Last week I was walking the slab yard with a lovely couple and perusing our inventory in the hot, Florida sun. It was their first visit to Superior Granite and they had many questions that I was happy to answer. Potential customers typically ask many of the same questions when doing research on which material would work best in their home and why. We strolled through the pavilion and I explained the myriad of natural stone varieties we stock and the price per square foot for each option. While we tried to create an artificial breeze by waving our notebooks, the gentleman asked the most common question I get as a natural stone sales rep: “What makes one option more or less expensive than another?”
It’s certainly easy to understand why, unless you work in the construction industry, you may not know what factors into the pricing of each slab. However, any sales rep worth their salt will explain where the material is quarried and why it is high or low on the price scale. Often it is as simple as supply and demand. Many of the less expensive granite options are commonly used in hotels, banks, and spec homes. Granites like St. Cecilia, Uba Tuba, Gallo Ornamental, or Ivory White are beautiful slabs, but are often priced lower because they have a very consistent pattern and are easy to obtain in bulk. There are many natural stone companies that sell lower grade granite that is mixed with resin or fill and sold at a cheaper price. These types of slabs are going to be far less likely to withstand heat, spills, or scratches. Superior Granite is proud to directly import our inventory from all over the world. The quality of our natural stone is first-rate regardless of the price or color. Always ask your sales rep where the slabs you are inquiring about were quarried and if they are a composite or have resin/fill. There are some instances where it is necessary to use an epoxy to fill fissures in certain slabs, but this should be kept at a minimum and should not affect the durability of the stone.
A word you will likely hear to describe higher priced natural stones is “exotic”. Describing slabs as exotic can mean many things. A slab can be exotic because it is rare and an incredibly durable type of natural stone. Quartzite is very often described in such a manner. Because it is extremely dense and unlikely to stain, scratch, or be damaged by heat, quartzite is a highly sought-after natural stone and is almost always priced on the higher end. Along with the wide range of color, movement, and versatility, quartzite is more expensive because it is harder to quarry. All of these characteristics contribute to a higher price for the material.
Additionally, certain minerals and colors can ensure a higher price tag as well. Labradorite is a stunning mineral found in rare granite that has a crystal-like structure. Cobalt and/or iridescent blue is an unusual find in most natural stone slabs making it the very definition of exotic and high end. Lemurian Blue granite is chock full of labradorite and shades of blue.
At the end of my appointment where the “oh so frequent” question about differences in pricing was asked, a thought occurred to me. When shopping for most items (cars, designer luggage, even most foods) you can typically spot with ease what will be expensive and what is more affordable. Both myself and my colleagues are proud to be sales representatives for Superior Granite and the effort our owners go to by importing the best natural stone from all over the world. Our customers are rarely able to see the differences of affordable or high end. So much so that they often ask, “What makes one option more or less expensive than another?”
What Determines The Prices of Natural Stone Slabs?
Our Satisfied Customers
– Jeremy R.
I was blown away by the professionalism, speed and hard work of Adam, Gonzo and Julio. They did an amazing job on my kitchen countertops! The attention to detail was incredible. I can’t even tell where a single seam is in my Quartz. I would highly recommend these guys and Superior Granite to anyone. The best experience of any contractor I’ve had work in my home. From initial design to installation, the whole process was a breeze! The communication was the best I’ve seen of any contractor. Will definitely be using Superior Granite when I remodel my bathrooms very soon.
– Brandon A.
We absolutely love our new countertops! Superior Granite has been super friendly and professional since the moment we walked through their doors in the Pace, FL location. Sarah was AMAZING! She is very knowledgeable about all of the different types of stone and always kept us in our budget. She never missed a beat when it came to my wife wanting to look at 30 types of countertops on multiple occasions. Go see Sarah, you won't regret it.
Chad, Thomas and Trey were our install crew and they were great as well. It was a very easy process and they treated our home with the upmost respect. Thanks guys! We will be repeat Customer with Sarah and her team at Superior Granite.
– Shanda
There are not enough words to describe my incredible experience at Superior Granite!! From my initial inquiring phone call, to seeing my new counters installed, the customer service was incredible! After a bad experience with a local granite business I posted to my facebook friends to please refer a reputable granite dealer, within minutes I received at least ten referrals to Superior Granite!! Everyone said, “You’ve got to go to Superior!” From looking at samples with India, to digitally mapping my kitchen with Mike (who also ultimately guided me in which granite would look best), to final selection day with Wally (who also sent me pictures during the counter cutting process), I was treated with the best customer service I have had in ages!!! So if you ask me….. You’ve got to go to Superior!!!! Thank you Superior Granite for making the upgrade seamless, affordable, and unexpectedly… FUN!!!!!
– George M.
Had the pleasure of watching these guys install granite in our house today. Hard working and conscientious handling tremendously heavy pieces. You guys rocked it - Marcus, Shane, Henry, Edger and Brian. Beautiful quartzite and quartz. The sales lady was also very helpful in guiding us through the process. Definitely recommend if you are in the market!
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