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What to do with leftover granite?

8 years ago

Hello all, we have chosen granite - two for the kitchen, one for the two bathrooms. Because of the design of our kitchen counters, we will have probably 1/2 slab of 3cm left over. We expect to have 1/4 slab of 2 cm left from the bathrooms.

I am under the impression that the customer doesn't typically get the excess (perhaps doesn't want the excess) but If there are ways in which to use it, I'm game. I thought perhaps a top for a kitchen rolling cart (haven't found any that don't already have tops though) or a cutting board, albeit overly heavy.

Would be interested in 1) how the excess was handled on your jobs, and 2) if you kept it, how you used it.

Thanks.

Featured Answer

silken1

8 years ago

It won't work very great for a cutting board as it will dull knives.

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Comments (10)

User
8 years ago
The weight for those ideas may be too much. Do you have plans for an outdoor.table.or bench?
mrspete
8 years ago
I'm not sure a rolling cart with a granite top would be completely safe. If it were to turn over, it might literally take off your toes.

My first thought is an outdoor kitchen. Since you can't burn granite, it'd be great for hot things straight from the grill.
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Everything is a racket - that's haw business make money - even the one you are in. They buy things and sell them for more than they cost. They also process them to add value too. Now, back to the stone countertops - How were you charged for the work ??? Probably x # of $$$ per sq. foot - right ? Now let's say you have 42 sq. ft. of countertops. You'll be charged $65 a sq. ft. The fabricator has to buy enough stone (slabs) to make your tops. What are the chances of him getting a slab that is "exactly" 42 sq.ft - That's right ZERO CHANCE! SO, he'll get xtra or whatever your slab you chose and there will be leftover material , sometimes a little piece and sometimes it'll be almost an entire slab.. Think he has to pay for that xtra? Yep, you're right again - he does. And...............tell em the best part Mortimer - the customer gets to pay for it - just like always. It is rolled into the "overhead". In this case that leftover mtrl; (usually a guess based on historical averages) is rolled into the $65 a sq. ft. price. So you are paying for it in one sense - but not paying in another. Do you whine about not getting the scrap material that was left over from manufacturing your car??? Why not, that aluminum, steel, copper and glass has real $$$ value on the scrap market - and you paid for it- Right ? Many fabricators will be glad to give you the scraps like end cuts and sink cutouts, just ask. But, if you think he's gonna smooth that cutout and place an ogee edge on 4 sides for free so you can have a cool platter or cutting board - well that's not going to happen. He will process that cutout for an additional fee for you though and you'll be saving on the material cost.
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chisue
8 years ago
Fireplace.
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8 years ago
When my fabricator offered me the leftover pieces, I declined. I knew those pieces would end up in my garage gathering dust, and I'd just never get around to doing anything with them.
javiwa
8 years ago
We were required to purchase entire slabs, but will pay a per SF fabrication charge based on our actual countertop/island surface area. Excess material is at our disposal, so we're contemplating it for our backsplash (depending on additional fabrication charges).
MizLizzie
8 years ago
My sister's granite was really unusual, so she saved one small piece in case a hot pot ever cracked her handing zone next to her range. But that was because the landing zone was small in her layout. And she saved enough to retrofit a piece behind the range if she ever upgrades to a slide-in rather than freestanding. Otherwise, I can't think what you'd do with it.
beachem
8 years ago
When I first built the house, I used the granite for backsplash for we barely had anything left.

Now I'm reusing the same granite for the laundry room and garage.
cmw829
Original Author
8 years ago
Great feedback! Thank you! Love the idea for the outside table but not certain we will have enough. Beachem, such a good idea. Part of our remodel is to replace the countertops in the laundry with laminate. If all I'd have to pay is fabrication it would be a no-brainer. Thanks again.
bossyvossy
8 years ago
not much left in our case but I took it to the shop at habitat for humanity. I think crafters go there to get odd/end pieces for little tables, etc.

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