Granite kitchen countertops have never been more affordable. According to Steve Passarelli, Director of Products for The Countertop Company, improvements in quarrying technology have played a large part in driving down the price of natural stone. But so has the growing number of granite fabricators vying for a share of that growing market. A recent survey conducted by The Countertop Company of fabricators in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area revealed no fewer than 40 companies offering granite kitchen countertops - and that doesn't include the hundreds of kitchen and bath shops who also offer granite counters as re-sellers.

There are few standards when it comes to granite pricing. Advertising offers vary dramatically from company to company. Some fabricators quote the price of stone only (often only a small part of the overall cost of a granite countertop), while others include the price of cutting and polishing, but not installation or removal of your old countertop. Differences don't end there. Some companies that sell granite countertops -- including the big box retailers like Home Depot and Lowes -- don't do any of the work themselves. They use subcontractors. That leaves some customers wondering who's really doing the work. Warranties vary as well. Will those smaller granite fabricators be in business when the time comes for you to exercise your warranty?

We asked Brenda Rudolph, a sales manager with The Countertop Company, to help us put together this handy guide for shopping countertop companies. Start with these and you'll be on your way to comparing apples to apples and getting the best value possible:

This shouldn't be a big issue so long as you pay attention enough to make fair a price comparison. First, it should go without saying that a reputable fabricator should offer you a written contract that spells out what you're getting. But even during your shopping phase you should take care to note what's included in (or excluded from) each company's quote. For example, does the quote include removal of your existing countertop? What about the installation charge? Does the company offer name brand sinks and faucets? Who will do the plumbing hookup? Are all of the cut-outs (for sinks and stove tops) included in the price? Is the sealer included?

Double check that the additional items you may have added on to some quotes, are calculated into the costs of all estimates you've received. Add-on items may include decorative finishes for your countertop such as a backsplash or special edging (bull-nose and ogee edge, etc.).

"Granite is an exceptionally durable material under typical conditions of home use" says Mike Quattlebaum, General Manager of The Countertop Company. He says staining is "something seller's of synthetic products like to make an issue out of" but isn't a problem when it comes to the vast majority of granites whose density make staining unlikely. "For the rest," says Quattlebaum, "we've got an excellent system of applying stain protection that we offer." The company guarantees that it's product, called the K2 Sealant System, will permanently prevent food stains and backs up the promise with a limited warranty that's transferable (for a nominal fee) if you ever sell your home. Other fabricators provide what Quattlebaum calls "surface sealants" that are applied to the countertop and require re-application every year or so. Some may discolor the stone with a yellow or greenish hue if sunlight hits it.