countertops

[newhomeowner]

which countertops did you guys choose? I may go with the tavertine, which seems to be the most popular, or a black granite.....haven't decided yet!

[Style]

We went with the Deer brown granite group A? Its like a greyish one!:)

[smartsexystylish]

We went with the Deer brown granite group A? Its like a greyish one!:)

haha I hate the deceiving names they provide them with :)

"Deer brown but it's grey lol"

[justmed]

we went with granite everywhere...

Only one I can remember is the kitchen, Yvara Brazil or something like that:)

[gagnon777]

We're cheap and stayed with laminate for now.... we chose Butterrum Granite --- looks like Granite! :)

[jrb]

I am going to choose travertine laminate.....to match the light tumbled marble subway tile back splash.....it looks great together...and the cocoa monterry cabinets....

jason

[anxious_f]

we stuck with laminate too. Granite can be added later and would be MUCH cheaper than what Mattamy is charging. I figure that in a few years we'll be looking to make some changes to keep things fresh and that's when we'll do the kitchen counter.

[Style]

We just figured that we would do it now to save the hassle of someone coming for measurements and fitting and then have someone come in to shut off the water while they are installing the counters etc!
It is expensive from mattamy I agree but at least it will hopefully be ready!:) It does add up there for sure especially when you go the route of the undermount sink which i feel is a must for any granite as it just doesnt look as good with a steel sink on top of the money you spent to make your counters look good! Undermount gives it a more cleaner look but at a cost of like 1500.00 to go with the upwards of 4000 minimum for granite!

Hopefully our kitchen will look nice though when its all said and hopefully done!

[anxious_f]

I agree there are certain things that are nice to have when you first move in, regardless of cost. Each person (or people) has their own tastes and priorities.

We got a couple of things that I had originally said that we would do after close, but we decided that it would just be nicer if we had them when we first moved in. For us, it was the hardwood floors and the finish to below. Those were two upgrades were pricy but we thought worth the investment.

We also got the AC from Mattamy. I know that this has been a contentious point with people on here, but I priced out the same AC unit at between $2400 and $2800 installed. I figured that for the for the $400 - 800 that we'd be saving, I'd rather have the piece of mind that we have the unit there for when it gets warm.

For the record, however, granite is beautiful and we will absolutely be adding it later.

[Style]

I too also like Ac but they wanted like 3200 for the unit for my house! Quite frankly like you said to each is own! If it was a little more comparable to other ones we would of considered it! WHat model is the one they offer! Is it Puron refrigerant!
At least your furnace warranty will still apply for the 2 year period though so I guess its not all too bad!
Besides at least we know where to go on hot days before we get ours! :)

[A&O]

It was so hard not to do all the upgrades that we really really wanted. In the end though, we decided to keep our initial costs lower by only doing granite on the kitchen island. However, we deleted the integral lip of the laminate countertop and added a backsplash to help the laminate look more high end. One day, we'll do the granite on the rest of the counter tops. So the island will have to be my little bit of bling for now.....

[anxious_f]

From what I understand, the AC unit from Mattamy is a 24ACA3 Carrier Comfort Series AC unit which uses Puron.

[justmed]

the way we figured it, is that we arent exactly going to be in and out with our first house... probably be in it for at the absolute least 5-6 years.... with our first little one on the way we may need to move up in space then.

But we wanted to move in and not have anything major to do, I can do the cosmetic stuff the first week after close before we actually move out, like the backsplash in the kitchen (what Mattamy wanted I could do for 300 bucks at the most) and some other lighting options we wanted.

But we wanted the granite, tiles, hardwood, carpet that we would be happy with for the 5 years at least and not need to have dudes come in and measure etcc

speaking of the granite, we're going to check out our slabs tomorrow:)

[so excited]

Undermount gives it a more cleaner look but at a cost of like 1500.00 to go with the upwards of 4000 minimum for granite!

Mattamy charges $1500 for an undermount sink???? Really??!!

[Style]

Undermount gives it a more cleaner look but at a cost of like 1500.00 to go with the upwards of 4000 minimum for granite!

Mattamy charges $1500 for an undermount sink???? Really??!!

Actually its $1435.00 in the 34 foot victoria model I we bought! So close enough!
Remember you need deeper base cabinets to have a undermount sink!

[Joanne]

Remember you need deeper base cabinets to have a undermount sink!


This is what they tell you need if you order the undermount they offer. You can buy an afterbuild undermount sink that fits in the standard depth base cabinets. I found that the granite pricing was not bad, higher than after build, but not too bad, about $97 per sq ft for group B. The sink, however, is robbery :mad: so I have opted to purchase granite later.

[fletcher]

For those of you who chose the laminate counter tops, have you tried to remove the lip that goes against the wall? If you were successful, did Mattamy charge you?

[Gillian & Mike]

For those of you who chose the laminate counter tops, have you tried to remove the lip that goes against the wall? If you were successful, did Mattamy charge you?

Ours is removed, however, we got the backsplash as an upgrade and that is why it was deleted. If you didn't get a backsplash, I'm not sure they will.

[anxious_f]

For those of you who chose the laminate counter tops, have you tried to remove the lip that goes against the wall? If you were successful, did Mattamy charge you?

I asked this specific question at our design centre appointment. I asked if we could just have the lip deleted and have the counter go all the way to the wall, but not purchase the backsplash (I could easily do the backsplash later). I was told flat out, no. They told me that for the warranty, you had to have one or the other. It had to do with protecting the drywall, where it meets the counter. If there is nothing there, then the drywall would rot in no time.

So the short answer is that you need to buy the backsplash if you want to remove the lip.

[Dave]

I asked this specific question at our design centre appointment. I asked if we could just have the lip deleted and have the counter go all the way to the wall, but not purchase the backsplash (I could easily do the backsplash later). I was told flat out, no. They told me that for the warranty, you had to have one or the other. It had to do with protecting the drywall, where it meets the counter. If there is nothing there, then the drywall would rot in no time.

So the short answer is that you need to buy the backsplash if you want to remove the lip.


...which is somehow not a concern if you buy their granite. :rolleyes:

[anxious_f]

Did you get granite and a backsplash? I'm pretty sure that if you get the granite and no backsplash, that your granite would also also have a lip.

I have no idea though.

[Dave]

No. We are going to do our counters after closing. (hopefully soon after closing) I'm about 99% sure that a granite counter will not include a lip whether you get a back splash or not.

[gagnon777]

No. We are going to do our counters after closing. (hopefully soon after closing) I'm about 99% sure that a granite counter will not include a lip whether you get a back splash or not.

You are correct.

Granite will NEVER have a lip (regardless of backsplash or not).
Laminate on the other hand will have a lip if you did not order a backsplash.

[jrb]

Hi,

I am having a backsplash.........So what is Mattamy charging to get rid of the lip against the wall on the laminate counter tops

Jason

[K.C.]

I'd like to know the answer to that too. I think it will look much nicer without the lip.

[anxious_f]

Hi,

I am having a backsplash.........So what is Mattamy charging to get rid of the lip against the wall on the laminate counter tops

Jason


I'd like to know the answer to that too. I think it will look much nicer without the lip.

I don't know if I understand the question correctly, but if you're asking what Mattamy charges to remove the lip from the laminate counter top, if you are ordering a backsplash, the answer is nothing. I'm sure that they charge something for it, but that cost is buried in the price of adding the backsplash. Once you pay to add the backsplash, the lip is just removed...from what I understand.

[K.C.]

Once you pay to add the backsplash, the lip is just removed...from what I understand.

Awesome! I'll keep a close eye on construction near the end to make sure.

[Style]

Has anybody who purchased granite from the builder been to Stoneworx in Bolton to see the selected slabs of granite that are available! We have our appointment for Feb 20 in the afternoon!
Just curious to know if anyone who has closed or will close soon has been there?:)

[newhomeowner]

I haven't been there yet, what are their prices like? and do they charge a travel fee to go out to cambridge?

[Style]

I haven't been there yet, what are their prices like? and do they charge a travel fee to go out to cambridge?

Its all included in the price in your design guide through Mattamy! The Undermount sink is like $1500.00 though and is expensive but is a million times nicer with granite then one that sits on top of the granite!
We went with Deer Brown which is a greyish colour in group A! Hopefully it will look great!

It would be cheaper to do it later but We figured to avoid the mess and inconvenience later and do it before we move in plus its under warranty through the builder and supplier!

[newhomeowner]

they get their granite from bolton? thats quite far away!

[A&O]

Has anybody who purchased granite from the builder been to Stoneworx in Bolton to see the selected slabs of granite that are available! We have our appointment for Feb 20 in the afternoon!
Just curious to know if anyone who has closed or will close soon has been there?:)

Hey Style,

My husband and I had our appointment this past Tuesday. It was not that far away, I took the 407 some of the way so that helped. At least there was a Starbucks along the way!

The experience was actually interesting. They take you through the the factory area and you can see all the guys working the cutters and such. Once you get outside to the back 40, there are hundreds and hundreds of slabs just sitting there in the snow. It's amazing that they can actually find the one you picked. It is very hard to see the slabs, they are stored on their side and all piled together - they are too heavy to move so you just stand there trying to get a good view of it. When the consultant showed us our actual slab, I was actually worried that I didn't like it, and that it did not match the sample shown at the Design Centre. She kind of panicked a bit because there are not many options if you are not happy. You can pick another style within the same Group (ours was C, but the one we picked was the only one we liked). I was a bit frustrated because we had come all that way and we didn't want another style, we just wanted the one we picked to look like we thought it would.

So to make a long story a bit shorter ;), the girl went to get the Plant Manager to help us out. He took us back out to the yard to see the slab and actually had the enormous crane bring out our slab - it was very cool to see granite fly through the air. Once the slab was out of the stack it had been in, and we could actually see it in the light of day with no obstruction, it was clear that it was in fact gorgeous and that we would be very happy with the slab available to us. After that, you sign off and are on your way.

So I would say that unless you have a great view of the slab, get them to do their best to show it (or them) to you in a better light. It's a lot of money down the drain if you end up not liking that actual batch.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

[Scott&Lorna]

Amanda,

when did you get a call for an appt to go and view your countertop. I wasn't aware that there was an appt to go and view your slab. Does everyone who upgraded their countertop through the builder get this call, or did you have to request it??

We close on April 8th and haven't had a call yet regarding this. But would love to go and see what the slab looks like.


Lorna

[baldwinCoronation]

We close on February 18 and we onle got our granite appointment on December 20. So about 2 months before. And yes, everyone who upgraded to granite must go and sign off on the slab. They are very nice and helpful.

[A&O]

Amanda,

when did you get a call for an appt to go and view your countertop. I wasn't aware that there was an appt to go and view your slab. Does everyone who upgraded their countertop through the builder get this call, or did you have to request it??

We close on April 8th and haven't had a call yet regarding this. But would love to go and see what the slab looks like.


Lorna

Hi Lorna - Shani was actually just here and we were talking about your close date of April 8th and what you were planning to do re: the kids school. Man it's coming fast huh?

As far as the granite, the granite people actually called to schedule the appointment. If you purchased granite you will get to go and sign off on your slab - or at least what their inventory for that style is. They called and gave us about a week's notice. We close March 18th so that was plenty of time. I suspect you'll get a call in a week or two.

See you on the street!
Amanda

[Style]

Hi Lorna - Shani was actually just here and we were talking about your close date of April 8th and what you were planning to do re: the kids school. Man it's coming fast huh?

As far as the granite, the granite people actually called to schedule the appointment. If you purchased granite you will get to go and sign off on your slab - or at least what their inventory for that style is. They called and gave us about a week's notice. We close March 18th so that was plenty of time. I suspect you'll get a call in a week or two.

See you on the street!
Amanda

Not to worry! We close on April 15th and just got the call this week and like I said I chose my appointment for Friday Feb 20th! With my closing date the latest date she could safely do is first week of March at the latest so we chose Feb 20!
I'm sure you will be getting the call very soon! Talking to Susan it seemed like she had a bunch of names and numbers to call from the millpond site!:)

[Scott&Lorna]

Is this only for granite?? Did anyone who ordered zodiac get a call from this place to view a slab???

[justmed]

Is this only for granite?? Did anyone who ordered zodiac get a call from this place to view a slab???

my first instinct is to say no, since zodiac is an engineered product and granite is natural.

what you see is what you get with zodiac and there are no surprises from the sample to actual cut.

Granite could be quite different from the sample since its natural

[Style]

Still was very sweet touring that granite facility in Bolton and seeing the huge slabs of granite that they have there! really puts it in perspective when you see such a huge sheet instead of a little square! Plus the lady we had Susan was super nice and helpful!
Really is a great experience!

[Claudia]

we ordered granite and we move in in approx 5 weeks and we have not had a call about our granite apt yet.....

[Style]

You should call Stoneworks in Bolton. They usually call you well ahead of time. We had our call around 6 weeks before and they were still concerned that we wouldnt have them in before closing. Make sure you call them asap as there is a better then great chance that you will have a plywood countertop when you close. Hopefully your granite is in stock and is a popular one. Good luck!

[Claudia]

thanks
I think I will look them up and give them a call

[Claudia]

when I got home there was a message on the phone to call them to set up an apt

we go this Saturday

[Imemyself]

May I know how much is the upgrade for a backsplash? I'm getting a Preston.

Thanks!

[jrb]

Hi,

regarding the backsplash,

I dont think it matters which model you purchase for the price of the backsplash. From what I remember, all the back splash samples in the design centre have a price on them.

The price is dependant on which backsplash you choose. I went with tumbled marble travertine light, i think it was the most expensive at $1,157.00

[Claudia]

we got the glass backsplash.......I believe it was $1,500 + we have the exhaust hood with the chimney and it was an additional $300 to up it to the ceiling on each side of the chimney

[Bubba]

Only problem if you do your own backsplash - you don't get the lip at the back of the counter, so some work there to rejig so it will take the backsplash. OK if you know what you're doing, but we figured the 735 for backsplash on the coronation was not as big a gauge comparably speaking.

That said I am not willing to pay Mattamy's price of almost 5k to do my dining room and great room in entry level Bruce Hardwood. For 5k you can have a much better Hardwood, from an installer who has a more consistent track record than Mattamy's.

Cheers

[gagnon777]

Only problem if you do your own backsplash - you don't get the lip at the back of the counter, so some work there to rejig so it will take the backsplash. OK if you know what you're doing, but we figured the 735 for backsplash on the coronation was not as big a gauge comparably speaking.

That said I am not willing to pay Mattamy's price of almost 5k to do my dining room and great room in entry level Bruce Hardwood. For 5k you can have a much better Hardwood, from an installer who has a more consistent track record than Mattamy's.

Cheers

I'm with ya on the hardwood Bubba!! We just got ours (a rustic maple) and we just did our whole house (1,000 sq ft) for $2,500!!! We waited forever for it to come in, but worth the price. Mattamy is a rip off for flooring.