for pencil edge, its actually cheap IMO. That edge is very expensive. Are you sure you want pencil edge on the counters? I have it on my island, but it does take away some space (no bigger on the island). It's not a good thing to do IF you have a cooktop in the standard depth countertop. I don't know if you do or not, but want to mention it.

I thought pencil edge was one of the standard (no up charge) edges. That edge allows the granite to have a thicker look. It is a very modern sleek look.

However, one thing to consider is whether your stone is prone to chipping. If it is you might be happier with a more rounded edge say 3/8 - 5/8" round over. Don't forget to get your sink opening rounded over too. That area is also prone to chipping by banging pot edges or dish edges against the rim of the sink.

I've been told that the safest edge to prevent chipping is the full bullnose but that is an up charge usually and it makes the granite look thinner. Also with a full bullnose edge water drips over the edge onto the face of the cabinet sometimes.

jb

It also depends on the granite you've chosen. For some of the granites we looked at, that price wouldn't even cover the materials. We're over in far east bay area and paid about $45 / sqft total with a full bullnose edge.

Do shop around, though as prices will really vary.

I used someone in San Jose, and did an eased edge (they said they'd charge the same for an eased or pencil edge). Let's see, they charged $2865. I can't remember how many sq ft our counter space ended up to be, but we bought a 139x74 piece of granite and we pretty much used up nearly the entire slab.

I live in the SF bay area, we just had our granite installed two weeks ago. We went with the 1/4 beveled edge,(pencil edge was our 2nd choice, and the same cost) with splendour delicatus granite. We have 96 sf and it was $7875.00 to install. What kind of granite is it? I think thats what makes the difference in the cost.

"Granite" an cost between $35 to $300 a square foot. Edges for your granite can run from zero to $50 a linear foor. Unless you divulge the details, your quote is meaningless, and unless compared apples to apples to another quote, you cannot know if you're getting a fair price or not.

I am at the bay area, what color of granite are you considering? Cause I know several places that actually sell slabs that comes in eased edge.

I do installs too, and the price is pretty fair if it's a big slab and fabricated into pencil edge.

But if there is prefabbed granite slabs comes with pencil edge or eased edge bullnose, then you would save alot of money.

GOOD LUCK

Thank you all for your replies! Sorry for the gaps in my OP. HereÂs the rest of the story 500 words or less, promise!

2cm Amazon Green already paid for. IÂve also seen it called Pocono Green. It's more brown green with oak gold and black and blue pearl drops - we think it's perfect with what will be cream cabinetry and a pewter glaze, light medium oak floors. The slabs (115 x 59) only cost us $375 each - a song at about $8 a sq ft. Reputable stone house  they just have so much inventory and these were one of the specials they had going.

Hest88: Congrats finding a large slab you liked (and could afford!) IÂm jealous-there will be seams I really wanted to avoid but this is what we could afford so it is what it will be. IÂm grateful we are able to redo the kitchen period!

Quote details:
Countertop: 17 linear ft - pencil edge $2,362
(this pencil edge is laminated - see my note below about all the various pencil edges out there)
Passthrus: 5 linear ft of an ogee edge $ 423

jb1176: The company guarantees their fab/install for 1 year. btw they recommended this edge as unlikely to chip. It is very substantial looking.

pbrisjar: you got a GREAT price! Would you recommend your fab/installer?? We have no problem paying the going rate for quality work, but no sense paying more than is customary, right?

debbie_2008: We could be talking about completely different edges, but IÂm most concerned about what you wrote. Why won't the Âpencil edge youÂre talking about work? We're putting in a built-in apron front rangetop and the counter depth is standard. *YIKES!*

graniteoutlaws: You're absolutely right about the prefab houses, but even with the significant potential for savings, what they offered didn't appeal to us. Have you heard of Take it For Granite? Thumbs up/down?

PENCIL EDGES: I can understand why there was a variety of comments. A search brought up a slew of different edges called "pencil" but most were different from each other and NONE of them are the same profile as the one IÂm talking about. ACK! Way to make quotes even more like apples and oranges, huh, livewireoak? On the upside, in the process I came across a neat website - the link is below  where you can view and rotate!! a bunch of edges in 3D - you can change the granite coloring too which of course affects the "look" of each edge. I havenÂt posted any pics here yet. IÂll try to put up one of my pencil edge - after I get this reply up first.

I would value any further advice on this. Most of our remodel decisions have been made after some extensive research on this site and elsewhere, but who knows! This is my 1st kitchen-what the heck AM I doing???? ItÂs kinda fun though. ;-) Again, thanks for your advice so far AND your good wishes.

Here is a link that might be useful: cool 3-D edges

remodel..to explain what I meant

When you have the fancier edges it takes away from the TOP of the granite. So if you need granite in front of say a cooktop, some edges will take away to much granite and make the top to shallow. (not sure shallow is right)

Let me try to explain it a different way. With, what I know as pencil edge...the granite is cut to 3 levels...the top level is shorter while the bottom level is your actual counter size back to front. Am I making sense?

Our installers did good but not great work. There are two seams (inevitable given our kitchen). One turned out great, the other not so much. They did come out once and fixed the one seam but it's still not as nice as I'd like (but I tend to be very picky). The counters were not level on installation. That they did come out and fix (and did a good job). Jury is still out on the sealer process they used. They way what I'm seeing is just our granite. But from pics and descriptions I've posted here I've heard otherwise. There's a splotchy/cloudy film that indicates the sealer was not applied properly. They also didn't scribe the back so we have areas with 1/2" gaps - not a big deal if you do a granite backsplash but tricky with a tile one.

We're out in Contra Costa county so not sure they'd come to your area. If you're interested in contact info e-mail me by clicking on "my page".

You bet. Please look at the profile of the edge I'm talking about - it may well be the same problem as you describe. In effect the top of the granite is recessed behind the edge of the rangetop. Not perfect. I'll go look at photos specifically for some ideas on overcoming this. Thank you SO VERY MUCH for pointing out this potential tear jerker !

cool - my 1st embedded pic here *patting myself on my back. (link below for celticmoon's step-by-step)

Here is a link that might be useful: How to post a pic - thread

my last post was to debbie_2008

pbrisjar: Sorry to hear about the after headaches... hope the company continues to stand behind their work. We're planning a tile backsplash eventually. A split face stone. Would you describe 'scribing'? Thanks!

Scribing is basically the process of tracing the true lines of your walls and transferring them to the template for the granite. That way the granite is flush (or nearly so) with your walls despite their inevitable unevenness.

The company is, for the most part, standing behind their work.

Here is a link that might be useful: This site describes the process

omg pbrisjar - that is a REVELATION! The photos tell the story so well - I'm not sure how I got through 50 years not knowing this.

I can't wait to start scribing something!

debbie_2008: I found a pic I think shows a way we will transition the granite on the sides of the rangetop. What do you think?

Linear feet and square feet are not the same thing. Without seeing your plan I can't know exactly (corners/islands), but you have at least 44 square feet of counters, unless they are only a foot deep. That number assumes 24" deep cabinets. If they are deeper, it's more. That adds up to $63 per square foot with the price quote you gave. It also includes any cutouts and your edges, so I'm not thinking it's totally insane. I am curious about your laminated pencil edge, if it's different than anything else you've found.

OK I think I finally get it. I estimate it's all about 52 square feet, so adding the cost of the granite slabs plus the quote for fab/install, about $78 a sq ft installed. And actually that's about what it would have cost going with Home Depot Expo. And this way we got to select the granite slabs. AND I feel good about the skills of the fabicrators/installers, so Take It For Granite it will be! *phew* another item I can check off my list.

Histokitch: Their pencil edge IS different. It's beefy looking and seemed 'right' to us as soon as we saw it. The laminated seam is not noticeable to me. The eye is drawn to the top pencil edge instead of the seam and it gives it a crisp, clean feel which is softened by an elegant (imho) waterfall side edging. I think it's the side edge that separates it from the other 'pencil edges'. It's a gentle arc (less bulbous than bullnoses)which slightly protrudes from the top edge. Come to think of it, I'm going to venture to say it was designed like this to give it more stability and makes it less likely to chip! Probably why it's considered on of their premium vs standard edges.

Thank you ALL for walking me through this.

Here is a link that might be useful: a good source for measuring yours

I'm in San Jose and I have seen Take It For Granite's work in a home. They didn't have anything fancy done but it was a job well done and the homeowner's were very happy with it. This particular kitchen didn't require any seams except at the sink and you had to really look to see it. The undermount sink was done well, too.
They were my second choice of all the bids I got.
HTH

Hi neighbor! ;-) Thanks for the good news, suzieca. I know I'll have a seam at the sink, so you've eased my mind.

I never heard of that company, but I am really close to that shop, when I have time, gonna go see if they got absolute black, since that slab you got there is a really good price, and those big slabs are really good for custom edges.

graniteoutlaws,
Take it For Granite is a fab/install ONLY place. They do NOT sell granite.

We purchased the granite ourselves from All Architectural Stone in SJ on Martin Ave. Make sure you walk all around (inside and out) and look for the Manager's Specials signs!
You can tell them Ramsey sent you ;-)

I'm also searching for a granite counter top. It was my understanding that 3cm should be the minimum thickness for granite. I'm close to the S.J. area and interested in shops that do their own installation.

In California most of the granite you will see is 2 cm. Three cm is mostly found on East coast. All of the places I got bids from are Fabricators/Installers. You get your granite at a granite/stone place. I'm in San Jose. HTH

Every granite place we went offered names of fabricators but only if asked. Sounds like some kind of symbiotic relationship, because it's customary to put the slabs on hold and then let the fabricator purchase them at a discount. I'm told the savings (some? all?) is passed to the customer. We got our granite at a 'rock' bottom price and were told that the fab guy would not be able to get a further discount. I could live with that and the fabricator we're going with didn't seem upset.

remodel...the pencil edge you pictured is NOT what my salesman (maybe he wasn't calling it by the right name) called it.

You should be fine. Sorry I scared you so bad

Thanks Ramsey, gonna go check that place out sometimes.

debbie- it's ok! You al got me thinking and researching :-) turns out there are lots of edges with 'pencil' in their names.

Thanks all!