Countertop Replacement

New Tops on Cabinets That Still Have Years Left

A lot of Irvine kitchens do not need new cabinets. They need new counters, and sometimes a little more counter than they have now. Replacing only the tops is one of the most efficient ways to change a kitchen, as long as the cabinets underneath can carry it.

Checking the Boxes First

Before we quote stone, we look inside your cabinets. The questions are practical. Is the sink base swollen or delaminated from an old leak? Are the boxes level along the run, or does a level show the counter dropping toward one end? Are the face frames tight to the boxes? Many kitchens in Woodbridge, Northwood and the older parts of Turtle Rock still have original oak cabinets from the 1970s and 1980s, and those boxes are often sturdier than what replaced them in later remodels. A few shims and a new sink base can make them ready for another long run.

If the boxes are failing, we tell you, because a quartz top on a cabinet that is coming apart just means you replace the quartz along with the cabinets later.

Getting the Old Counters Off

Laminate comes off in an afternoon. Tile is a bigger job. Many tile counters from that era were set on a thick mortar bed over plywood, and the backsplash tile is tied into the same work. Taking it off almost always damages the wall behind it, so plan on a new backsplash as part of a tile counter replacement. We protect floors and cabinet faces, disconnect the sink and cooktop, and haul the debris away.

Choosing a Surface for How You Use the Kitchen

• Quartz is engineered, consistent, and does not need sealing. It resists stains well but does not like hot pans set straight on it, and some colors can change under strong direct sun over years.
• Granite handles heat well and hides wear. Most granite benefits from sealing, and the right interval depends on the stone, so we test it rather than guess.
• Quartzite is a natural stone that is harder than granite and looks closer to marble. It costs more to fabricate and should be sealed.
• Porcelain slab is thin, very resistant to heat and stains, and can go over some existing surfaces. Edges and cutouts need care in fabrication.
• Solid surface and butcher block are softer, repairable, and worth considering on an island top where seating and serving matter more than chopping.

Adding a Seating Overhang to an Existing Island

This is one of our most common requests. The island already exists, but nobody can sit at it. When we replace the top, we can extend it past the cabinets to create knee space. At a 36 inch counter height, plan on about 15 inches of overhang and about 24 inches of width per stool. Stone overhangs that deep need hidden steel supports or corbels, which we install before templating. We also check the aisle on the seating side, because extending the top 15 inches takes that much space out of the walkway behind the stools.

The Order of Work

Old tops come off and supports go in. The fabricator templates the cabinets, usually with a digital template, and cuts the slab. Installation follows, then the plumber reconnects the sink, faucet and dishwasher. If the sink is being changed from a drop-in to an undermount, that decision has to be made before templating. Most households are without a working sink for a few days between removal and install.

Call (949) 628-7652 and we will look at your cabinets before we talk about stone.