The material cost of granite is higher than other materials such as Formica or tile, but the cost of labor to install granite countertops is also higher for most installations. A good handyman can install a Formica stone, but the stone should be installed by professionals who can guarantee their work against breaking during the installation process.
Installation of granite countertops.
Stone slab installations typically require some final detail cutting for kitchen sinks, faucet holes, and soap dispenser holes, etc. Special equipment is needed to cut these holes, especially the sink hole, which is expected to be an exposed edge, requiring fine grinding just like the stone surface.
It’s these kinds of details that make granite kitchen countertop installation out of reach for most handymen or contractors; it is best left to a proper stone company with employees and installation crews.
But none of this means there aren’t a few things a homeowner can do to reduce the labor cost required for installing this type of stone countertop.
Saving money while installing countertops.
Some of the work you can do to reduce costs includes demolition work. You can remove the original workspace, kitchen sinks and stoves, etc. A household hammer, chisel, gloves, and eye protection aid in removal. Disposing of these materials is another task you can do yourself and avoid paying someone else plus the middleman’s costs. Also, organizing and issuing plumbing parts can be helpful if the homeowner handles them in advance. Getting these parts can be a time-consuming task, but if you’re the do-it-yourself type, you can save a little more money here, too.
However, these money saving tips are just a few ideas. When you invite a granite company representative to your home to discuss the job, be sure to discuss these things as part of managing your budget. You will take precise measurements of the area for the size of the slab cutout and the sink. This is a good time to trade off labor costs with what you can do yourself.
Once all is said and done, you may be able to save a few bucks on a stone kitchen countertop installation by doing some of the work yourself. It may not be much, but it is something. If you are tempted to install it yourself, be aware of the risks involved. If you break it, it belongs to you.
