Countertop installation

Choosing a countertop material

New counters can change the look of a kitchen without touching the cabinets. Quartz is an engineered stone that resists stains and does not need sealing. Granite is natural stone with more variation, and it should be sealed from time to time. Laminate costs the least and comes in many patterns. Butcher block is warm and easy to repair, though it needs oiling and care around the sink.

In a small kitchen, a lighter counter can make the room feel brighter, and a single slab with no seams looks cleaner on a short run. Ask the fabricator where the seams will fall before you approve the layout.

• Quartz: low maintenance, consistent color
• Granite: natural pattern, needs periodic sealing
• Laminate: lowest cost, many patterns
• Butcher block: warm look, needs regular oiling

How the process works

Stone counters are made to measure. After the cabinets are set and level, the fabricator makes a template of the counter runs, including the sink, cooktop and any overhangs. The slabs are cut and finished in the shop, then installed, often a week or more later. During that gap you may not have a working sink, so plan ahead.

If you are keeping your cabinets, the installer will check that they can carry the weight of stone and are level. Old cabinets sometimes need a little reinforcement first.

What affects the cost

HomeAdvisor puts typical countertop replacement at about $1,850 to $4,450 nationally, with an average near $3,100. Fixr puts quartz at about $2,600 to $4,400. The total depends on the square footage, the material, the edge profile, the number of cutouts and whether the old counters need removal. Westchester labor rates tend to push prices toward the higher end.

Backsplash tile is a separate item. Many homeowners replace it at the same time, since the old tile rarely lines up with the new counter height.

Edges, overhangs and seating

The edge profile is a small detail that affects both cost and comfort. A simple eased edge is the most common and the easiest to keep clean, while ogee and bullnose edges cost more. If you want seating at a peninsula or island, plan an overhang deep enough for knees, and ask whether it needs brackets or extra support underneath. In a compact Pleasantville kitchen, even a short overhang at the end of a counter can create a spot for morning coffee.

Think about the sink as well. An undermount sink pairs well with stone and makes wiping crumbs into the basin easy, while a drop-in sink is common with laminate.

Before the installer arrives

Clear the counters and the cabinets below them. Ask who disconnects and reconnects the sink, faucet and cooktop, since that may involve a plumber or electrician. Get the material, color, edge and seam plan in writing.

Typical countertop costs

Published national ranges. Not quotes.

Ranges are national figures from the sources below, rounded, and are not quotes. Westchester prices often run higher. Your price depends on size, material, edges, cutouts and removal of old counters.

Sources: HomeAdvisor, countertops; Fixr, quartz countertops