Small Qty Solid Surface or Marble Countertops?

Does anyone know of a place where you can buy small quantities of marble or other solid surface countertops? Places like Lowes and Home Depot have minimum orders...

I'd like a small piece for my keezer top, but am finding it very difficult.

 

Some kitchen specialty stores or contrators have old cutoffs and whatnot that they sell of cheap because they don't have enough to complete a full kitchen...

 

Well, you've probably already thought of this but keep your eyes on Craigslist; I've seen old countertops for sale when people have ripped out their old ones, you might get lucky. There any kind of stoneyard around you? They might have some remnants.

Last, what about a nice granite tile? I paid $15 a square for a very nice granite. Do it with a tight grout line and a grout color that blends, it's not as nice as solid but it's cheap and very DIY-able.

 

+1 tile

Isn't stone going to make your top too heavy for easy lifting?

 

Not necessarily stuck on stone..... corian or another similar offering are just as tempting.... May end up going with the tiles, but I'm trying every other option to eliminate grout lines / joints first.

 

There is a tremendous mark up in granite counters...most of the price is for measurement and installation. Shop around, talk to a bunch of dealers and contractors, eventually you will be able to bypass all the middlemen, and there are many, I bet someone has a scrap laying around that would be priced right.

 

I would go directly to a local countertop fabrication company. I've gotten the cutouts from sinks and range tops to use as shelves, and they just let me have em free. I used them to build a stereo component shelving system, and small table tops.

 

The fabricators that do a ton of work make enough mistakes that they'll have island tops that were cut 1" too short. You can get lucky if you go walking around the yard. Those kind of mistakes will already have a great looking polished edge profile too. I'd expect to still spend about $15 sqft.

 

Yeah, coutertop place by my office has slabs out in the front of the building with signs that say "Free granite or Free marble" some have sink cut outs, some are just weird cuts.

 

Check google or the yellow pages, too. A lot of cities have someone running a "reclaimed materials" shop that sells fixtures, doors, wood, etc from remodeling and demolitions.

 

I can find at least 8 granite counter top business places within a 5 mile radius many that have damaged custom cut sections for super cheap. Heavy yes from 1/2" to 1" thick without seams. marble also but too soft.

 

Installation involves a wet/diamond saw to cut the stone, which I viewed in action on granite at our supplier. I never saw what they used to get the rounded edges and bullnoses on the stuff. Unless you have equipment like this, and the skill to use it (they had to put in two holes for the sink, too), "tremendous mark up" is all a matter of opinion. They set up in our garage to do the final cutting and trying before putting it in, and any mistakes on their part would have been on them. They didn't make any errors on ours, but I imagine they exist, and they all go into overhead. The granite for our kitchen was $6500, and after 10 years of living with it I believe it was more than worth what we paid.

This stuff is expensive enough that I imagine the best shot at getting small pieces is chunks like they cut out for our sinks. Personally, I'd go with tile....

(NB: We found that granite was no more expensive than the synthetics like Corian, and far more resistant to damage.)

 

I see remmnants all the time at the Habitat For Humanity ReStore really cheap.

 

not sure where in west michigan you be. my friend does side jobs out of tile mart in kazoo. how big a piece you looking to find? i know he has some stock at his place but i'm not sure what all hes got atm.

edit: if you go to habitat for humanity i like the one in bc better than kazoo's seems to be laid out neater and easier to find building stuff.

 

Should be much cheaper to buy a piece "cash and carry", rather than having a contractor on site for a custom job. Didn't intend to say that the service performed is not worth the price paid, only that the OP is not looking for a full service job w/ inherent risks involved, he's only looking for a piece of stone X by Y inches. Not having the risk of a SWMBO not fully satisfied with her dream kitchen IMO is reason for a huge discount. Believe it or not, you paid for that inherent risk also.

 

Look for 'Restore' type places that sell housing surplus. http://www.habitat.org/cd/frame/frameset.aspx?url=www.restoredane.org

Lots of cool stuff at those places. They not only take in donations of left overs from building projects but they salvage stuff from older homes that are to be destroyed.

It's a 'dig to find it' kind of place but can be well worth it.

 

The fabricators also sell "remnants" form slabs pretty cheap.

 

Across the street the 1926 house became a rental with the son age 64 having the kitchen remodeled. One free standing granite counter top 3/4" thick 26" x 42" with 3/4" rounded edge on 3 sides the color was way off. The contractor told me it's free as well a odd shaped double sink cutout. I have a Stihl TS 400 gas powered 12" diamond saw plus a couple 4" diamond blades for the Makita grinder. All blades can be used dry or wet, only need a couple different diamond grit sanding discs and polishing. Granted my keezer top size limit is now set at 26" x 42" but hell to good to pass up. "Put in stock" dad always said and find a use for it later. Large companies can't waste their time on little mistakes and crap, hell ended up broken at the job site. I'll keep looking for larger pieces at the shops in my area as I can cut to size then add a splash arm rest molding.

 

Get a piece signed by Jimmy Carter.

 

Over in Spain they use marble like we use plywood in the hotels, so darn common marble was.

 

Also check the local big box stores (Menards/Home Depot/Lowes, etc.) Look for their scratch and dent discount bin in the counter top area, you might be able to find something to your liking that was originally special ordered for someone and came in the wrong color or whatever.

 

Alright.... now I feel guilty for asking for input and taking in none of it....

I was bored, it was Saturday, and I had an ongoing project at a stand still. So I went with a blue marble laminate and started from there.... It's actually looking sweet, and overall, I think it'll be the keezer envy of many. We'll vote later.

In the mean time... don't stop the suggestions, I'm certain that there are other, more patient folks out there with the same question.

 

My choice is solid surface countertops, definitely!

 

Within my 5 mile radius excluding the saltwater direction I have 8 marble & granite home remodeling companies, they always have remnants or broken customers orders available cheap. I find marble too soft, cheap as well not acid or chemical proof vs granite my first choice. heavy yes.