Have you priced other materials? Our leathered Black Mist granite was $2999 for a slab including material and all fabrication and installation. How many slabs would you use?

Who cares what the labor price is... what’s the total price and how does that compare to other materials or other fabricators?

Get another quote if you aren't sure, but usually you would get a total price for labor and the material.

That price should include fabrication, materials, and installation. If my math is right you have 56 ft^2 to purchase. You're paying a good price for quartz. I have about 27 ft^2 and I was quoted about $2500 before tax for Pental Quartz Cappuccino, much more per square foot! I ended up going with a granite that looked like it. lol

I am a fabricator. If that price excludes material then it is quite high. If that's installed price inc. material then reasonable for my upper Midwest area.

"The higher the material costs, the higher the fabrication fee" - this statement is at least somewhat inaccurate; the large majority of the materials used for countertops take the same effort to fabricate and install so for many shops the price differences reflect variations in raw material cost per sq. ft. inc waste plus a common number for fab/install. However, there are materials like quartzite that require SUBSTANTIALLY more fab time so the price reflects the higher raw material cost PLUS a higher fab/install number.

Also; quartz is definitely easier to fabricate than most natural materials. While it is possible to burn the resin while polishing an edge that normally is only an issue with inexperienced shop personnel. Once a shop person knows how to polish quartz he will tell you quartz is among the easiest materials to finish edges and sink cutouts. The burn issue becomes a problem when trying to repair damage to a polished quartz surface. It takes an uncommon level of skill to grind out a scratch or heat damage in a quartz surface and then restore the factory polish to the flat surface.

If you have around 56 sq ft, then that price sounds similar to what I paid. We paid a little over $4,000 total for materials (Hanstone), removing the old laminate counters, and fabricating and installing the new ones. I think we had 46 sq ft.

Quartz is also the "must have" material right now, so some places charge accordingly.

Thanks all.

FWIW, we are in coastal SoCal and the $3,950 does not include the material. I ordered two slabs of Pental Super White for total of $1,530 and it's being sent to fabricator. It's an all new kitchen, so there was nothing for him to remove first.

We're doing "European style" counter edges (or at least that's how our kitchen cabinet maker described it), so not sure if that has any effect on price.

The price seemed high to me because I'd thought that fabrication typically is the same cost as the materials, or sometimes more costly if the material is quartzite (because of quartzite's harsh wear on blades).

In any case, a childhood friend of mine who sells tile checked with her people yesterday and they all agreed it was on target with fabrication costs in our area. Another gripe bites the dust! :)

We price a bit differently here (Midwest Ohio)....it's purchased installed with material. For a fabricator stocked quartz - 55SF, price is $4615 M+L. For a non-stock color it could easily go up to $5-$6k.....And you are paying $5480 M+L in a more expensive/higher overhead area of the country.

And honestly his fabrication and installation pricing will be a it higher anyway as he is not making money on the material. Remember if he will be replacing the stone if he screws up. And he is making nothing on the material.

Thanks! I appreciate the insights from someone who understands the trade (as I'm obviously clueless).

And now that I think about it...as far as warranty etc. goes, would it have made more sense to buy the material from him directly? I hadn't thought of that. His price was actually a bit higher than the store I got it from. But since the salesperson at the store is an old friend (who's been helping me for months) I didn't want to cheat her out of her commission.

I'm not sure how warranties go when it's purchased separately. There is probably a material warranty covered by the quartz manufacturer (ie Pental). And the install warranty is by the fabricator (individuals and companies all have different warranties when it comes to labor). I find it's always best to buy the materials from whomever is installing it..... because there is less finger pointing if something goes wrong. If I were you, I would be there when they deliver the tops and inspect them prior to install. If a chip or crack happens....it's good to know who's responsible.

Thanks! I've already paid for the materials, so that mouse has left the mouse hole, but I will definitely be there to inspect before install. Thanks for the nudge! (Any other nudges appreciated!)

For whatever reason, in Southern California one purchases stone or other materials from the stone yard or supplier and then hires the fabricator to do the installation. They pick up the stone at the stone yard and the installation price is separate from the price of the materials.

This method has been discussed on several threads and it is different than in other places where the stone and installer are a package dealer - e.g. you hire a fabricator who directs you to a stone yard.

While I imagine that one might find places in Southern California that don't follow this model, everyone I know purchases materials and hires installers as separate transactions. There are certain areas in the Valley which are essentially stone yard after stone yard.

I have no idea whether or not the price is too high - it appears to be in the ball park. I just finished a gut remodel in Los Angeles and went with all of the trades people recommended by my GC. They all did a great job as did he and were there (as was he) to deal with the inevitable minor glitch. To me, it is worth some extra money to have peace of mind in terms of quality of labor.

Thanks Helen. I thought the same, but apparently this fabricator is able to get whatever material people want, which is why my GC was surprised I was buying it from my tile seller friend. (He was doubly surprised to hear her price was lower than the fabricator's!).

Also, I'm told this fabricator is among the few in our area who has really big bucks equipment ($1 million worth?) so perhaps he pulls a bit more weight in the local industry than other fabricators. Who knows.

Mittens, Just returned from SoCal. If there’s anything I’ve learned, it‘s that it sure costs to live there. BTW, love your cabinets, and await pics of the completed project.

@Mittens - It appears all has been settled to your satisfaction.

I am confused since it appears that you went the traditional way in SoCal - purchased stone and then hired fabricator. Not sure how "clout" enters into it. I technically purchased my slabs through my designer and was charged her markup on her wholesale prices. I was just so happy to find a marble I fell in love with at the second stone yard - and they were willing to let me select the exact slab from the lot although technically it was one of five that was being "reserved" LOL that I just accepted everything as a done deal and moved on to new worries - with a gut remodel one would literally have an exploding head if one didn't just accept the roller coaster :-).

ETA - You didn't ask but I wanted to add a comment on your walnut cabinets. When everything was being installed in sections, I really second guessed my choices. I remember when the Calacatta tile for my bathroom was installed (there was nothing else), I freaked out because all the brown and gray looked weird to me. My designer assured me that once everything was done and it all tied together, it would look great - and it does.

@Helen, LOL! exploding heads and rollercoasters and way too many wide awake stints from 3 am to dawn--what fun it all is!

Sorry for not being clear. Yes I ended up going the conventional route ordering countertops from tile store but I meant that our fabricator often does the unconventional route and sells the material himself. Actually, now that i think about it, he's probably not selling it himself. He's probably buying from a store and selling it to customers. OK, enough of that.

And THANK YOU for the kind reassurance--always appreciated! :)

@Mittens - I have now moved on to new issues for my head to explode about LOL in terms of ordering furniture.

I ordered a chest for decorative storage and the doors fell off after having been opened about four or five times. I had it about two weeks and opened it about three or four times because I wanted to measure interior to get some organizations "boxes" for the interior and was waiting for those to arrive from The Container Store - and when those did and I opened the door, it fell off.

OMG, wouldn't it be easier to live in a cave and spend all our money on gourmet takeout!!

These prices all sound way better than anything I’ve been quoted. I’ve obtained 4 quotes myself and another through my designer. The designer quote was the highest ($3-$4k higher). Some quotes had one total price, others separated materials from install, and one provided every line item (every cutout, delivery and placement, edge, chip minimizer, etc.). For 84 sf, the quotes ranged between $11k and $16k. Demo cost another $1,135-$1,783 for counters, more for the backsplash. Plumbing was also extra $900-$1,050 to disconnect and reconnect. The range in prices on materials and install was due to different material quotes with Caesarstone quartz the least expensive and quartzite the most expensive. I’m in Portland so it’s an expensive labor market but less expensive than the Bay Area. Hopefully this is helpful (and makes a few others feel better about their pricing)!!

What is this chip minimizer you speak of?!? Is this something new that hasn't hit my market yet?

@Mittens Cat and @Helen - I’m in SoCal (HB) and trying to find a GC for my bathroom remodel. I’d like to do quartz slabs for my shower walls. GC/fabricator recommendations please? 😊😊

Chip Minimizer is an edging enhancement to the sink cutout. The most common area for chips is around the sink from handling pots and pans. Chip Minimizer is the addition of a rounded or beveled edge around the sink cutout. I’ve been quoted $195-$250 for this and it comes with a warranty where they will repair any chips that occur on a sink cutout with Minimizer. Many Home Depot fabricators will offer this feature, and their direct competitors have been offering it too in recent years. Some of the smaller companies or ones in more rural areas sometimes don’t include this in their quotes (but might be able to do it). The cost to repair a chip is more than $250 so it can make a lot of sense. Visually it is only noticeable if you’re looking for it. It feels smoother to the touch too.

One of the companies in my area supports Home Depot. They warehouse all the slabs, fabricate, Demo and install, coordinate all plumbing, offer sinks and faucets, assist with design for backsplashes, repair walls and uneven cabinetry, and order the tile, and hire the tile installers. They are able to quote all of this in minutes right in your home. I’ve also seen some move toward digital measurements with a handheld scanner instead of using measuring tapes. They are also able to measure, template, and fabricate without demolishing the counters. That means you don’t live without counters and the demo and install happen the same day. More and more products are now sold by the sf, not slab, including selected granite, quartzite, and quartz (not sure on Marble - I’ve never gotten a quote). Every quartz I got quoted was by the sf, not slab (with a 25 sf minimum). We needed about 1.3 standard slabs so this mattered to me. Financing options with 12 months interest free is popping up too (in addition to discounts, free sinks, and free vanity counter fabrication with your remnants).

Sorry if I’m explaining stuff everyone knows and encounters. I’ve just noticed differences between the big and small companies and changes in capabilities and integrated services over the last 10 years.

LOL! The Kitchen Place It's just a silly new term someone came up with. A less sharp bevel and shape, to minimize chipping. We all know that anyway!! Jeeez...the marketing. I can't believe anyone would charge EXTRA for the sink edge treatment. Wow.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5691242/do-i-need-the-sink-chip-minimizer-treatment-on-quartz-counter

https://accentcountertops.com/countertops/chip-minimizer/

I am a fabricator. We have automatically done a 3/8" radius at the sink cutouts for years at no extra charge. (The additional cost to the fabricator for a different edge on the cutout is miniscule, less than 5 minutes of machine time and Zero if the countertop edge is already a 3/8" radius.) However, on low margin work like HD the fabricator has to upcharge everything he can. $250 for a chip repair is also steep considering the recent availability of UV cured epoxy that makes a typical chip repair a 15 minute job but, on HD work they'll charge what the public will bear. Many fab shops will repair a chip for free if the customer can wait until an install crew is in the area.

@tam75 - I would recommend my GC. He provided all of the tradespeople. I chose the finishes such as tile, marble, fixtures, flooring. Vanity in bathroom was done by a local guy who also did my kitchen cabinets and all my builtins as well as a room divider.

My GC is NOT a designer though. I stress this because he worked from plans and specifications from my designer who also acted as my project manager in terms of being my advocate since she picked up on things that my less "educated" eye would have missed.

I am not comfortable about sharing his personal information on the web but if there is a way one can leave a PM through Houzz, I would be happy to provide you with his information.

@Helen I sent you a tweet bc I couldn’t figure out how to PM you through Houzz

@tam75 - Sorry but I have no idea how to tweet you through my twitter account.

@Helen

My email address is ms.glunt@yahoo.com

@Tam Glunt, I'm just a few cities away and would recco my GC (for bathrooms, at least), BUT he's booked months in advance and has the luxury of working within walking distance of his home, he's that popular!

@Mittens Cat I can wait a few months if necessary. Would really appreciate your GC’s contact info 🙏🙏

Just here to add to pricing: I’m in Texas, I purchased a slab from a stone yard for $5,800 (white macabus, “exotic”) my fabricator picked it up and will charge about $3,000 to ogee the edges and install on my island. It will be about 60sq ft.

I haven’t found the other surfaces yet… but I’m nervous I’ll have $20k in stone alone in my kitchen! 😱