautiful (new!) granite would kill me."

It is just polished rock.

While there may be limited amounts of any particular 'style' there is not a rock shortage.

It's the waste factor that gets me, brickeyee. That stuff was mined probably on another continent, lifted out, polished, shipped to the wholesaler, reshipped to the retailer, to the fabricator, and to the homeowner. That's a lot of shipping, think oil, and handling to just throw it into a landfill before it ever gets used. Sometimes there are no good choices so that may happen, but it would be better to find an alternative if possible.

Suzannesl, exactly what I feel. I have seen some homes with crappy granite, but others with a beautiful piece. This particular house had a layout I could live with. The cabinets were the original (probably 20yrs) but had formica veneer. Pink-salmon, horrid. The stone was very thick with a beautiful edge. It had some salmon grain but not speckled, large sweeping grain. I thought it was unusual and lovely.

We figured they must have gotten it from someone who had leftover or was a 'relative' in the business! Who knows.

I don't think anyone would buy it or take it away. You would have to have the exact layout. It was cut around the sink and the sink was old. I don't know if I could even replace it in the same size.

Jane

Actually, the same granite is on the bathroom counter-tops. The vanities are old as is the rest of the bathrooms. The granite is on a counter top in the patio/pool area. I don't know what people are thinking when they list their house.

I don't think I could deal with the cost of pulling it off and replacing all the vanities and kitchen cabinets. If they had left them alone, it would cost less in labor and materials.

Thanks for the advice,
Jane

Our PO had 19 foot long black granite island. Our handyman removed it and we had it cut professionally. We then installed it in a third floor nanny suite (it has a kitchen) and a basement workshop. Easy

wow- I so get this one! This is happening so much down here. I am in south florida, and this seems to be a kind of weird thing thats going on right now- its like real estate agents (or owners) are thinking 'this kitchen is a wreck", (oh- those pink and black formica cabinets that were huge down here in the 50's and the laminated white ones with the wooden strip on the bottom? Not exactly Eames.) So they think, lets plop on a granite counter top to fix this, up the price and sell it all as new! More than a little nuts- right? For goodness sakes- give an allowance for the kitchen to be redone (even gutted) and leave it to the buyer to chose if it fits their energy to redo.
!*sigh*!

Just as an example- my ex had a condo right on the beach that was amazing until you walked into the kitchen. (Shiny marble floors, floor to ceiling windows, a view of the ocean from the living room and a view from the dining room of cruise ships coming and going- total Hollywood glam.) Then- the Kitchen. The cabinets were plastic- really, truly- hard shiny molded plastic! and- ta da! the countertops were a silky gorgeous polished marble. Nuts!

Anyway- I have done this ( moved both marble and granite slabs.) The trick is to find someone who knows how to crate it before its moved at all. Even if its not going anywhere but to the back yard, (or the living room) crating it stabilizes the stone. I have two large pieces that I have moved twice now- one of each. It's expensive, but a good moving company should be able to give you quotes to do it. If you love the stone please dont just rip it out and dump it, it drives me crazy (personal opinion) to think that granite has become a design element that can just be replaced if it doesnt fit a new "look", like on the show "flipping out". If you find that it's prohibitive in terms of cost to do this, then do at least put it on Craigs list. You will be surprised at the number of people who will respond to take it out for you. At the beginning of negotiations, adjust your offer accordingly. The problem is that most of the desirable areas down here are older and the kitchens arent antique-y looking, just really horribly dated. Just because folks spent money on kitchen counter tops doesnt make the kitchen updated. I so get that! Good luck to you on your house search... :D