A high-quality stone benchtop is the perfect finishing piece for your kitchen, bar, or place of business. Engineered stone is a highly-popular alternative to natural stone: it is heat and stain resistant, easy to clean, and strong. It’s also an investment that’s going to last for years – so it’s important you make the right choice.
One of the biggest factors affecting your purchase is the price, which can vary considerably depending on which type of engineered stone you choose. Below, we’ve provided in-depth answers to some of the most common pricing questions we receive:
How Much Will My Project Cost?
The total cost of your installation will depend on two main factors:
1. The cost of the raw material and
2. the cost of fitting the stone in your home or business.
Although you can estimate your material costs by measuring how much you need, fitting costs are a different story; accurate prices for fitting can only be determined by an experienced fitter. We’ve detailed some of the factors that affect these prices below, for more information, please contact us for a quote.
Want a FREE quote within 24 hours? Contact the Medici team online for your free quote, or call on (08) 9303 2697.
What Factors Affect The Price of Engineered Stone?
Engineered stones are priced according to how difficult they are to produce. The cheapest stones are small to medium grain with one base colour. Motley stones, which have two or more colours, are the next step up. Pure white stones are more expensive still, as it is difficult to get a flawless white stone.
Finally, natural lookalikes are the most expensive types of engineered stone because they are harder to manufacture and are often handmade. However, the increased popularity of these more natural designs has resulted in more competition and prices have decreased in recent years.
The stone you choose has a large effect on the overall price: engineered stones start off at $100per m2 and can cost as much as 1000 per m2 for the most expensive designs. You then need to take into account the cutting required, including any cut-outs you require (for example, for a sink) and the type of edging you want.
Did we have a part about the different brand costs in here? Ie Caesarstone vs Empire etc? I can’t remember. Did you get this table?
Thanks I’d missed that – I’ve added in another section with that information
How Do Engineered Stone Prices Compare to Natural Stone?
Engineered stone is a high-quality product that is comparable or superior to natural stone, and its prices reflect that. We classify our stone colours into four main categories: low, medium, high, and exotic. These categories reflect the complexity and rarity of the stone itself, rather than the quality (they’re all high quality):
| Colour Option | Granite | Marble | Engineered Stone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | $100-$145 | $100-$150 | $95-$160 |
| Medium | $150-$200 | $150-$200 | $200 |
| High | $200-$400 | $200-$400 | $300 |
| Exotic | $400+ | $400+ | $500+ |
How Does Brand Affect Cost?
In addition to the different classifications of engineered stone, there are also several different brands to choose from. Each one has a wide range of colour options, and in many cases they have similar shades which you can compare with another brand. The brands we sell include Caesarstone, Essastone, Q Stone, Silestone, and Empire Stone .
Below we’ve given some example prices to showcase how prices for similar products can differ across the different brands:
Plain Stone Brand Comparison Chart
| Caesarstone | Essastone | Q stone | Silestone | Empire Stone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $1,815.00 | $1,661.00 | $1,705.00 | $1,375.00 | NA |
Marble Lookalike Brand Comparison Chart
| Caesarstone | Essastone | Q stone | Silestone | Empire Stone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,783.00 | $2,343.00 | $2,024.00 | $2,387.00 | $1,782.00 |
What Factors Affect Installation Costs?
Fitting engineered stone benchtops is a highly-skilled task – getting the perfect finish takes time. The more complicates your installation is, the more time it will take and the higher your installation costs. Factors that increase the time required include:
● Access – a hard-to-access work area increases the time spent lifting and carrying the stone.
● On-Site Polishing – Mitered-waterfall ends and splashbacks must be polished on site.
● Number of Joins – Creating a seamless join takes time and expertise.
● Walls – If the walls aren’t completely straight and level we will need to either trim the stone or chisel out from the walls.
● Changes – if the fitting area has changed after the template has been created the installation will be difficult. These changes could include plastering walls or moving cabinetry and will normally mean every piece touching the wall needs to be trimmed outside before fitting.
How Can Installation Time be Reduced?
The circumstances into which we can install can add or reduce the installation time. To ensure installation goes smoothly, you should:
✓ Ensure there is easy access to the site
✓ Ensure the work area is clean before your installation team arrives
✓ Make any changes to the site before template measure – not after!
✓ Choose a design with minimal joins
✓ Ensure other trades are not trying to work in the same area at the same time
Why Engineered Stone?
Engineered stones are stronger and more durable than natural stones such as marble and are ideal in high-traffic areas. They also come in a wide range of colours and designs which are not available in natural stones.
Book your FREE quote today: Contact the Medici team online for your free quote, or call on (08) 9303 2697.