The most common question we get from homeowners in Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice is simple: what will this cost? The honest answer is that a countertop price is not one number — it is a material price plus fabrication, plus everything that happens on install day. Two quotes for the same kitchen can differ by thousands because one of them left items out.
What a quote should include
- Material — the slab itself, priced on usable yield, not just your finished square footage.
- Fabrication — cutting, polishing and the edge profile you chose.
- Cutouts — sink, cooktop, faucet and outlet openings.
- Tear-out and disposal — removing the existing tops and hauling them away.
- Installation — crew, setting, seaming, shimming and caulking.
- Sink and faucet reinstall or plumbing disconnect and reconnect, if included.
If a quote gives you only a dollar-per-square-foot figure, ask which of the items above it covers. That single question resolves most price differences.
Where the money actually goes
Square footage vs slab yield
We measure each piece — length by depth by quantity — and convert to square feet. But stone is sold by the slab, so a 58 sq ft kitchen with a large island can still require two slabs. That yield gap is the single biggest source of quote-to-quote variation in our market.
Edge profile
A straight or eased edge is the baseline. Bullnose and ogee edges add machine time. Mitered edges and waterfall islands add the most, because they require extra material and precise seam work.
Cutouts and details
An undermount sink cutout with polished walls costs more than a drop-in. Cooktop cutouts, faucet holes, soap dispensers and outlet openings are each separate line items on our estimates so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
Tear-out and access
Removing laminate is quick. Removing old tile or a previous stone top — especially one bonded to a mud bed — takes far longer. Second-floor condos in Siesta Key or Longboat Key add carry time and sometimes elevator scheduling.
Material tiers we see locally
Rather than quote numbers that go stale, here is how the tiers rank in our own inventory: entry-level granite is typically the most affordable natural stone; mid-tier quartz sits above it; exotic granite, quartzite and marble occupy the top. Within any tier, a common color from stock costs less than a special order that has to be brought in.
Because our stock changes weekly, the reliable way to see current pricing is our online estimator, which prices your actual layout against the slabs we have on the floor right now.
How to compare two Sarasota quotes fairly
- Confirm both quotes use the same total square footage and the same number of slabs.
- Confirm the same edge profile on both.
- Confirm tear-out, disposal and plumbing are either in both or out of both.
- Ask whether the price is final after templating or subject to change.
- Ask who fabricates the stone — in-house shops control schedule and remakes better than brokers.
Getting a real number
Altar Stone has fabricated and installed countertops across Southwest Florida since 2021, from Sarasota and Bradenton to Fort Myers and Naples. You can get a free itemized estimate online in a few minutes, or book a free in-home measurement if your layout is complex.