The Cost of Granite Bathroom Countertops

Granite Countertop Gold Vein

Exotic Gold Veined Granite Countertop

One of the most durable investments you can make in the bathroom is Granite Bathroom Countertops! There is nothing more sturdy than stone, and the cost of granite counters in the bathroom will add permanent value to a home. Something about granite attracts people, perhaps because of its qualities of strength and agelessness. However, these great attributes come at a cost. Granite bathroom countertops start at a hundred dollars per square foot and can go over two hundred in some circumstances.

In our previous Countertop Buying Guide, we spent some time talking about the Pros and Cons of Granite Bathroom Countertops. In this guide, we'll look at the cost of granite bathroom countertops, to help you learn more about whether or not it's the right for you or your bathroom countertop project.

Granite is available in a surprising array of colors and textures. Although granite is a completely natural material, the process by which nature produces stone gives wide variation in hue and texture. It can even be purchased with real fossils embedded in the surface for unique and beautiful accents. This affects cost, though the precise amount is difficult to predict. It depends on the varieties of granite quarried near the construction site and the local popularity of different colors and texture effects. An average close and in-stock granite countertop usually runs $100 per square foot. If the granite is more exotic and/or at a greater distance from the installation site costs can run up higher that $225 per square foot!

Location determines transportation, the single biggest cost of granite countertops. The tremendous weight and durability of stone unfortunately means tremendous mass and difficulty in transportation. The distance from the quarry to the construction site is an essential factor, because transportation costs can be immense. If the construction site is in an area with no native stone, it can be expensive to transport granite from the quarry. The next choice is to decide between tile countertops and single slabs. Granite slabs present another type of difficulty, and therefore another level of expense. Tile is small, regular in size, and despite its weight is relatively simple to transport to a site and to carry into the installation area. Granite slabs are the opposite of small. Countertops made of a single piece of granite, or a slab, are as big, and heavy, as the budget can afford, the construction crew can carry, and the floor can support. The limiting factors are the size of the truck, the budget for gas, the strength and expertise of the construction crew, and the physical challenges of the site itself. Second floor installations are notably more difficult with slabs, as are installations in cramped areas and small rooms. This is why granite slab countertop installations are often done during major construction or major remodeling. It is no exaggeration to say that some homes are built around the countertops.

These factors mean that forethought, planning, and budgeting are essential. However, when properly procured, granite bathroom countertops add lasting value to any quality home.