Countertopia

Let's take a break from the bathrooms for a moment and talk countertops. 

Assuming that no sane person would consider tile countertops in 2021, the basic options are:

1. Laminate
2. Butcher block
3. Stone

Laminate and butcher block countertops are available at IKEA at ridiculously cheap prices. And they don't look bad. But butcher block requires periodic maintenance and laminate is... well... laminate. Unless the main goal is saving every penny, stone is probably the most reasonable option. Yes, it costs a few hundred more, but it's not like you're gonna buy countertops every year, right?

Now, the question is: what kind of stone? There are many kinds (granite, marble, etc.), but quartz (or its variation, like quartzite) seems like the most hassle-free material. It requires no maintenance, can look good, and would not break a bank (for a kitchen of my size, think in the range of $1,500, plus or minus).

Until just a couple of months ago, IKEA offered an option of buying quartz countertops installation services (they were handled by IKEA subcontractors). Either there were too many complaints, or there was a shortage of material, I have no idea, but this option does not seem to be available anymore, so for any stone countertop installation, you are on your own.

Granite Outlet is a place often recommended for buying inexpensive stone countertops locally (they specialize in granite and quartz), but we found a nice slab at the less known L & U Cabinet and Granite in South Sacramento. I think the price was in the neighborhood of $1,200. The bad thing about L & U is that they do not include backsplashes with the slabs (Granite Outlet normally does), but since I planned to use tile backsplash, I did not care.

Pretty much every pre-cut countertop slab I saw came with an overhanging part (not sure what it is called: a nose maybe?). And it's a problem because you can't just install the slab on top of the IKEA base cabinets as-is: the overhanging part will be on the way of the doors and drawers. So what's a girl to do? No sweat: just install it on top of the 3/4" plywood. Yeah, if you lie on the floor and look at it, you will see a plywood edge, but otherwise, it will not be visible.

The subcontractor, who cut and installed my countertops, did a decent job with one exception: he messed up the holes for the faucet, soap dispenser, and dishwasher air gap. And it was partially my fault. When we discussed where to drill the holes, the conversation (with the subcontractor's helper) went like this:

- So, where do you want us to drill the holes?
- A faucet would be in the middle (of the sink) and the other two at equal distances on each side.
- How far?
- I guess, 10 inches should be good.
- So, 10 inches?
- I suppose... Although, wait: the soap bottle may be too close to the side of the cabinet. Let's make it 8 inches just to be on the safe side.
- Okay. So, 8 inches?
- Right. I need to go out for a couple of hours so, if you have any questions, here is my number.

I go out, come back, and what do I see? One hole is at 8 inches off center, the other is at 10 inches.

And in response to my genuine WTF, I got:

- But we did exactly what you told us.

And, I suppose, the guy was correct. What do you think?

NEXT: KITCHEN BACKSPLASH

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FIRST: INTRODUCTION