If you are in the Van Nuys/No. Hollywood area, you could spend a day searching all the stone yards out there. We went with Quality Stone. Affordable quartzite is what I found, but loads of granite and marble can be found also. Have fun looking!

Thanks. If you don't mind me asking, how much per sq.ft did you pay for yours and would you mind give a name for the stone yards that you think is good and affordable?
Thanks again,

Somehow my mind does not compute affordable and granite in the same sentence! I know I'm in a different economic position than almost everyone here but tell me what an "affordable" price is for granite, installed.

At the large stone company near my home in NJ the quote I recieved for the lowest price grade granite (which includes 180 potential granite choices) was 45 dollars a square foot. This included delivery, fabrication, and installation with one undermount sink cut out and a simple eased edge. I didn't check prices at IKEA, HD or Lowes. But my guess is that their cheapest granite selection are that price or lower. My guess is that in our expensive NY area prices are similar to prices in CA.

There are also websites like www.marble.com that you can use to get an estimate if you plug in your dimensions. I found this kind of "pre-shopping" useful in setting a rough budget.

Where I live, the most common granites (like uba tuba, st. cecelia, etc.) are advertised for $39/sq ft. installed.

I would look into the prefab ones at Corner Stone in San Fran. I realize it is a drive to go see them, but then you could pay to have them delivered and the cost may still be reasonable.

Here is a link that might be useful: Corner Stone

Thanks. What do you guys think about Soapstone? Seems like it's more affordable than granite. Especially if we buy prefab slab and cut it ourself. Anybody ever diy soapstone countertop, how difficult was it? And I would really appreciate it if anybody has a name of stone yard to share and any suggestion.
Thanks again!

Pinch-me,

I agree! Granite is expensive at even 40$ per sq foot
and Soapstone at $90 per sq foot. Inexpensive to me is
$15.00 per sq foot.

Pooklook,
DIY soapstone is hardwork but go for it, I believe
it is still in the $50 to $200 price per sq foot though,
Here is a link that might be helpful.
~boxer

Here is a link that might be useful: Teresina

When I hear "affordable", I don't think of granite or soapstone, but affordable is one of those words that means different things to different people.

Depending on your budget, don't overlook some of the newer laminate countertops on the market. (FYI There is another countertop thread active today in which the homeowner is using a laminate top.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Formica 180fx Countertops

boxerpups, would you mind sharing your experience with diy countertop? Any tips and suggestion would be great. Thanks

Pook--search at the bottom of the page for:

Macybaby soapstone

She had her slab shipped to her. Then she and DH DIY'd the finishing. I'm not sure how much it ended up costing per foot, but it had to be cheaper than it is my neck of the woods. It starts at $95/sq. ft. here. You can get the bottom tier granite here for about $40/sq. ft. installed.

Check out the website for M. Teixeira. They ship soapstone slabs and have instructions for DIY.

Or if you like the thought of wood tops, IKEA has butcherblock tops for CHEAP!