topic Re: New countertop questions in Home

New countertop questions

Snoopp — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 11:53:29 GMT

I'm wondering who to hire to install a vanity countertop. Do I get a fabricator or a handyman? I need a sink too, would I purchase that before on my own or would the person installing do that. I know I need a plumber for the faucets and should buy them in advance.

Does anyone have granite countertops in a bath? What material did you use?

Re: New countertop questions

I am still oxox — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 12:26:17 GMT

I have a small kitchen we measured and ordered our countertops from Home Depot and DH installed them.

Our bathroom is small and the vanity and the sink came as one unit he also installed that

Re: New countertop questions

151949 — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 12:31:03 GMT

Usually when you go somewhere to order something like this they will arrange to get them installed.

Re: New countertop questions

Sweet Caroline 1 — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:08:15 GMT

Snoop, sounds nice to get new sink and countertop. Where I live, there is Home Depot and Lowe's. They have consultants there to help you select from many vanity surfaces, sinks and faucets. One sink, his and her sinks, whatever you like. Depending on your budget, you can pick out from basic to extra fancy. They have installers for just about anything you purchase there. Go on down and see what they have to tempt you with.

Re: New countertop questions

redwingsgal — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:12:44 GMT

When we had our bathroom redone to marble countertops, they marble people brought and installed the counter (sinks are built in to the one piece counter). When we redid our kitchen a few years ago, the granit people brought and installed it. In both cases, it was too heavy for one man to do alone and be VERY careful if you transport either surface in your own vehicle as either of the two I have can crack very easily.

It is always fun to redo your home, enjoy!!

Re: New countertop questions

Carmie — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:24:21 GMT

If you are going to purchase the top, sink and faucets on your own or a prefab stone counter top, a plumber will be able to install everything for you.

if you are going to use granite, or some other stone and have it fabricated as a custom order, the stone fabricating company will install the counter, sink and facets, but they will probably not hook everything back up to the water/sewer lines and you will need a plumber.

I have granite and quartz vanity tops in several bathrooms. It is beautiful, I would recommend that you get a light color. My powder room has dark granite and it shows water spots. I have to wipe it dry everytime I use the sink, but no one else does, and it is a constant chore when we have visiting guests.

Re: New countertop questions

AuntG — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:35:48 GMT

Ours will be installed today by a handyman. He measured things first and told us (in general terms) what to get. Then we went to a home improvement store and bought the sink/vanity top/faucet/medicine cabinet. If he needs anything else like caulk or piping, he'll add those materials to the bill.

Re: New countertop questions

ScrapHappy — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:48:15 GMT

@Snooppwrote:
I'm wondering who to hire to install a vanity countertop. Do I get a fabricator or a handyman? I need a sink too, would I purchase that before on my own or would the person installing do that. I know I need a plumber for the faucets and should buy them in advance.

Does anyone have granite countertops in a bath? What material did you use?

I recently remodeled three bathrooms, including a large master bathroom that has twolarge countertops. Took them all down to the studs. I had a general contractor for the remodel but when it came to the vanity and countertops, I took over that. I went to a place that sold the stone (granite, marble, quartz) and picked out what I wanted. Some will cut it there but in my case, it went to a fabricator. It's not complicated. They all know each other and work well with one another. They know the process. I used another place for the cabinetry. The cabinetry place will also sell you a sink, but I didn't like what they had. I wanted something more specific and a better quality. The sink needs to go to fabricator at some point for the sizing and they need to know if it's under or over mount. They also need to know what faucets (widespreads, etc) for the cutting. You need to have the cabinets in so the stone/fabricator can come out and measure to take template. It all takes timing, scheduling and coordination but it's not bad. In my experience the advice I would give is pick out everything you like, know what you're going to buy and where (sink, faucet, cabinets and stone). It's better that you pick out those things and pay on your own then having someone else do it. They will charge you more. The place you buy your cabinets usually do the install and the same for the countertop (they also put in sink and faucets at the time stone is installed). But, everyone and every place is not the same so know who's responsible for what. I put marble in my master and a secondary bathroom upstairs and for the third bathroom I used quartz. I like them all but quartz is my favorite. I think granite is slowly going away, just my opinion. Good luck.

Re: New countertop questions

Sooner — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 14:06:17 GMT

@redwingsgalwrote:
When we had our bathroom redone to marble countertops, they marble people brought and installed the counter (sinks are built in to the one piece counter). When we redid our kitchen a few years ago, the granit people brought and installed it. In both cases, it was too heavy for one man to do alone and be VERY careful if you transport either surface in your own vehicle as either of the two I have can crack very easily.
It is always fun to redo your home, enjoy!!

I would go to a countertop place to get the countertop and get it installed, then you'll need a plumber to put in the sink. The plumber and the countertop people should have no problem. They do this all the time. Probably the countertop company has a plumber they recommend.

Re: New countertop questions

summerwind — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 14:11:10 GMT

@Snoopp, if a handyman is cheaper than a plumber, any good handyman can install faucets. Some handymen can do just about anything. I live in a very small village, there is a handyman here, he keeps busy, but there's often someone who can do things that need doing. It can be hard to get professionals out here, so people chip in and help each other out.

Most things can be done properly by anyone with a bit of common sense and muscles. And a bit of flexibility.

Of course, common sense is getting harder to find........

Re: New countertop questions

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 15:38:39 GMT

From what I've seen, the countertop and sink are one solid piece with holes drilled for faucets, stoppers, and the sink drain. If you have a husband, he could probably do it - mine has always done ours. If not, hire a handyman. You would make your purchase yourself along with the faucet & drain kit. The handyman/installer should have pipe tape and any caulk that might be needed.

Re: New countertop questions

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 19:31:33 GMT

When we had a new couner top installed we looked at Lowes....got a quote and when they wanted the job paid for IN FULL before installation we said no....we found a local, family owned company that we bought the product from and they did the installation as well.

I would never pay up front, Lowes claimed they rarely had problems....and would stand behind their work.....ha! I'm old enough to know better.

Re: New countertop questions

aubnwa01 — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 21:38:18 GMT

When I had new quartz counters installed in my kitchen a few years ago, I contacted a fabricator that had been recommended to me. He came out & measured & I decided which quartz I wanted (Silestone Lagoon) & he ordered the material from Silestone. He also built a template to cut the quartz stone to. By the time the stone arrived at his shop, I had bought a large single bowl stainless steel sink, so he cut the opening. He had a plumber that he subcontracted with that came out & hooked up the new faucet (the stone guy actually attached the undermount sink to the stone & cut the hole for the faucet to come up thru the top the the counter, not the plumber) The stone guy didn't do tiling, so he put me in touch with the tile guy he used to do my tile backsplash. Basically, the tile guy put me in touch with pretty much everyone. I've since even used the plumber, who gave me his card, to do some other plumbing work from me later on, because I liked him & he didn't try to gouge me costwise.