Kitchen countertop installation

Choosing a countertop material

Quartz and granite are the most common choices for remodeled kitchens in this part of Westchester. Quartz is engineered stone with a consistent look and does not need sealing. Granite is natural stone, so each slab is different, and many fabricators recommend sealing it from time to time. Marble looks beautiful but etches and stains more easily. Butcher block and solid surface are less common as main counters but can work on an island or a baking station.

Fixr puts quartz countertops at about $2,600 to $4,400 for a typical kitchen. HomeAdvisor puts countertop replacement in general at about $1,850 to $4,450. A large kitchen with a long perimeter and a big island needs more stone, and an oversized island may need more than one slab.

Islands, seams and slab size

Stone slabs come in limited sizes, so a very long island or an L-shaped run often needs a seam. Ask the fabricator where seams will fall and look at the layout drawing before you approve it. Many homeowners prefer an island top with no seam at all, which can limit how big the island can be or which slab you can pick.

If you want a waterfall edge, where the stone wraps down the side of the island, expect more material and more fabrication work. Overhangs for seating need proper support, especially with deeper overhangs.

How the job usually goes

Counters are measured, or templated, after the cabinets are installed and fixed in place. The fabricator then cuts the slabs to the template, including cutouts for the sink and cooktop, and returns to install. There is often a gap of days or weeks between template and install, so plan around it. The plumber reconnects the sink and faucet after the counters are in.

If you are replacing counters on existing cabinets, ask how the old counters will be removed and whether the cabinets underneath are level and strong enough for stone. Removal and disposal are often priced separately.

• Ask where seams will be and how they will look
• Ask whether sink cutouts, edge profile and removal are included
• Pick your sink and faucet before templating
• Ask what care the material needs

Backsplash and finishing

The backsplash usually goes in after the counters. Some homeowners run the counter stone up the wall as a full-height backsplash behind the range, which looks clean but uses more material. Tile is the more common choice and gives you more room to play with color and pattern. Ask whether the backsplash is part of the counter price or a separate line.

Typical countertop costs

Published national ranges for a typical kitchen, not quotes.

Ranges are rounded national figures from the sources below and are not quotes. Larger kitchens, big islands, waterfall edges and premium slabs cost more.

Sources: HomeAdvisor, countertop replacement; Fixr, quartz countertops