Funny that you guys started to discuss this just when I am about to start this same project myself. Here are my findings. First off, if you plan of putting a counter on top of the new 3.8 cu ft FL, good luck, and have your pocket book ready. You see, the deepest "standard" counters are those for kitchens, at 25 1/8". Assuming that one leaves around 5" of clearance behind those newer FL machines for vents, air circulation, heat, etc, then you are looking at about 30"-35" of depth, depending on how flush you want the counter to come to the front of the machine. Having said that, there are 3 prices for laminate counters in the stores (like Home Depot). The counters you see in the store in stock are the cheapest, and will cost around $10 li ft. If you need to pick a finish that matches say the sink counter top in your bathroom where the machines are also located, then that is considered a custom order, even if it is a standard depth. This will easily double the price to $20 li ft. Now if you want to order a non-standard depth so that it goes from the back of the wall to the front of your new FL, then you are looking at $35-$50 li ft, depending on type of finish like rounded vs sqaure front edge, back ledge or no ledge, etc... Keep this in mind when shopping for a counter top. I would like my counter to cover the machines completely, so I might have to bite the bullet and order the more expensive counter top.... Again, I am talking about a laminate counter top, no fancy materials here.... I am from Canada, and here is what the local Home Depot quoted me in Canadian dollars for the 3 options.. 1) In-Store counter (limited finishes) 25 1/8" (standard depth) X 6 feet = $68 CAD Custom order counter (you choose the finish) 25 1/8" (standard depth) X 6 feet = $132 - $150 CAD 30 Csutom order counter (you choose the finish) 30-35" (non standard depth) X 6 feet = $222 CAD I believe the last option of non-standard depth only allows for a square front edge finish. If you want a rounder edge in front, like that found on your kitchen counter, the price jumps to $500 CAD, since the guy said that they have to charge for a full 4X8 sheet, and then cut the custom size from there, in order to get the rounded front edge... One other option you can do, which my brother did very nicely is lay down 2 sheets of plywood (for extra thickness), and tile the top and sides, looks really nice, but is a lot more work...

thx nancy! that gives me positive hope - not just my 'wishful' hope. he was fine when we were doing the dirt pad out front - or seemed to be his regular 'ol self! we noticed a few changes when we moved his pen (now called 'man cave'). I attributed that to several things - the change, he was then away from his sister on her trips out to potty (they were within ft of each other before) and I was out there each time and walked over to give him hugs etc. and he was penned in so I thought he just didn't like that! after about 2 wks I started cabling him again on the outer side of the man cave - he could go in...or out. I did that for several hrs in the evening hoping it would help him adjust. and of course, the heat here now! ugh! and he took to flipping his pool over so water would go all over the ground and then he'd lie in the mud. I didn't like that (he'd never been so dirty!) but figured if it cooled him I'd deal with it. prior to the pen change he was as active and ornery as he was when he was a pup. my sister said the same thing last night - that she didn't think he was ever gonna age and then boom! he is acting more alert today. not getting up tho. he did try to get up and bark at a worker - it was a sad sounding bark! I'm gonna spend some time tonight raking some of the stones in there over to the sides so he doesn't have to sleep on a bed of stone.

Pllog, Well, we are in both in CA, as some would say! ;) I do agree with your comment about granite being the standard because of its perception as being a luxury item. FrmrsDghtr, WOW!!! Love what you were able to do!!! RosySunnyGal, Our counters are Floating Blue which is a mostly turquoise in white cement matrix color. We were able to pick our slabs at the factory when it was still here in the Bay Area years ago. We have several KDs in our area that had samples of Vetrazzo, Icestone and Fuez to look over. IF you are looking for the wow factor, these will do it. With that in mind, I do recommend that you really like your countertop color because it is a very prominent part of your kitchen. They also aren't cheap and I highly recommend that your installer be someone who knows how to work with this material. Our installation fabricators claimed they did and we had multiple problems with them that we finally had to hire a second company to fix. We looked at all of the green countertop materials, and this was the one that my DH and I were able to agree on despite the price. BTW, I don't include quartz or C-stone in this category. I do recommend that you do an online search for recycled glass companies because there are several others besides the three I mention above. The ones that I have ran across are: Gilasi in the Chicago area, Urbanslabs in SoCal, Vetrazzo is now in the Atlanta area, and more that I have seen around the US. I do recommend if you can using one that is near you because of the weight and shipping cost of the slabs. If you are interested in knowing more or seeing some pictures of my counters, please, PM me.

first off, there is no such thing as a combo of marble and quartzite. I was schooled on this issue last year by a geologist that pops in every now and then. It's either a marble, or a quartzite. no in-between. ( since marble and quartzite are two very differently formed minerals) If it etches or stains at all, or it scratches w/a shard of glass, it's not quartzite. (quartzite will turn a glass shard into powder) marble is a 3 on the mohs scale, and quartzite is up in the 8 range. Completely different compositions. glass is harder than marble, but softer than granite/quartzite. this is prob the easiest test to do w/a scrap piece of whatever stone you're considering secondly, stone salesmen aren't geologists. You'd think they'd have basic knowledge of what they're selling, but sadly it's not the case. If they are telling you Fantasy Brown is a granite, they're clueless. (or more likely they know people don't want marble so they tell you it's 'granite' so that you'll buy it) Fantasy Brown is classified as Dolomite, (like Super White, that they all confuse as a Quartzite) which is marble's first cousin. Dolomite is a bit heartier than a marble like carrara. It takes a little longer for etching or staining to occur, which is prob why sellers think it's a granite. It's 'slightly' harder than calcite(marble)., but it will still scratch like marble. However, it's porous and will need to be sealed. You will have a bit longer to wipe up spills that stain, then those on marble. Geologically speaking: Dolomite is a sedimentary rock containing more than 50 percent of the mineral dolomite by weight Marble is a non-foliated metamorphic rock which is composed of recrystallized carbonate which is formed when limestone is exposed to high temperatures and pressures over a long time I believe there is a test you can do to verify if it's marble or dolomite. stones the 'bubble vigorously' or release carbon dioxide gas, are marble (since it reacts w/the calcite) . With dolomite, you won't get that bubbling gas release like it does on marble (unless it's heated or the stone is powdered) Dolomite effervesces with dilute hydrochloric acid, but slowly rather than vigorously as calcite does; in general, it appears to smolder slowly, and in some cases it does so only after the rock has been powdered or the acid warmed, or both. since this hydrochloric acid is highly dangerous, perhaps using vinegar to test on sample stones would be safer! Vinegar is a dilute acetic acid solution (about 5% to 10%) that produces a weak effervescent reaction with calcite and dolomite. It can be used instead of hydrochloric acid for introducing students to the acid test. Vinegar is easy to obtain, inexpensive, and safer to use than hydrochloric acid. The effervescence using vinegar usually requires a hand lens for clear observation and is only observable with carbonate minerals that have a strong reaction with hydrochloric acid. This is a sample marble piece at one of my stone yards. the guy used vinegar, ketchup, oil, lemon juice, and something else. They all etched or stained almost immediately. With fantasy brown, it won't happen as quickly. and that's the main diff between dolomite and marble. So, there is your geology lesson for the day. you can inform the sales guy to quit marketing his Fantasy Brown as a granite, and tell people the truth that it's Dolomite.