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A Moment of Silence Please

SHELLY avatar
SoWal Insider
8,112 views
Say good-bye to granite countertops

High-end kitchen and bath renovations just aren't boosting a home's value the way they used to. Sellers who succumbed to home over-improvement syndrome are feeling the pain.
By Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer
February 29 2008: 2:15 PM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The granite countertop's glory days might be over. :cry:

During the housing boom, updating a kitchen with high end materials like cherry wood cabinets and a Viking stove was a sure bet to boost a home's value. Homeowners often recovered about 80% of the cost when the house was later sold.

But with so much more inventory on the market for buyers to choose from, they just aren't as impressed with the bells and whistles. Now most upscale renovations are returning less than 70% of their cost, according to a recent survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Remodeling magazine.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/26/rea..._ratio_drops/index.htm?postversion=2008022811

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:cry: Top Ramen will never taste the same :cry:


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Edited

Replies

46
DuneAHH avatar
Beach Fanatic
#2
Roofs and walls aren't returning as much as they used to either. :lol:
Bobby J avatar
Beach Fanatic
#3
This is a sad day :cry:
SHELLY avatar
SoWal InsiderAuthor
#4
This is a sad day :cry:

The good news is we can recycle them into tombstones.


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Mango avatar
SoWal Insider
#5
Are you just waking up now Shelly?, because based on the time of your post, it looks like this kept you up all night. :eek:
SHELLY avatar
SoWal InsiderAuthor
#6
Are you just waking up now Shelly?, because based on the time of your post, it looks like this kept you up all night. :eek:

While it's true I am distraught over this revelation--I'm also out of my sleep cycle from following the wacky Far East/Euro markets the past couple nights.

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kathydwells avatar
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
#7
The good news is we can recycle them into tombstones..

:funn:OMG..drink spewed.:clap:

Glad I kept my laminate. :biggrin:
Beach Runner avatar
beats on hood
#8
If not granite, then what?
30A Skunkape avatar
Skunky
#9
If not granite, then what?

Concrete and metals are on the horizon. The cycle will be complete when kitchens are again orange like Mike Brady's (or was it Carol's or Alice's?).
SoWal Insider
#10
If not granite, then what?
beautiful soapstone.
Beach Lover
#11
Yes, formica, is so avante guarde................................I will forever be impressed with green formica.
Beach Lover
#12
If you dont like granite countertops, you can kiss my a**!!!!!!
kathydwells avatar
Darlene is my middle name, not my nickname
#13
If you dont like granite countertops, you can kiss my a**!!!!!!

Wow, did someone have a bad day? :shock:
SoWal Insider
#14
Yes, formica, is so avante guarde................................I will forever be impressed with green formica.
Actually, formica has already made a comeback - along with funky vinyl flooring. I love my formica counter tops. At least when I get tired of them, it won't cost a ton of $$ to replace for an altogether new look.
SHELLY avatar
SoWal InsiderAuthor
#15
Originally Posted by Rambunkscious

If you dont like granite countertops, you can kiss my a**!!!!!!

Wow, did someone have a bad day? :shock:


No....I think that was first runner up in the New Hampshire State Motto Contest.


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SHELLY avatar
SoWal InsiderAuthor
#16
If not granite, then what?

Granite-print contact paper over plywood leaps to mind.


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Beach Runner avatar
beats on hood
#17
Concrete and metals are on the horizon. The cycle will be complete when kitchens are again orange like Mike Brady's (or was it Carol's or Alice's?).
I can deal with concrete, but metal is too hard to clean -- gets streaky.

Actually, formica has already made a comeback
You must be kidding.


Granite-print contact paper over plywood leaps to mind.
You *are* kidding.:lol:

I heard that Corian is coming back. That's what we have on the island in our kitchen in Georgia, with shiny white 4x4 ceramic tile on the counters. The tile was "in" when we built in 1988, but it's a pain because the grout just won't clean, plus it cracks.
rapunzel avatar
Beach Fanatic
#18
Zinc!
Teresa avatar
SoWal Guide
#19
:funn:OMG..drink spewed.:clap:

Glad I kept my laminate. :biggrin:

call me crazy but I love my formica countertop. we did a complete kitchen remodel a few years ago and I almost went with granite because its all the rage, but it wasn't what I wanted. I love retro and some of the patterns in formica were just irrisistable. plus, if I want to change it out in a few more years it won't cost an arm and a leg.

I went with granite on another cabinet piece (buffet) and I like it too.

corian reminds me of what goes in a bathroom for some reason so I never could put it in the kitchen.

Edited

Jdarg avatar
SoWal Expert
#20
Mermaid and Merman have the coolest countertops- copper sheeting! Their kitchen has a very European karma....hey Mermy-post some pics of your kitchen!
Mango avatar
SoWal Insider
#21
call me crazy but I love my formica countertop. we did a complete kitchen remodel a few years ago and I almost went with granite because its all the rage, but it wasn't what I wanted. I love retro and some of the patterns in formica were just irrisistable. plus, if I want to change it out in a few more years it won't cost an arm and a leg.

I went with granite on another cabinet piece (buffet) and I like it too.

No you're not crazy. I have it too and still love it. But, I am getting a little tired of it and looking at doing something else.

BTW, love your kitchen. :wave:

Edited

Teresa avatar
SoWal Guide
#22
No you're not crazy. I have it too and still love it. But, I am getting a little tired of it and looking at doing something else.

BTW, love your kitchen. :wave:


like what?
DD avatar
SoWal Expert
#23
Granite-print contact paper over plywood leaps to mind.


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:floor::floor: This would fit my budget perfectly!! Thanks, Shelly for the idea!!

Mermaid and Merman have the coolest countertops- copper sheeting! Their kitchen has a very European karma....hey Mermy-post some pics of your kitchen!

Oooooooooooh! I wanna see, Mermy!!! Pics, pleeeeeeeeez. :clap:

I really am thinking of new countertops this summer. I want concrete, but know nothing about them really. Anyone got 'em? Advice?
DD avatar
SoWal Expert
#25
8CONCRETE

Best for a modern, high-tech look. It can be dyed, textured, or customized.


But it requires periodic sealing and is easily damaged by heat, knives, and rough objects. Compare countertop materials: Durability depends on the fabricator's skill and type of sealant. Can develop cracks.


Price $80 to $120 per square foot, installed; $4,400 to $6,600 for an average-sized kitchen.

Yeow!!! :blink::yikes:I will never get mr. dd to go for this. Especially if we're going to sell within a year or so. And, then if I did get them, I might not want to sell. I better go with formica. The next owners can spring for the concrete.
picky
#26
Mermaid and Merman have the coolest countertops- copper sheeting! Their kitchen has a very European karma....hey Mermy-post some pics of your kitchen!

You will have to allow me some time to clear off those countertops. :lol:

We got the inspiration for those countertops about ten years ago when we were staying at Seaside. Remember the wine bar, where Cafe Rendezvous is now? We were sitting there sipping our wine and eyeballing the copper countertop bar at the same time (I don't think they ever had anyone examining the underside of the bar, not sober, at least ;-)), thinking that we could do the same. Voila! A roll of copper roof sheeting and ten million clamps later, we had our own. It wasn't hard to construct, either.

It complements our granite countertops beautifully.

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