Wait, are you living in this or flipping it? If you're flipping it, then cheaper *may* be better for your counter. But, if you are living there for even a few years, I would definitely go with a granite slab rather than tiles. If it were me, even if I were flipping it, I would probably check into granite costs if the condo is anything even slightly beyond "opening price point" homes in the area. Also, if it IS opening pricepoint and there's a glut of homes, having solid granite countertops will be viewed favorably...it may not net you extra money in the sales price, but is likely to make it move more quickly when it's on the market.

Have you checked in on the pricing of something like Uba Tuba...inexpensive and I believe has a lot more wow-factor than granite tile countertops.

Quite honestly, I wouldn't buy a house with a tile counter, even if it's a granite tile, unless it was the bargain of the century - that's how much I dislike them.

Well, like you, I don't like the idea of tiled anything really. But it's better than formica, no? If I don't put any spacing for grout lines, I think it can look pretty nice.

What is Uba Tuba? Why is it so inexpensive?

Also, I'm not flipping this. I'm living here - otherwise I would have gone more neutral.

Thanks!

No. To me, granite tiles aren't better than laminate. There are some very nice laminates on the market. I hate tile counters.

We had some friends build their dream house on a lake. 6,000 square feet. Besides having a horrible layout, the put in granite tiles to save some money. They sold the home a couple of years later. Well, I should say they listed the house. It took three years to sell, and they took a bath. One of the big negatives their relator heard about their $1M home is the granite tiles. Around here, home buyers expect stone slabs even at a much, much lower price point than this.

Uba Tuba granite is a common, readily available granite so it is usually one of the lowest price point granites. It is a blackish green color. It would look great with your fabulous red walls and your white cabinets.
Here is a picture of Uba Tuba
{{!gwi}}

How about using 18" granite tiles, and set them on the diagonal? 18"*sqrt(2)=25.4", so one tile will go from front edge to rear edge. I think it gives a cleaner look. Use an epoxy grout in a color that is close to matching the tiles to make the grout lines easy to maintain and somewhat hidden.

Well if I could afford any kind of slab, I would get it. I just...can't :-(

I will look into the formica though. The 2 home depot has aren't all that appealing.

We used a granite look Formica in a 100 year old condo that we renovated for our daughter to live in while going to college. When we put the condo up for sale not one person gave negative feedback about the Formica in the kitchen or the red walls in the living room. So go with the Formica if that's what is in your budget. Here are a couple shots from our former condo

Fooser, is there any chance that you can live with the counter that you have on there for a while while you save up some money to get what you would like? I know it's not ideal, but what is there looks functional.

And I would absolutely go with a Formica countertop way before I would consider tile on the counter. Have you ever lived with a tile countertop? To me, they are a nightmare to clean, even if you have the minimum grout you can, you STILL have grout to contend with in a counter.

How much of a price difference is there going from the granite tile to a granite slab? You might be surprised that there may not be that much of a difference. Uba Tuba is a common granite - it looks nice and the majority of people who would come in to your house probably wouldn't realize that UT is one of the least expensive granites available and would just think that the granite looks really nice. It will work well with your space.

But, if you want granite (it sounds like you do and just don't have the budget for it right now), I would seriously suggest keeping the counter you have for now and save up for a bit to get the counter you would like.

Most people would much prefer laminate to granite tile. Plus, if you have to pay labor, granite tile is probably more costly than a low cost slab. You might really be surprised at how cheap it is. For your space, I'd say easily under 2K, installed. Laminate would probably be around 1K installed. That's with you doing the ripout and disposal of the old and the sink and DW connects.

This site has taught me that Formica is not what it use to be. And last night, a group of people, ironically, were talking about the pros and cons of it, durability, quietness, and ease on breakables, similar themes I've read here. It's as if people are getting reacquainted with an old friend.

Whatever you pick, I like what you've done so far. Very sharp looking.

I'll go look at formica this week to see what the prices are.

Any thoughts on color? The green and black was an interesting suggestion for sure.

I'm remodelling my entire condo, and have made a couple bad choices on paint and stuff, so I can't afford to make a bad choices with this!

X

Before using granite tile, check into pre-fab granite counters. They come already cut to counter-depth, and have an edge fabricated on the front and one or both ends so there's a lot less fabrication involved than cutting from a standard slab. We're using them in a rental condo that's being updated. The cost is significantly less than what we paid per sq/ft to have our kitchen done last year. We checked out granite tile too, but the pre-fabs are only about $300 more, so that's what we're going with. There's not as much choice as with regular slabs, but you might find something that works for you.

Your friend/contractor may not have the equipment and/or expertise to work with solid granite counters, and so suggested the tiles.

I would echo other posters and avoid granite tiles. Anna is right--there are prefab granite counters. Here are a couple more routes to granite countertops:

Draw out the dimensions of each of your three counters and call some stone yards. (Don't go to HD or Lowe's for this route.) Ask if they have some partial slabs that would work for your dimensions and if they would cut a deal. Put it on hold until you get a quote on the labor. If you ask, stone yards will also give you a list of reputable fabricators in your area.

As a third route, some fabricators will carry 2-3 high volume stones for far less money. Usually Ubatuba, Steel Grey and Tan Brown. Call around and ask.

You asked why some granites cost less--it's all supply and demand. Some granites are fairly scarce, such as Costa Esmerelda, which has only been found in Iran. Some colors are more rare and therefore more sought after. Also, granites with more waves or "movement" are highly sought after.

HTH

How did you determine you can't afford granite? I used a granite remnant in our bath for the same price as laminate.

A while ago someone here did a kitchen with 24x24" porcelain tiles. It was really beautiful.

When I first decided to change my countertops I thought of updating with formica checked prices at HD/Lowes and compared the prices of granite at same. Then I shopped for a fabricator, looking for a "good price" on a "less expensive" granite. The fabricator I used buys bulk of several granites and passes the savings on (came recommended). I used one of those granites, paid 2,450 for 38sq ft (charged for what I use, not the slab), formica quote was 1,950 (was most expensive formica). Shop around for best price of whatever you wind up using, it's like any other major purchase, prices do vary.

My friend is doing the labor for $150.

Materials would run about 400 tops.

So $550 to get granite tiles is just a good deal compared to $1500 - $3000 for slab or formica. I just can't afford it.

:'-(

We bought our pre-fabs for $295 for a 26" x 9 ft pc with the front and both ends finished with a bullnose edge. Do an internet search for pre-fabs and see if anyone near you has them. You might be able to make it work.

You can do DIY laminate for that price and it would have no grout lines. You have to have grout lines with tile, even if they are minimal. They are what lock the tiles to each other and give the installation strength.

In defense of granite tile. We put this in a former house and I actually liked it and when it sold, that was a selling point for our buyers. We bought them at Lowe's for about $2.00 each, DH and I laid them. We used epoxy and butted them together so used very little grout. I hand selected the tiles so the colored tiles were uniform. What little grout we used, was no problem keeping them cleaned. Entire cost was less than $300.00. It is VERY important that your underlayment is level or tiles won't be even.

Two friends liked it so well, they put them in their remodel. So they can look good!

My friend has very large (maybe 24"?) dark granite tiles (like verde butterfly or emerald pearl, maybe) with thin dark grout lines - it's very nice, really. But she said what gets you on the tiles is the edge tiles - they are really expensive, and you need a lot of them. But if you can really do it for $550, that is a great deal. Get something dark, use very thin dark grout.

I like some laminate. Look at senator13's great kitchen with laminate.

Here is a link that might be useful: great kitchen with black laminate

The ultimate question that I see in your posts over and over again should be this-what is more important to you in the end-the COST or the final look/maintanance/resale factor of the counter top choice? Because the only thing that is posted in every single one of your posts is "I cannot afford it." If you plan to live there a while, do NOT settle on granite tiles unless it is what you REALLY WANT. Do not upgrade such a permanent fixture in the condo with something that you got "because you could afford it." If you REALLY want slab stone or another surface, then save your money for it for a few years even and be HAPPY with the accomplishment of saving for it and the beauty of it. If your sole concern is "How can I change the look of my condo for as cheap as possible" then I'd suggest keeping the major, more expensive items like cabinets, kitchen counters and the like as is and do as you already have-paint, replace lighting fixtures, buy new bedding and some new rugs to spice up rooms. Buy what you CAN afford and what adds a great deal of OOMPH to the change. A $20 throw pillow can change a couch drastically. It looks like there may be an older light fixture in the picture. Find something that really speaks to you and get that.
I don't think this has been addressed. Why do you want the counters replaced? YOU need to answer this for yourself. If it is just "I'm doing a bunch of stuff in the rest of the condo, so I need to do the kitchen", then you need to stop and reevaluate. Perhaps try prioritizing rooms and doing 1 a year so you can BUDGET, SAVE and BUY WHAT YOU WANT instead of having to settle on major areas would be a better idea.
I hope I'm not coming across as being mean. I spent MANY years in my home accepting hand me down furniture I HATED, buying less than perfect fixtures and having "friends" do work on my home. After nearly 10 years here, I am FINALLY being true to myself. I wish someone had told me early on "If you do not like it, it is just free/cheap stuff you won't like in your home." I may as well have gone without those items and saved the money to get what I LOVED. I recently just got new countertops that I had saved for for YEARS. I LOVE them and am SOOOO happy that I didn't settle. I just don't want you to feel like you are settling here.

I will be honest- your countertops look fine. I would do what the others say and save up for what you really want! As a penny pincher for years who finally has her dream kitchen, I didn't budge on any detail that we could put in that space.

Bahacca, you're not mean. You're 100% right.

What happened was my kitchen was AWFUL and dated from the 70's. When my buddy was looking for work, he agreed to do the floors for $150. I thought that was awesome, so I said go ahead.

He moved all his equipment in, and we went to pick out a laminate floor. The one I wanted was special order, and since he had moved ALL his stuff in and was ready to go, we just picked something Home Depot had on stock. AAahhh. I thought I was only going to do the kitchen floor and save money.

Then after that looked nice, I decided to do trim. Then paint the doors white. That was all I Was planning to do, but then after that, the bathrooms looked like crap and still have bad tile and carpet in them. So then for $300, he would re-tile the bathrooms. Then the kitchen needed new cabinets, and I made that decision because Home Depot was having 20% off their instock cabinets, so I was able to get a new kitchen cabinetry for $1500.

So my $500 budget went to like $6k for the entire condo...and it all was so on the fly, I didn't really plan for any of it. I was just picking things. Some things looked great, some didn't.

:-(

So I think the kitchen looks good, but the countertops are the last thing that needs to be updated. I will NEVER see a return on my investment if I go granite. Not with this condo. And I only plan on being there 5 years. So I think I do just have to compromise. I think Formica is the way to go.

Thanks for all your help :-)

Ahh