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If you had to put in new countertop tomorrow, would you use:

If you had to put in new countertop tomorrow, would you use:

  • Ceramic Tile

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Laminate/Formica

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Concrete

    Votes: 2 12.5%
  • Acrylic

    Votes: 1 6.3%
  • Corian

    Votes: 3 18.8%
  • Quartz

    Votes: 5 31.3%
  • Granite

    Votes: 5 31.3%
  • Marble

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Soapstone

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Stainless Steel

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    16
  • Poll closed .

waltesefalcon

Yoda
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Other: good old wood.
 

Boink

Yoda
Bronze
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Other: good old wood.
Yes, I'd have added butcher-block. It's a popular surface (or was). My mother loved hers. That written, it did require maintenance with the occasional re-oiling and/or paraffin treatment.
 

LarryK

Yoda
Gold
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Wood would match the old house, wife says concrete would be indestrucible, but the go to is granitsee.
 

GregW

Yoda
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YakkoWarner

Jedi Warrior
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Since I have a manufactured home which is not as heavily built as an older on-site build (and not sitting directly on a slab) I'd go with whichever material weighed the least. Not knowing much about the materials listed I'd probably guess a wood or laminate as being the lightest weight?
 

Boink

Yoda
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Since I have a manufactured home which is not as heavily built as an older on-site build (and not sitting directly on a slab) I'd go with whichever material weighed the least. Not knowing much about the materials listed I'd probably guess a wood or laminate as being the lightest weight?
In that case, I'd definitely go laminate.
 

DrEntropy

Great Pumpkin
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Not to put too fine a point on it, but Croian IS acrylic. I guess adding the two totals is fair.
 

70herald

Luke Skywalker
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Of course there is a HUGE difference in cost between the different materials here! And durability. I am about to start a big renovation project in my apartment and will most likely be using engineered quartz for countertops.
 

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
Gold
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The comments and votes in this thread are *really* interesting and useful.

I'm still not convinced that the much more expensive surfaces are really worth the extra dollars, other than just for looks. I know there's always a "return on investment", but could someone explain how that actually works? I put in $20K for the kitchen and get $16K in added value on sale of the house. I put in $5K and get $4K in added value at sale. Isn't that a negative ROI, regardless of amount spent?

Thanks.
Tom M.
 

LarryK

Yoda
Gold
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User fee!
 

JPSmit

Moderator
Staff member
Silver
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User fee! LOL
User fee indeed! Seriously though it is also your enjoyment. We are about to pull the trigger on a new kitchen here even though I doubt we will be living here many more years (less than 5 on the current trajectory) Most of that is just because the old kitchen is done and we like a nice looking and functional house. However, in terms of ROI - don't forget that it is more than 5k in 4k out - a house with a nice kitchen will sell quicker - so, theoretically if you are paying a mortgage of $1000 and it sells a month quicker, in (I know I am painting with a braid brush) you have broken even 5k in = 4k return + 1k opportunity cost. Another way to consider it is what is happening here in Ontario (Toronto especially) Families can (just) afford the mortgage but not improvements so are getting into bidding wars, partly because it is a seller's market but also because then the improvements (nice kitchen/ hardwood floors etc etc) are a part of the mortgage and not on top of the mortgage. So. coming back to our kitchen, even if we can't connect the in-out dots, I believe it will pay off in the big picture. Besides, you can't take it with you (I've checked) and IIRC you don't have heirs so get what you want! :D
 

NutmegCT

Great Pumpkin
Gold
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Thanks JP. I think I'd rather have my heirs get my savings, than a depreciated countertop!

I'm one of those weird people who doesn't want to spend $$$ just to have a pretty countertop, when $ will do the job. Around here (New England) houses are sold in "bidding wars", so there's no incentive to pay big bucks to add bling. A mobile home on a half acre of land goes for $200K these days. Ridiculous.

And my IFY (Inner Frugal Yankee) still says "why would anyone pay $150/square foot for countertop when $25/square foot does the job".

A penny saved is a penny earned. I learned that when I was an apprentice to B. Franklin.
 

JPSmit

Moderator
Staff member
Silver
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Don't get me wrong - I am all about a penny saved blah blah :smile: - my real point is get what you want. :cheers:
 

LarryK

Yoda
Gold
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If you use the kitchen the most get what you want, but otherwise the spouse gets it.
 
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