Solid Surface Pricing
A little info on the solid surfacing market, circa 2006. September 26, 2006
Question
What is the installed price that most fabricators are charging for solid surface material around the U.S.?
Forum Responses
(Laminate and Solid Surfacing Forum)
From contributor A:
$100-$125/sq. ft., same as stone.
From contributor B:
I saw an ad for Home Depot natural granite for only $65 a square foot - you have to feel for that fabricator and customer.
From contributor C:
I charge about $42/sq ft for labor, and then add all material costs + 15%. Coved splashes are $40/ln ft. I'm lower than many, but very profitable. I am about as high as I can get in this area, but am increasing my prices by 8% this week, mostly to account for higher shipping costs as material is up only about 2% (so far). For the 3/4" material with no edge build up I'm around $50/sq. ft. Consequently, I am selling that almost 100% right now. Granite here is going for $42/sq. ft. installed - import stuff done by questionable labor, but they're killing us.
From contributor D:
I get $135 to $165 a lineal foot, not sq. ft. Cove is $55 per lineal feet. That price includes template and installation. Undermount sinks are $165 to install plus the cost of the sink. I charge more for small jobs. I don't bother with vanity tops. I farm those out as there is no money in vanities. I live in Rockland county, NY area.
From contributor E:
The rate for solid surface at wholesale starts at about $36/sq.ft., installed, around this area (midwest). There are a lot of fabricators in this area.
From contributor F:
I have recently started subcontracts for solid surface installs. Is $4.00/sq. ft. a fair price? With the price of fuel, insurance, and a $10.00/hr helper, I feel like I come out with less profit than my help.
From contributor G:
That depends on the job. If it is a straight run you may do OK but complex installs would kill your business.
From contributor H:
Who would sell S.S tops wholesale – and why? A wholesaler is someone who buys large quantities of goods and resales to merchants rather than to the ultimate customers. It must be a huge company. I know I couldn’t do it.
From contributor I:
I sell wholesale and I have a small company. I don't have a formal showroom of my own, but I have a half dozen scattered around the area that are heated, lit, cleaned, maintained and staffed by people not on my payroll. Leads generated by these showrooms are well qualified so I'm not wasting time bidding jobs for tire-kickers. I have to leave room for my clients to mark-up the price so there's not a lot of profit in it but it pays the bills and keeps me busy. I'm a better fabricator than salesman.
From contributor H:
When your charge to the retailer is say $1700.00 wholesale and they charge the client something like, $4200.00 plus, you lose - they make the profit of your cost to buy the material and to fabricate it., then double this number and add another 50%? When you have the monopoly and any kind of reputation in your area you can be making a much better life for yourself selling at a fair retail.
From contributor I:
I sell at fair retail also, and there is a lot more profit in it. If my client marks it up 150% they're not going to sell much. They earn their money with a modest mark-up and we all win. I don't have a monopoly and never will, but I'm working on the reputation. My model won't work with every business plan, but it works for me so far.
From contributor D:
Corian is very strict with wholesale and retail in NY. Wholesale means you do not go out on sales - only template and install everyday. When you buy as much material like this you get a big price break. The retail showroom marks up about 25 to 50%.You can make a very nice living selling wholesale. I rarely sell to a homeowner direct. Kitchen dealers, contractors, designers, and architects are my customer base.
From contributor J:
I've heard that a good average is to take your cost of materials including templates, substrate, finishing products, sinks, drop-in range heat tape, etc., add 10-15% for markup then double it. Exceptions would apply - for example a coved backsplash or special edge profile. Comments on this method would be appreciated.
From contributor K:
Promo sheet stock by Himacs and Staron allows us to charge 70 per linear foot. Engineered stone is ruling mass right now. Bells and whistles (intricate edge designs,cove splash, drainboards, acrylic bowls) are the way to compete against Silestone. Solid surface will always rule the high end bath
