Home buying thread

Lanx · 2026-04-14T09:47:12-0400

Intrinsic said:
We're leaning towards Quartz as it is. I'm way more partial to Granite b/c it has proven to be timeless (people pearl clutch already b/c of the epoxy used to make quartz), we both like the colors and movement in granite more than the trendy starkness of white quartz/quartzite and heavy contrast veining. We actually found some Pental Quartz Oceanus at a home store a couple of weekends ago that we really liked.
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idk about timeless, my home now has granite, i consider it old ppl granite, my two other friends also bought homes (from empty nesters downsizing) and they also say their granite is dated.

i mean i'm "fine" w/ it, cuz it's still granite, my other friend has been planning a kitchen retrofit for a while cuz she just hates the old person granite.

like this is old person granite

spotted

this is the modern granite

vein

it's the look quartz is imitating

OU Ariakas · 2026-04-14T09:51:55-0400

Intrinsic said:
We're leaning towards Quartz as it is. I'm way more partial to Granite b/c it has proven to be timeless (people pearl clutch already b/c of the epoxy used to make quartz), we both like the colors and movement in granite more than the trendy starkness of white quartz/quartzite and heavy contrast veining. We actually found some Pental Quartz Oceanus at a home store a couple of weekends ago that we really liked.

It has a lot of grey, and blue, some copper, flecking throughout. When I redid my kitchen in a previous house I used Snowfall granite. That won't go with our current plan but really liked it.

This is our current Kitchen render with cabinet plans + ChatGPT + Flooring / Countertop selections, etc... It isn't 100% but is maybe close enough visually for us to pick a direction. (the island technically has an overhang, cabinets may/may not go all the way to the ceiling, still debating vent hood but will probably keep stainless instead of custom, doors will likely be 1/2 overlay instead of full. just depends on final cabinet meeting on the 22nd).

In our last window meeting we swapped out all the double hung for casement. The neighborhood requires wood clad and the casement were better performance wise than double hung and a little nicer look overall b/c we can more easily do a cottage style SDL

View attachment 624929

Of course, this is her idea for the Laundry:

View attachment 624930

View attachment 624927

View attachment 624928

As someone that didn't start with any particular preference for granite or quartz - after having both I much prefer granite. Quartz being almost unstainable and not having to be resealed really makes it stand out. Also, don't skimp and go with 1"; do either 1.5 or 2". The difference is stark.

OU Ariakas · 2026-04-14T09:52:58-0400

Lanx said:
idk about timeless, my home now has granite, i consider it old ppl granite, my two other friends also bought homes (from empty nesters downsizing) and they also say their granite is dated.

i mean i'm "fine" w/ it, cuz it's still granite, my other friend has been planning a kitchen retrofit for a while cuz she just hates the old person granite.

like this is old person granite

spotted

this is the modern granite

vein

it's the look quartz is imitating

Yeah, for either one to be timeless you need it to not have a ton of colors. Go with a solid that has minimal veining, not the spotted ones.

Lanx · 2026-04-14T09:56:01-0400

OU Ariakas said:
Yeah, for either one to be timeless you need it to not have a ton of colors. Go with a solid that has minimal veining, not the spotted ones.

is 1 more prone to thermal cracking than the other? like i would still use a coaster, but which one would crack if a pot of boiling water was placed on it

OU Ariakas · 2026-04-14T09:58:24-0400

Lanx said:
is 1 more prone to thermal cracking than the other? like i would still use a coaster, but which one would crack if a pot of boiling water was placed on it

I have no idea, but I have also never had this problem because I do not ever place hot pots/pans directly on the countertop. I am a guy that thinks that if you have enough money to make this decision, then you have enough money for a few giant silicon pot pads.

Quevy · 2026-04-14T10:09:37-0400

Intrinsic said:
We're leaning towards Quartz as it is. I'm way more partial to Granite b/c it has proven to be timeless (people pearl clutch already b/c of the epoxy used to make quartz), we both like the colors and movement in granite more than the trendy starkness of white quartz/quartzite and heavy contrast veining. We actually found some Pental Quartz Oceanus at a home store a couple of weekends ago that we really liked.

It has a lot of grey, and blue, some copper, flecking throughout. When I redid my kitchen in a previous house I used Snowfall granite. That won't go with our current plan but really liked it.

This is our current Kitchen render with cabinet plans + ChatGPT + Flooring / Countertop selections, etc... It isn't 100% but is maybe close enough visually for us to pick a direction. (the island technically has an overhang, cabinets may/may not go all the way to the ceiling, still debating vent hood but will probably keep stainless instead of custom, doors will likely be 1/2 overlay instead of full. just depends on final cabinet meeting on the 22nd).

In our last window meeting we swapped out all the double hung for casement. The neighborhood requires wood clad and the casement were better performance wise than double hung and a little nicer look overall b/c we can more easily do a cottage style SDL

View attachment 624929

Of course, this is her idea for the Laundry:

View attachment 624930

View attachment 624927

View attachment 624928

I'm not sure if we went with granite or quartz for our counter top for our new place. I was lobbying hard for stainless steal, and failed.

Intrinsic · 2026-04-14T11:04:45-0400

OU Ariakas said:
Yeah, for either one to be timeless you need it to not have a ton of colors. Go with a solid that has minimal veining, not the spotted ones.

My comments were more material based than color as far as "timeless" is concerned. Laminate, Quartz, Corian, Quartzite, Marble, whatever I mean it all goes around and around, but hardly anyone dismisses granite as being the standby or default from a "timeless" perspective. That's my read on it, at least. Could be way off, but usually go with my gut.

Plus all the decades we've had granite the maintenance has been super easy, we've never had issues with chipping, stains, water marks, etc. But good lord you thought people were opinionated about politics or anything else, these Facebook groups arguing over countertop materials are absolutely unhinged. You'd think granite/quartz/whatever personally killed their favorite pet and pissed on their mom's graves.

MSI Taj Mahal is BY FAR the most referenced and quoted current surface I see come up in discussions: Taj Mahal Quartzite Countertops and Slabs - MSI Surfaces
Cambria Quartz is probably second when talking about Quartz: Cambria® Quartz Surfaces

We looked at Pental and another one b/c the specs at least read 95% similar, but they don't pay for the marketing that MSI or Cambria does so they're a little cheaper per foot. For a quartz it is still fully printed (some quartz is just surface printed) and available with different edge types. Quartz is attractive b/c you can guarantee the veining and surface because it is a printed pattern. Makes it easier to bookmatch, hide seams, and do other things that become more difficult with natural stones.

We're thinking maybe butcher block for mudroom and pantry, solid surface in laundry and kids bathrooms. Whatever we can get away with that is cheaper and just focus $/ft in the Kitchen and master bath.

Looking like the final number in the builder contract is going to be $1,002, 798 which includes the 15%. I had them modify the contract so that we can pay for allowances out of our own pocket and those are not subject to the 15% cost plus, permits, fees, taxes, etc are also not subject to 15%. So there's opportunity to reduce that throughout the project if we're smart with our picks and, so far (as shown above outdated allowance table) we're below budget. But the loan amount is going to be for the whole project and then we'll just convert what is actually drawn.

Haus · 2026-04-14T15:23:26-0400

Lanx said:
idk about timeless, my home now has granite, i consider it old ppl granite, my two other friends also bought homes (from empty nesters downsizing) and they also say their granite is dated.

i mean i'm "fine" w/ it, cuz it's still granite, my other friend has been planning a kitchen retrofit for a while cuz she just hates the old person granite.

like this is old person granite

spotted

this is the modern granite

vein

it's the look quartz is imitating

That "old people granite" is very similar to what we used in our kitchen, and it's still looking just fine a long time later. Although ours is a little lighter, still earthtone base and not white/gray based. Our "old people granite":

Then again, our Kitchen is done in earthtones and not the "white/gray" motif which is very modern in popular design, and that color scheme of granite blends great into that look.

Cad · 2026-04-14T15:27:11-0400

Haus said:
That "old people granite" is very similar to what we used in our kitchen, and it's still looking just fine a long time later. Although ours is a little lighter, still earthtone base and not white/gray based. Our "old people granite":
View attachment 624979

Then again, our Kitchen is done in earthtones and not the "white/gray" motif which is very modern in popular design, and that color scheme of granite blends great into that look.

I would always get the "traditional" type option for my house, and try to avoid anything trendy or this year's fashion or whatever. Those trends will change. "Traditional" houses from the 1920's still look fine. Trendy houses from any era - outside of that era - look like hackneyed trash.

Nobody who matters is going to criticize granite. The people who do you can politely ask to get the fuck out of your house.

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