Grey Granite Suggestions? *updated*

[kaylie]

Doesn't granite shopping seem like something that should be fun? I at least expected it to not be difficult! A few months ago I decided I really liked Kashmir White and just my luck, it was one of the lower priced options which NEVER happens to me.

Kashmir White:


We started shopping around last month and found out that it's gotten much harder to get than it used to be and most suppliers actually can't get it at all. There's a bunch of drama over at the mine in India and they aren't mining any more of it for now. We found one place that could get it, but when I went to see the slab in person it was way too brown.

So then we switched to River White (aka Tidal White):


I actually like it better, but it's a tad more expensive. Apparently, this one is also not that easy to get and most of the slabs are too creamy. The supplier we're working with is trying to find us grey slabs, but I'm not sure how much luck he's going to have.

So two questions:
Can anyone suggest a similar type of granite that isn't one of the off the charts expensive ones?
For Philly area ladies, any suggestions for suppliers that you've used?

Quartz really isn't an option because of the price point.

[bunch]

I'm headed to the granite capital of the world to pick my slab today . I'm also looking for something with gray and I'm leaning towards Colonial White. Others I have on my list to check out (that I don't have pictures for) are Bianca Romano, felspado, glacier white, silver cloud, silver sparkle, and white ice. No idea on those prices yet.

[sailorgray]

I have no experience with granite but I know that Colonial in King of Prussia is a popular supplier. Where in Philly are you? I am near Valley Forge.

[FoxInFiji]

The granite/natural stone slab industry is very frustrating. You need to just call every slab yard you can find within driving distance and ask for a white or light gray slab. Giving specific names will only narrow down your options on the slim choices in that color range. Plus there are no hard and fast rules on the names. What one place calls Kashmir White could have 6 different names at various locations. There are a lot of slabs that have a combination of looks so they either pick one of the names or make up a whole new name.

We used Super White granite in our main bathroom. It's not as white as what you're posting but it's the only white granite remnant I could find in a three state area!



Installed. It's a little washed out in the this picture but you get the idea.

[kaylie]

Apr 10, 2013 7:20:09 GMT -5 sailorgray said:

I have no experience with granite but I know that Colonial in King of Prussia is a popular supplier. Where in Philly are you? I am near Valley Forge.

That's actually who we're working with now, but they don't seem to be able to get what we want without us going up in price significantly. There are a few types of stone they have that would work, but they have them in much higher categories than their competitors. We're about an hour out in Newtown.

[kaylie]

bunch - I actually have a sample of colonial white sitting at home, but H wasn't so into it. We really like Bianco Romano but the price was a little higher.

FoxInFiji - I LOVE Super White! There's a local place that has it for a reasonable price, but they only deliver within a 50 mile radius and we're ~55 miles. I faxed them a copy of what we're looking for to see if they'll make an exception and deliver a few miles over. They actually have white ice, bianco antico and bianco romano in the same category, so if they say yes we'll have plenty of options.

Did you go through a fabricator first or did you go to the warehouses when you were looking?

[FoxInFiji]

Apr 10, 2013 11:28:55 GMT -5 kaylie said:

bunch - I actually have a sample of colonial white sitting at home, but H wasn't so into it. We really like Bianco Romano but the price was a little higher.

FoxInFiji - I LOVE Super White! There's a local place that has it for a reasonable price, but they only deliver within a 50 mile radius and we're ~55 miles. I faxed them a copy of what we're looking for to see if they'll make an exception and deliver a few miles over. They actually have white ice, bianco antico and bianco romano in the same category, so if they say yes we'll have plenty of options.

Did you go through a fabricator first or did you go to the warehouses when you were looking?

Prices vary from yard to yard but I know Super White is a mid-range granite when it comes to cost so it will be more than the Kashmir.  In general the bigger and more unique veining costs more than the small speckles of color.  Plus the small speckles are easier to match end grains and rotate a different direction without it looking bad.  Also white in general will cost more than a brown or beige because it's more rare and so in demand right now. 

I would be getting on the phone or going to visit that place.  Sounds like the place to be.  What if you paid extra for the longer delivery?  Surely you'd think they would want your business. 

[kaylie]

Apr 10, 2013 11:47:36 GMT -5 FoxInFiji said:

Apr 10, 2013 11:28:55 GMT -5 kaylie said:

bunch - I actually have a sample of colonial white sitting at home, but H wasn't so into it. We really like Bianco Romano but the price was a little higher.

FoxInFiji - I LOVE Super White! There's a local place that has it for a reasonable price, but they only deliver within a 50 mile radius and we're ~55 miles. I faxed them a copy of what we're looking for to see if they'll make an exception and deliver a few miles over. They actually have white ice, bianco antico and bianco romano in the same category, so if they say yes we'll have plenty of options.

Did you go through a fabricator first or did you go to the warehouses when you were looking?

Prices vary from yard to yard but I know Super White is a mid-range granite when it comes to cost so it will be more than the Kashmir.  In general the bigger and more unique veining costs more than the small speckles of color.  Plus the small speckles are easier to match end grains and rotate a different direction without it looking bad.  Also white in general will cost more than a brown or beige because it's more rare and so in demand right now. 

I would be getting on the phone or going to visit that place.  Sounds like the place to be.  What if you paid extra for the longer delivery?  Surely you'd think they would want your business. 

I actually asked if we could pay more for the delivery and they just don't do it. They do two installs per day so going out of their range would interupt that model apparently. Hopefully they'll make an exception since we're not too far out of it, but I'm not hopeful. It seems they do enough business within the 50 miles =(. I did get a nice quote from one place nearby, but they have zero online reviews which makes me nervous.

[kaylie]

The granite place with all of the white/grey options is going to forgive us the few extra miles. Woo hoo! She's emailing me a quote soon.

[FoxInFiji]

Yeah!! Now you at least have options. Go with the people you trust because cutting granite is a one time thing. If they don't take good enough measurements or plan it out well you're stuck paying for it or trying to negotiate a discount.

[kaylie]

Thanks FoxInFiji. These people do digital templating - are you familiar with it? It's supposed to be better than cardboard templates.

[bunch]

I found another one I like, Pretoria white. I'm either going with it or galaxy I think. Pic from today:

[kaylie]

That's gorgeous! I love the flow!

[FoxInFiji]

Apr 10, 2013 15:17:58 GMT -5 kaylie said:

Thanks FoxInFiji. These people do digital templating - are you familiar with it? It's supposed to be better than cardboard templates.

That's a good sign.  The people we were using have the option of doing it but only really bother with the set up for a full kitchen not a small bathroom vanity like we have.  I also sent them very detailed drawings with notes on what areas need rounded edges, what areas will have exposed bottoms, how much overhang everything has, and what areas are cut down to thinner slabs (all very complicated for the shower and tub pieces not so much the countertops).  For example the tub deck is four thin pieces of quartz and one side the deck butts right into the tiled shower wall but on the other end the half wall near the toilet is shorter than the tub deck width so there is a small 1" portion of the side that is exposed and needs to be finished.  That document helped a lot because they had to come measure all of the tub and shower pieces before the tile was installed...we had to install the quartz as we tiled based on the order of overlap. 

But for a kitchen countertop you probably won't have much of that at all.  Just a sink template, faucet and desired spacing of it, where you want seams or don't want them, and if ends/veining needs to be matched (on say a focal point like and island if it needs two pieces). 

[kaylie]

Excellent. Thanks Fox! Fingers crossed the estimate comes in good.

[TBM]

Apr 10, 2013 17:58:14 GMT -5 kaylie said:

Excellent. Thanks Fox! Fingers crossed the estimate comes in good.

Fingers crossed!



We just put Kashmir white in the kitchen of the house we are selling. It is really pretty. I can't wait to see what you get.