$2,000 is way too much of a difference - I assume you're talking about the same slab of granite. What little bumps and curves? You've got straight runs. It sounds like he's trying to recoup the cost of the computer templating machine.

I got my estimate from the floor plans I gave the granite people. That's the price they came in at since my plans were pretty accurate. They templated by hand (using those corrugated plastic strips and pieces), and I've got a couple of curves, one into a bay window, and the the other is the front of a desk. I don't know what computer templating is, but my granite came out just wonderful, gorgeous, and a perfect fit.

There's no justification for a $2,000 difference in price. Mostly, you really need some referrals you trust for the fabricators, and if possible, to see their work.

Thanks helou. I 'gulped' at the first price, and was considering that I'd have to downgrade from choosing granite. I feel more comfortable at the lower quote level. However before I ruled them out I thought I'd better ask if this method was now the norm and if there was an upside to warrant paying the higher price.

To be fair, the higher price company mentioned a couple of factors about their methods: They factory seal the granite which is supposed to be good for 5 years, and they embed rods into the granite around the sink area.
All three factory mount the sink, and the other 2 used special kits for the under mount. All three were quoting for the same level #3 granite. All are 3cm. Not the same slab, but all at the same price point.

They all have reputable recommendations.

If I went with the high price, I'd have to delete too many other perks and that I don't want to do, so I had pretty much figured if I wanted granite I'd go with one of the other guys, but still felt I should ask here to make sure I'm not missing something.

Thankfully you've helped me feel comfortable once again with the traditional templating method. It sometimes is too easy to buy in to the high-tech is better hype.

K.N.

The company we bought from bragged about the machines and I've heard they can offer more accuracy. However I totally agree that pricing is way way way over the top! During the past week, we've gotten probably 15 quotes for a granite install in our master bathroom and not one mentioned their method of measuring. IMO, any costs they have to recoup for the machine should actually be incorporated into their costs of doing business, not as an additional cost to the consumer.

Katienic-

two guys are pretty much equal in price & quality,
and the third guys is $2K high?

Digital templating is accurate IF DONE CORRECTLY -
like driving a car - either by hand or on auto pilot -
there is ALWAYS the element of "Human Error", and this
could be the reason that the digital templated price is
off... I dunno...

I do and teach others in BOTH methods of templating, but
IMHO - templating does NOT have to be done in order to
generate a bid.

If I were you, I'd ask the digital dude to re-visit his
number based on the other two's, and see what happens...

IMHO - $2000 more than the other two guys is NOT worth that
"warm feeling inside - kinda like right after you drink
a whole bottle of Niquil..."

just my ,02 cents worth

kevin

If you had a really old house with crooked walls, then MAYBE it would be worth paying extra for digital templating. And that's a big maybe. I know there are big fancy shops out there with digital templating and CNC cutting, but my granite shop did a wonderful job templating with just the luan strips...the old fashioned way. And my granite install was perfect for a LOT less money.

Oh my gosh! We had our templating done last week and there were no luan strips or digital technology. The guy just measured with a ruler and checked the wall for bumps with a straight edge. We are only having an eased edge and straight runs of granite but was this a seriously deficient method of templating? I certainly don't want to end up with a gob of caulk or silicone filling a gap anywhere. Granite won't be cut until later this week---should I call these folks back and question them on this issue?

we had lauan (actually I think it might have been old paneling) templates made, and the template guy sketched everything again to scale on graph paper with exact measurements written in. The counters are spot-on. The trickiest part was the one-piece corner and it was perfect--so much they had to ease out the side panel near the refrigerator to get it in (they then put it back when they got the counter in). My in-laws had computer templating done and they also got a very well-done installation. Our granite was also pre-sealed, and reinforced around the sink. Sinks were mounted onsite, but granite had anchors for the sink bolts preapplied.

Flseadog, I know my granite guy brings the luan pattern back to his shop and tapes them directly to the granite before cutting. That way he can work out the slab the best way....sort of laying patterns on fabric prior to cutting. After the patterns were on the granite, I looked at it to see if I liked how theit was laid out. I can't imagine how they would do this if the measurments were just on paper?? But then I'm no granite pro.....hopefully one of them will give his opinion on your granite guy's method.

I have quartz countertops. They templated by building out an outline of the countertop space using strips of wood glued together. My long plaster wall isn't quite straight - it bows a little in the middle. I'm not sure how this method accounted for that, and indeed the countertop came in with a varying degree of gap in the middle. I think they were counting on the tile backsplash taking up the gap - and it does, but it was a little dicey in one spot where the gap was just *slightly* deeper than the tile. My tile guy had to stuff something behind the counter to support the tile until the thinset dried.

End result is fine, I guess. There were a couple of problems: The counter came out 1/4" short in length, but since they had to angle it in, I'm not sure they would have been able to get it in if it were the right length. And they got the sink cutout wrong - slight positive reveal instead of negative reveal - but I don't think that has anything to do with the method of templating. Overall, it works.

So strips of wood aren't the standard templating method??? I had no idea.

Flseadog-

YOUR situation may have warranted that templates
were not needed. A good Fabricator that has been doing
this trade for a while and is confident that your project's
level of difficulty is low (again - based on the individual
qualities of YOUR project) may decide to go with "dimensions"......

In other words - what I am saying (as somebody that IS a pro
and has been for 31 years) is that not every project requires
templating. Most in fact DO, however, in the right conditions, I
would elect to not template and go off of "dimensions" when
the situation is appropriate. This may have been the case
on your project.

If you can post a layout of your project - I would at least
be able to see how difficult (or not) your project is, and IF
I would have templated or dimensioned - had I been your contractor.........

hope that helps ya

kevin

Thanks so much for the info being shared on this thread.
We will be having our countertops templated next Monday (cabinet install scheduled for This coming Thursday.
I live in a less populated area and will be interested in seeing what method is used for templating.
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge azstoneconsulting.