Countertop remnants are pieces of countertop material that are too small to be used for full countertops but still high-quality enough to be used for other projects. These pieces of material come from the pieces of a countertop that are cut off of the main material to accommodate a particular size of countertop, or to accommodate fixtures such as sinks. Countertop remnants can be made from any variety of material that is used in the fabrication of countertops; various types of wood and stone are popular choices, as are certain metals and composite materials.
A builder may choose to buy countertop remnants to use the pieces for other projects. This helps save the builder money, as he or she will not need to buy full sheets of material that will then need to be cut into smaller parts. Granite or marble countertop remnants can be used to create fireplace surrounds, vanity countertops, or even entryway flooring. Whatever projects require a small amount of material may benefit from remnants from countertop projects. The downside to remnants is the availability of consistent materials: since remnants often come from various pieces of countertops, the color, tone, or grain of the materials can vary. A builder may not be able to get the right quantity of a consistent material for the project he or she wants to complete.
Another advantage to countertop remnants is the state in which the materials are already preserved. Stone such as marble or granite is likely to already be buffed, polished, or otherwise finished; various woods may be stained or treated, since the remnants were pieces from an installed countertop that was also already finished. This means the builder will need to do less finishing work to make the pieces presentable for use. This can, of course, be a disadvantage as well, since the builder will need to be more careful with the materials during the installation process.
It is possible to buy countertop remnants from various places, most often from countertop installers, lumberyards, quarries, or other suppliers of building materials. When a countertop installer completes a project, he or she may choose to discard the countertop remnants or transport them to a storage area where they can be sorted and presented for purchase. In some cases it is possible to order remnants online from various suppliers, but it is important to keep in mind that shipping charges will apply.