Whats a good price on granite installation? I am getting a quote for $65 per sq, is that good?
It depends on the granite material. The cheapest I’ve seen recently is $45/sf, and that price only applies to a few low cost slab colors. We just paid $70-75/sf installed for some mid priced material. Prices can go much higher for a more exotic piece.
Someone mentioned indestructible counters-stainless steel is what they use in labs, my ceramics studio, and commercial kitchens.
Concrete is really delicate.
Soapstone is pretty durable, if porous.
In the chemistry labs I worked the bench tops were made of some indestructible epoxy resin that was impossible to cut… Black and ugly but literally bomb-proof! 
Not what I would want in a kitchen. The ss reminds me of morgues…
I think the poster must have decided on granite. This thread is well,over a year old!
^Dang it, I hate when I accidentally post on old threads.
I was the original poster, and we just now got around to doing our counters, mostly because we are listing the house. I purposely went back to this original thread…
On a related subject, I have a double sink, my realtor is suggesting just a single sink. What are your thoughts?
Double for me, please.
I love my enormous single sink.
I’ve always had double and can’t imagine having a single, but the trend seems to be single. My grandmother had a single back in the day.
Seems to me double is more practical. Washing pots/dishes with double is easier. How are you rinsing them with sink filled with water?
Another vote for a double - preferably a deep double.
i’m not sure I even understand the benefit of a single. Is it just aesthetics?
I like my big deep single sink. Anything fits, even the largest pans.
Think the sink is personal preference. Whatever you do get one that’s DEEP.
I have a silgraninte sink that I absolutely love! It’s black with very minute iridescent light flecks that keeps it from being too black. Doesn’t scratch, you can put hot things in it, easy upkeep. Ours is 10+ years old and still looks like new.
Doubles are nice if you want an isolated sink for dirty dishes to sit or soak in while using the other to rinse dishes off before putting them in the dishwasher. It’s also nice if you don’t have, or don’t want to use your dishwasher as you don’t have to give up your entire sink for washing dishes.
Single sinks are for weirdos 
The benefit of a single is that you can get big pans in easily - pasta pots, turkey roasters. If you really want to soak dishes you can always put a dishpan in half the sink. I never fill my sink with water except occasionally to defrost something.
If I was made of money this is the sink I’d get: http://www.us.kohler.com/us/Stages-45-x-18-1-2-x-9-13-16-under-mount-single-bowl-with-wet-surface-area-kitchen-sink/productDetail/kitchen-sinks/427383.htm Be sure to watch the video!
But how often a typical family would use those large pots and pans? I am not talking about Consilation here. If the bowls of the double sink are deep enough, it will work just fine. I just washed a large wok-like Tramontina in 1/2 of my double sink… No problems.
Dish pan will need to be stored somewhere when not in use. Need a large cabinet for that!
There are also sinks that are split 3/1 with one larger bowl and a smaller separate bowl. My parents have that so you still have a separation for multi-tasking.
I also don’t understand the appeal of a single. But when I asked my nephew why he wanted a single, he said he didn’t know other than it was the latest new thing.
I love my new white (yes white) Blanco double sink.
I think those with a single sink wash dishes with running water rather than putting water in the bowl. That’s not for me.
A lot of times, I’m cooking up a storm and don’t want to stop all the time to do dishes as I go. I like to have one place to dump dirty dishes while keeping the other side clean and clear for food prep. Until I can hire a prep chef and dishwasher, I couldn’t see wanting one large single.