Granite Edges

[Abt910]

Hi,
I tried looking for an answer to this question so that it is not redundant in the forums, but I didn't find anything.  I have a question regarding granite edges.  Most of the pre-fab slabs I've seen already have the bullnose edging, but I was wondering if I could purchase that and have an installer change it to a straight or 1/4 round edge easily?  I asked someone at a granite shop how much they charged to change the bullnose to an eased edge and they quoted me $45/linear foot, which made the cost of the edging more than my slabs themselves.  Why is it so expensive and why do so many pre-fab slabs come bullnosed??  Thanks.

Abt

[Mark D.]

Is it so expensive because they have to cut the slab, laminate the edge and redo the edge detail. It would be just as easy to get a piece with no edge detail, laminate it if necessary and then do the design you want.

The problem with the prefabbed pieces is if they are often already cut to 26" and if you cut off the edge and relaminate your piece it will be too short for a counter on a 24" deep cabinet.

The prefabbed pieces come with bullnosed edge details because it is a very popular shape and they are trying to sell product. If they made 1000 pieces with a less common edge detail they might not be able to sell them. The way they keep the price down is quantity so they don't offer your choice of shapes like a fabricator does. There are 26 shapes plus combinations to make the list almost infinite, but since these prefabbed pieces are coming in from China they are making one shape so they cut the cost and saturate our market. A lot of times these "granite" pieces are not even granite. Besides being basalt sometimes they are gneiss (pronounced nice) which is similar to granite, but only about a million years from being granite.
Mark

[Abt910]

Thanks for the information!  Is a 30x100 bullnosed slab big enough to trim to make a straight edge for a 24" counter?  I'm trying very hard to keep costs down by keeping my granite selections to pre-fabricated slabs, therefore I'm trying to see if I can make do with making changes to an already bullnosed piece.  I've also gotten fabrication quotes and it's too expensive for me.  Also, I have an L-shaped counter that includes a sink that is 89" long on one side and 48" long on the other.  Where is the best place to have the seam if I'm using 2 standard pre-fabricated slabs? 

Abt

[Mark D.]

If you take a 30" deep piece and cut off the bullnosed front edge you are down to 28" deep. Then if you trim 2" off for the lamination you will make you are down to 26" deep which will work except now you have to cut the backsplash off of another piece which may or may not match the stones color and will not match the stone's grain!

If you do cut off the edge we can get you the bits for most common shapes on tools that go on a grinder, but when you are done cutting the shape in you will have to polish it to match the top.

I like using a 45 degree seam when connecting an L shaped countertop. They are easy to make look clean and tight. Just cut both adjoining pieces at a 45 degree angle to the front edges and backgrind if necessary to make them snug. Use a knife grade polyester resin to make the seam.

Glad to be of service,
Mark