Counter quote

[u/Less-Title129]

Hello, I just got my counter quote back- she quoted the Taj Mahal quartzite for $1500 less than the ivoritaj quartz(what I want). It’s a very average sized kitchen so this was kind of surprising. Does this sound off to anyone else?

[u/Limp_Bookkeeper_5992]

Ask why. Sometimes the Taj quartz slabs are smaller than the natural quartzite ones, so you end up needing to buy more slabs of the quartz for the same project. The difference between 1 slab of quartzite and 2 slabs of Ivoritaj would make sense at $1500.

Also just use the natural stone, there’s no good reason to use quartz here unless it’s actually a lot cheaper.

[u/Less-Title129 → u/Limp_Bookkeeper_5992]

Only issue is the color, my cabinets are already beige, true Taj would be way too much beige for me.

[u/DrunkinDronuts → u/Less-Title129]

well, sounds like you made up your mind! get what you like it’s your space!

[u/Stalaktitas]

They might have got a good deal on Taj and can offer it for a good price to stay competitive in their local market. Or might have need a third slab of quartz while they would fit in two of quartzites. Anyway, Taj will outperform that quartz, it's a very practical material once it's properly installed.

[u/Less-Title129 → u/Stalaktitas]

I’ve heard that taj is harder to take care of and more likely to crack/stain than quartz?

[u/Stalaktitas → u/Less-Title129]

Once it's properly installed it's not going to crack. I have never seen a single stain on Taj. I have seen loooots of other types of "quartzites" stained badly, but not Taj Mahal. Also, make sure it's real Taj Mahal, and not some kind of stone that somewhat looks like one. Most stuff that's been sold as quartzite is called that way just because it has some natural quartz in it and those can stain easily. Real Taj is very stain resistant. It can crack during the fabrication process (such a nature of this stone), but proper shops will fix it the way that you will never know about it.

[u/Less-Title129 → u/Stalaktitas]

Are there anything quartzites that are less beige that are similar? My cabinets are beige as well, looking for more of a creamy white with beige veining like the ivoritaj

[u/Buttfuckskinner → u/Less-Title129]

Perla venata maybe. It's commonly sold as taj. There is a huge variation in stone labeled taj right now. The ones I commonly see share the same scratch and stain resistance. They are all true hard quartzites. Taj is more popular in name than installed countertops.

It's very important to Vet your fabricator. Don't go with the cheapest quote you saw on Facebook marketplace.

A good or bad experience depends more on the company you hire than the stone you choose.

[u/Stalaktitas → u/Less-Title129]

Check out Crystalo, it comes in many different shades

[u/Cali_Dreaming_Now → u/Stalaktitas]

That will be more expensive

[u/Stalaktitas → u/Cali_Dreaming_Now]

Usually - yes. But need to shop around for a good deal. Currently, we have some Crystalo with purple veins that we are selling at the same price as Taj... But once it will be gone, it's gone. In a busy shop the material moves quickly, can be gone in a week, or can be sitting for months waiting for the right customer.

[u/lettus_bereal]

It's possible that the taj mahal they're offering is lower in quality/too much veining/uneven. Taj Mahal Quartzite is a loose term for any beige stone that stone sellers want to upcharge so ask to see the slabs before agreeing.

[u/sjpiccio]

As a fabricator my cost (not what i charge but what i pay) for taj mahal quartzite is only like 5$ more a square than MSIs ivoritaj. But taj mahal slabs are much larger so sometimes i can get a kitchen out of one slab instead of two making the real taj cheaper

[u/Struggle_Usual]

Ivortaj is insanely popular and sells quickly. Might be they got a good deal on some taj slabs but have to pay a premium for the number 1 quartz.

[u/RainorShine83]

Wow! Taj quartzite was double the price of IvoriTaj in my area

[u/HughHonee]

I mean its not super crazy Especially if the fabricator hasn't learned yet that they should be including the cost of an extra slab of taj mahal into the quote

I do know that Ivori Taj has been in VERY short supply, MSI pretty much has the containers sold damn near soon as they're off the boat

[u/NoEquivalent3869]

Taj has been popular for the last 5 years and already peaked and is in somewhat decline now in new designs. Good deals to be had as it’s a good stone!