Budget-Friendly Remnant Countertops for Your New Home
Saving money on your new build starts with smart choices, and one of those choices is remnant countertops. These are leftover pieces from larger slabs that were purchased for full projects.
From quartz to marble, various stone types are available as remnants. This gives you the option to bring a high-end look into your home at a fraction of the cost compared to buying full slabs.
The price on high-quality materials like marble and quartz can be very expensive.
So, finding these gems can lead to huge savings for areas like bathroom vanities, small kitchen countertops, shower benches, laundry rooms, or even an outdoor bar top.
You might think choosing remnants limits your options or quality.
But in reality, high-quality remnants can elevate your space without breaking the bank.
Let’s explore how remnant countertops can help you get high-end countertops on a budget.
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Key Takeaways
- Remnants are leftover pieces of stone from larger projects and offer a budget-friendly option for countertops without compromising on quality. You can find materials like granite, quartz, quartzite, and marble at a lower cost.
- Remnants can be used for small kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, laundry rooms, outdoor kitchens, bar tops, or shower seats.
- Local stone yards are great places to search for remnants. They often have a wide selection available at discounted prices.
- Using remnants lets you get that high-end designer look in your home without the full price tag of new slabs.
- Purchasing a remnant countertop is eco-friendly. It keeps leftover stone out of landfills and gives it a new life in your home.
Understanding Remnants: What They Are and How They Can Save You Money
Remnants are leftover pieces of stone slabs that offer the same beauty, quality, and durability as full slabs but at a fraction of the cost.
They’re perfect for smaller projects, letting you add high-quality materials to your home without breaking the bank. Think bathroom vanities, smaller kitchen countertops, or shower seats.
Remnants are essentially leftover pieces from larger stone slabs.
When someone purchases a full slab for a large project, like a full kitchen countertop, there’s normally some leftover stone after the slabs are cut. The remaining portion of a stone slab is saved because it can still be used to fabricate small pieces.
The manufacturer keeps the partial slab pieces and sells them as remnants.
At a large stone yard, you can normally find remnants of any stone material — materials like granite, quartz, quartzite, soapstone, and marble.
Using these remnant pieces in your home can lead to substantial cost savings over purchasing an entire brand-new slab.
It’s a smart way to get high-end countertops at a great price, especially if your project doesn’t require large amounts of material.
Maybe you’ve got a small kitchen counter or are eyeing up bathroom vanity tops—remnants will be your best choice.
Common Stone Types Available as Remnants
Now that we’ve covered what remnants are, let’s look at the types of stone slabs you can find as remnants.
Quartz Remnants
Quartz countertops are one of the most popular choices. Known for its non-porous surface and consistent patterns, quartz remnants are a great pick for bathroom vanities and laundry rooms due to their resistance to stains and easy maintenance.
Granite Remnants
Granite countertops are a great stone option if you are looking for durability and variety. As another popular choice for countertops, granite remnants come in many colors. They are perfect for smaller projects like bathroom vanities or laundry rooms.
Quartzite Remnants
Quartzite is a natural stone and comes in many different beautiful varieties. These remnants outperform many other materials in resistance to scratches and heat. With its natural durability, quartzite remnants provide a blend of beauty and practicality, perfect for those who do not want to compromise on style or functionality.
Marble Remnants
Add a touch of luxury with marble remnants. Ideal for fireplace surrounds or window sills, they offer unique veining and a high-end look but require more care to prevent etch marks.
Soapstone Remnants
With a soft, warm appearance, soapstone is excellent for bringing in contrast. It’s heat resistant and develops a rich patina over time, making it suited for countertops or outdoor kitchens.
Limestone Remnants
Limestone offers a natural, earthy appeal perfect for rustic designs. Limestone is good for bathroom vanity tops but needs sealing to prevent stains.
Travertine Remnants
Travertine features natural pits and unique textures. Travertine works well in shower seats or bar tops, providing an elegant yet durable surface.
Onyx Remnants
If you’re looking for something eye-catching, onyx offers translucent beauty ideal for backlit elements like wall panels or small bar tops.
Each stone type comes with its own benefits and considerations—like price, durability, and maintenance needs.
I always recommend checking out the remnants in person to make sure they fit the style of your cabinets and home.
Cost Savings Compared to Full Slabs
Choosing stone remnants for your new build or small project can significantly cut costs. They are a great option if you are looking to get a new countertop for less. Here’s a quick comparison to show you the potential savings of opting for remnants over full slabs:
| Aspect | Full Slabs | Remnants |
| Cost | Higher due to larger size. | Lower, as remnants are essentially the leftovers and are priced to move. |
| Material Waste | More, since projects often don’t use the entire slab. | Less, as you’re utilizing materials that would otherwise go unused. |
| Availability | Limited to current stock or need to order more. | Varied, with a wide range of options from previous projects. |
| Flexibility | Less, as purchasing new slabs for small projects isn’t cost-effective. | More, perfect for smaller projects or unique applications. |
Where to Find Remnants
Stone yards are a treasure trove for anyone looking to save on new countertops.
I found they often have a wide variety of remnants, from quartz and quartzite to granite and marble. These pieces come at a discounted price because they’re what’s left after larger projects.
Normally, the remnant pieces are priced per square foot of material that is actually used. This is a huge savings over having to buy an entire slab of stone.
I love getting to see these remnants up close. You can touch them, and bring your paint or flooring samples to see how they’d look with the finishes you’ve already chosen.
Most stone yards sell off remnants at lower prices to clear out inventory. This means you can find high-quality countertops for a lot less money.
Stone yards will want to move partial slabs quickly, so you might snag a bargain. Ask about any remnant selections they have.
But also be ready to make a decision fast—these pieces can go quickly!
Before visiting a stone yard, have a clear idea of your project needs. Bring your cabinet drawings and the dimensions of your spaces with you so that you have a list of exactly what you are looking for.
Tips for Selecting and Purchasing Remnants
I recommend finding a reputable local stone yard and fabricator near you. They will have a large remnant selection for you to choose from.
We have a great stone fabricator near us that helped us select all of the countertops in our home.
This stone company had a designer in-house who helped us find the perfect counters for each of the spaces in our home. She was amazing, and so helpful!
Once we selected the countertops, they then came to our home build site to measure the spaces. This was done with a laser measuring device.
Once they mapped out the size and shape of our countertops, they were then able to fabricate our countertops from the remnants that we selected.
Choosing a reputable fabrication company matters just as much as selecting the right remnant piece. A skilled fabricator will ensure precise measurements, proper installation, and offer valuable advice on maintenance.
Popular Uses for Remnants
Remnants are perfect for small or medium-sized projects in your home or new build.
- Bathroom Vanities
- Shower Seats
- Laundry Rooms
- Window Sills
- Fireplace Surrounds
- Bar Tops
- Outdoor Kitchens
- Smaller Kitchen Countertops
Remnant Countertops in our Custom Home
We chose remnant countertops for the bathroom vanities and the shower bench in our custom home. This saved us so much money and allowed me to get stones that I previously thought would be out of our budget.
Here are the remnants we selected:
- Quartz Remnant: For the downstairs bathroom vanity countertop.
- Soapstone Remnant: For the hallway bathroom vanity countertop.
- Quartzite Remnant: For the owner’s bathroom vanity countertop and the shower bench.
Quartzite and soapstone were both high-end materials at our local stone yard. They were priced the highest, so I had not considered them at all when I was planning before our countertop meeting.
I didn’t think we would be able to afford them so I ruled them out early. But, the designer at the stone yard let me know that they had a ton of remnants available at a comparable price.
So in the end, I was able to get some higher-end materials for our home on a budget.
Honesty, this made me feel like someone gave me a Christmas present!
I had completely removed the idea of any other stones from my mind when we went to select countertops because I knew they would be too expensive. I wanted to go into the meeting with realistic expectations.
Getting to choose whatever stone I wanted from the remnants selection was like picking candy in a candy shop! It was so fun and I felt like I scored a major deal.
Conclusion
Saving money on your new home just for a whole lot easier with remnant countertops.
You can get the look and quality of high-end stone without blowing your budget on a full slab of stone. Remnants are a great way to save a lot of money and still have high quality countertops in your home.
Now, that dreamy kitchen or bathroom makeover is way more achievable.
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