We're glad you think we're the right remodeling solution for you! We know that remodeling can be overwhelming, so be sure to ask for the designer's advice during the in-home consultation if you'd like another opinion.

In terms of sinks-- yes, you can use an undermount sink.

Thanks for posting this! I had no idea that this was an option. I wonder if they service Wyoming? Off to the website to check it out :)

Granite Transformations are coming to the house next Thursday bringing samples for the countertop and also cabinet door options to look at for refacing.

I had Nuance Wood Renewal out this morning and their samples were amazing. They clean your existing cabinets and then apply stain and sealer. They did a friend's kitchen and it turned out great. Really liked the Raw Umber color! The estimate for my whole kitchen to cover my ugly busy oak was $2300. Done in one day.

Compare that to a quote I already received for refacing that came to $15,000. New cabinets were only going to be $12000. Go figure that one!

Right this minute what I am thinking is that I will look into getting my peninsula removed (always wanted a large island instead, and that is where the cabinet drawers are trashed!), have Nuance do their thing on the cabinets that are left, top those with the Granite transformation and then have my new island in a contrasting finish.

Got to decide about a sink. Thinking an apron front in stainless.

Lots of interesting info here, want to get in on the thread as well. Never heard of either Nuance or Granite Transformations. Please be sure to take before and after pictures and share with us!

I will try and figure out how to do that!

I think it's called n-hance, fyi.

Always good to have the correct word! Yes, you are right. I just checked.

Pcmom,
Please take before and after photos!

Hate to put a kaibosh in the engine here - I have never used granite transformations, but came really close when we were doing a reno on a house that we planned to flip. I changed my mind at the last minute because I was concerned that potential buyers would see the granite wannabe as the equivalent of laminate countertop. In other words, it was maybe an "image" problem. So, I'm sure it is a fantastic product - no worries there - but if resale is in your near future, keep in mind that it's being seen as "not the real deal".

All input is welcome! This is our forever home, so the only folks we need to please is us. I do understand your point, however.

To me, still waiting to see the samples, I think of it as more like Cambria or Silestone, a manufactured stone product, rather than a natural stone such as granite or soapstone.

Let you know more next week.

I am in CA and granite transformation gave me a quote and it was the same price as the granite quote. Would have loved to use them and save money, so check that out unless you love the product then it doesn't matter.

We are looking to buy a home on West Coast for winter months when we retire in a few years (we will rent it until then). The homes we are looking at were built in mid to late 90's and once we move there we will renovate kitchen, but in the meantime it seems updating counters might be attractive to renters, but I cannot see adding granite to cabinets that are that old (and builder grade) unless I can get it a decent price.
So granite transformations would have to be less expensive than normal granite slab for it to make sense for me.
Thanks for sharing info!

Yes, Judy, my thoughts also. I won't put on something really expensive if I keep my older cabinets. If I take out the peninsula and do an island then I could do some bling there.

And Jolene, trust me, I am looking a every option, creating a binder with prices, etc. Both hubby and I have MBA's so numbers are important to us.

Ah, to have unlimited funds....just yesterday I received a book of tours in the mail. Maybe keep with a budget reno to buy a few more years and take that trip to Ireland?

LOL, we just got a brochure for a European river cruise!

Maybe we should have a Houzz European river cruise with seminars on installing copper countertops yourself, deciding between this and that option, etc.?

Judy M. being a California girl, I am wondering where on the West Coast you are looking for homes?

My neighbor had granite transformations do her countertop several years ago and it still looks good. At that time, granite was just becoming popular in our area and all the lower cost options weren't available. Now, granite has become popular and you can get basic granite installed for $30-$35/sq foot, so the transformation product might not be much, if any, cheaper unless you're looking at a high end granite.

I actually never considered myself a granite gal. At least not a busy granite. One thing I am really liking is Cambria's Desert Limestone in a honed finish. Think I will price that out.

And have requested more info from Sonoma Cast Stone on their MetalCrete countertops. Anyone know anything about that? The metal I believe is worked into the surface, has a natural copper patina. You can also get built in sinks. Probably $$$.

PC,
Our daughter is in Vegas, that's where we're looking.
Never in my life think one day I might be spending winters in Vegas!
But after visiting her and her family we have grown to love the climate and of course seeing them more often is most important.

Vegas...can't help you there. Seeing daughter trumps all. Have you spent much time in Ca? Places to see: Wine country of Northern CA (watch movie "Bottle Shock"), Mendocino, Ferndale (where movie Outbreak was filmed), get to Big Sur, Patrick's point, Yosemite, ....sounding like a travel brochure!

We've been to Napa twice, San Fran 3 times, LA, San Diego.
Love to visit Cali.

We drove from San Fran to San Diego. Went to Carmel, stopped at San Luis Obispo. :)

I like the look! They are coming out Thursday. Can't wait to see the samples.

If I do the N Hance on my existing cabinets, that will save a bundle. I can put that money into addressing the dropped ceiling with the plastic florescent light!

I will see about taking photos today to post. I have an phone with camera. Can anyone walk me thru how to get photos from there to here?

iPhone?

Guess so! It was posted before coffee kicked in.

If using an iPhone to post a photo use the Houzz app for phones and when you enter a comment you'll see the camera symbol or "library" to add photo.

All of you start thinking how to address my dropped 7 ft. ceiling that has a square flush light built in. The light is 50 inch square. Has those plastic panels!

Want to create a feeling of a higher ceiling by building a new light inside the box.

here's one we did recently...

We popped our all out ourselves. Had it prepped for paint and canned lighting put in. Some people put in moulding.

I just reposted question re; granite transformations and got a $1400 quote for our bath counter top. I see that as reasonable and more than comparable to regular granite without the hassle of sealing, etc. BTW, used N Hance in another bath and was VERY pleased with the results - the cabinets looked like new!

I pulled out granite transformation top previous owners had installed & installed real slab granite. Personally, I wouldn't recommend GF & would opt for a high end laminate if budget was tight.

@ Barbara, how big was your bath counter? That seems pretty darn expensive for an overlay.

The Granite Transformation sounds more like the in home service and convenience business model but doesn't actually offer a savings.

A typical 10 x 10 Kitchen will cost $4000 installed for a 3cm Silestone countertop on average (C category...they go from A to E). You'll have to do your own demo which is pretty darn easy.

We've had our granite transformations for over 6 years. Great product.

Thanks to all for your input. I am going to explore other options as I am finding that it IS pretty pricey and you pay for the convenience of not having the countertop totally ripped out. Thanks whaas_5a - my countertop is actually very small and narrow and I'm finding that it's overpriced.

Does anyone know if it is ok for Granite Transformations to install thier slabs over your existing shower walls? Has anyone had any trouble with them doing that? Thank You

Considering a bath remodel as well-interested in using granite transformations for shower&accent jacuzzi tub

No. I hated the results from Granite Transformation. I wish I had the chance to do it over. I would have chosen real granite it's much glossier and nicer looking. Mine was dull from the beginning. Bad decision

cpunut815a:

That's because Granite Transformations is thin engineered stone, quartz specifically, in a polyester binder. It can never be as glossy as natural stone.

You'd better like drop-in sinks and fat front edges if you choose this stuff. And all for $70.00 psf too.

Beware of Granite
Transformation’s Warranty Scam?

GT offers a limited lifetime warranty. Granite countertops
were displayed at a local home show & products were installed by an
authorized GT dealer. A number of years later, our granite developed a crack
and the installed sink is falling. We contacted a dealer closest to our area
and they believed the original contractor failed to install a sink
support rack. They offered to fix the defects in material and workmanship for
$350.

Pictures were supplied and questions asked by the
warranty manager were answered. The bottom line was: “There is currently
not a location in your area. I am not able to provide you with an update of
when a team would be able to complete your repairs. Until a new franchise owner
purchases the territory that you reside in, we will not be able to assist you
with your warranty claim. I have your information on file, and when we are able
to assist you, we will contact you.”

There never was a
location in our immediate area and it has been 8 years since the purchase. With
the large number of closed franchises in our general location, GT’s response is
a convenient excuse to not honor their responsibility. We were never told this
when we signed our contract, nor is this exemption stated anywhere in our
paperwork.

We stated in our final e-mail correspondence that the company’s
policy is not reasonable. We asked for the name & e-mail of warranty
manager’s supervisor as well as the name & e-mail of the President/CEO of
the company. Our interest was to ensure this was the company’s policy. We have
yet to receive a response.

Jeff:

The most cost effective cure for your sink problem is the installation of a drop in sink.

I appreciate your response but the most cost effective solution is to have GT repair it. It is their problem and they need to own up to it. A sink would not address the crack either. GT has a warranty and they need to support their customers. They are in a state of denial.

Jeff:

A drop in sink would fix the crack; it would no longer exist.

Your sink has been improperly installed; I'm betting there are no mechanical fasteners or the ones they used have failed. It could be re-installed with a strap and the crack repaired for about $600.00.

Thanks for the reply. I am waiting for GT to accept ownership of the problem. They are still in a state of denial. Until they support the warranty, they are generating ill will. As people read about their lack of support and the company not addressing their franchisee's incompetence, potential customers will steer clear. It is a sinking ship.

Edit: In fairness, there are good franchisees but unless the company protects their customers, it is not wise to spend $8,000 dollars hoping for the best.

I can't speak for their quality, but I can say that the recent estimate we got from them was the same cost as granite. Plus their estimate was extremely vague.

Absolute WORST decision. Looks terrible and costs just as much as actual granite. Wish we would have been smarter and shopped around more. RUN.

I posted in 2013 that I was very pleased with GT. Well I am revising my opinion. In about 2015 a crack formed in the top. We contacted GT and they sent someone to fill in the crack. Didn’t think that would work and not long after the crack opened up again and grew larger. But the original company was now out of business. So we contacted the corporate office (at least twice) and they said someone would contact us. Well that never happened. So if anyone is thinking of buying the ….DON’T

We just bought a house that has GT over the original 4" tile on the kitchen counter. It looks like it's in decent shape, but the thick sides and colors are ugly. We've used Cambria before in a previous house and will get that installed as soon as our budget allows. I'm baffled that they didn't just demo the tile and get an actual stone. Our new dishwasher barely fit under the counter because it drops so low. We had to remove the tile underneath that dishwasher to get it in. I'd rather have the original tile than this crap. How was the demo of GT? Was it an issue?

I did and am very unsatisfied! There was no honoring of a lifetime warranty! They closed in the state I live and now nothing can be done to fix a counter tgat is not leveled and that has ugly seams!