Countertops for kitchens from Stoneham to Wellesley
Quartz and granite countertops for kitchens north and west of Boston
Step 1 of 6
What do you want done in your kitchen?
Pick the closest one.
Compare quartz, granite and soapstone before you visit a slab yard. Then tell us about your kitchen and we'll price new counters for free.
- Free estimates on every kitchen
- Quartz, granite and soapstone
- Counters with or without cabinets
New countertops on the cabinets you have, or on new ones
Most countertop jobs we see start the same way: the cabinets are sound, but the counters are chipped, stained or still laminate, and the wall behind the stove shows years of cooking. Quartz or granite is usually the first question.
We replace countertops to suit the kitchen you have. That can be counters alone, counters with a new tile backsplash, or the top of a new kitchen island installation. If the cabinets underneath are worn out too, the counters go on after new kitchen cabinet installation, because stone has to sit on boxes that are level and sound.
Older houses here
In pre-1978 houses, lead-safe rules apply once paid work disturbs more than 6 sq ft of painted surface in a room, which pulling an old backsplash can do. Outside-wall sinks in older houses also face hard winters. We talk through both at the estimate.
Quartz vs granite countertops: care, heat and look
Three stones and the laminate many of them replace, compared in plain terms. Each one suits a different household.
| Compared | Quartz | Granite | Soapstone | Laminate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Crushed stone bound with resin | Natural stone cut from a slab | Soft natural stone | Printed layer on particleboard |
| Needs sealing | No | Yes | No | No |
| Hot pan straight on it | Use a trivet | Tolerates heat well | Tolerates heat well | Use a trivet |
| Stains | Resists well | Resists when sealed | Darkens with oil, evens out with mineral oil | Resists surface spills |
| Scratches | Resists well | Resists well | Scratches, sands out | Scratches and chips |
| Look | Even colour and pattern | Each slab different | Matte charcoal that darkens over time | Wide range of prints |
| Undermount sink | Yes | Yes | Yes | Rarely |
General guidance on each material. Choose from real slabs and samples; colour and veining vary between batches and quarries.
What a countertop install includes
Your free estimate lists what is in the price, so you can set it beside any other number you get.
Ask what any countertop price includes: edges, cutouts, seams, removal and the backsplash change the number more than square footage alone.
In a countertop estimate
- Measuring the existing cabinets and walls
- Countertop material, edge profile and finish
- Cutouts for the sink and cooktop
- Seam locations planned with you
- Removal of the old countertops
- Setting and securing the new tops
- Sink mounting to the new counter
- Clean-up when the tops are in
Priced separately when needed
- New cabinets under the counters
- Tile backsplash
- New sink, faucet or fixtures
- Lead-safe work in pre-1978 houses
From choosing samples to counters you can cook on
Countertops are measured on the cabinets they will sit on, so the order matters.
Choose the material
Narrow it down between quartz, granite and soapstone, then pick a colour, edge and sink style.
Cabinets and sink ready
Cabinets must be in place and level, and the sink model chosen, before anyone measures.
Template and cut
The tops are measured on site, then cut to that template with the sink and cooktop openings.
Install day
Old tops come off, new tops go on, the sink is set and the seams are finished.
Where the countertop sits in the kitchen
The counter rests on the cabinets, carries the sink and meets the backsplash. Each layer has its own page.
Floor
The floor goes down before the cabinets in a full remodel. In older houses, it is worth knowing what is under the old floor first.
Cabinets
Stone needs level, sound boxes beneath it. New cabinets usually take 8 to 14 weeks to arrive, which sets the date for the counters.
Read about new kitchen cabinetsCountertop
Quartz, granite or soapstone, measured on the cabinets and cut for the sink and cooktop. This is the layer on this page.
Backsplash
Tile runs from the counter up the wall, so it goes in once the tops are set.
Read about tile backsplashesSink and faucet
An undermount sink is set to the stone. On an outside wall of an older house, we plan for cold winters.
Read about sinks and faucets
Questions about quartz and granite countertops
Straight answers on cost, care and timing.
What is cheaper, quartz or granite for countertops?
Neither is always cheaper. Both run from entry-level to premium slabs, so a plain granite can cost less than a designer quartz and the reverse. The edge profile, the number of cutouts and seams, and removing the old tops often move the price as much as the material. Your free estimate prices the material you pick for your kitchen.
What is the granite countertop cost per square foot?
We don't publish a per-square-foot figure, because the per-foot numbers we found in published local guides were not reliable enough to plan around. Square footage is only part of the price. Edges, cutouts, seams, backsplash and removal all add to it, so we price your counters as a whole.
What does countertop replacement cost in Massachusetts within a whole kitchen?
Published local guides put a Massachusetts kitchen refresh at about $25,000 to $45,000 and a mid-range kitchen at about $50,000 to $85,000. Counters are one line inside those totals. Older houses can hide problems behind walls, so leave room in the budget.
Is laminate vs granite cost worth comparing?
Yes, if you are deciding whether to upgrade. Laminate costs less up front, but it chips, scratches and rarely takes an undermount sink. Granite takes heat and suits an undermount sink but needs sealing. We can price both for the same kitchen so you see the difference.
Can new counters go on my old cabinets?
Often, if the cabinets are sound and level. Sagging or damaged boxes should be replaced first, because stone is heavy and unforgiving. We look at them during the estimate and tell you which way we would go.
How much deposit should I pay for countertops?
Massachusetts caps a home improvement deposit at one-third of the price, unless materials are special-ordered. Ask how the deposit is set before you sign.
Do lead rules apply to a countertop job?
They can. In houses built before 1978, lead-safe rules apply to paid work that disturbs more than 6 sq ft of painted surface in a room, which removing an old backsplash may do. We talk through the age of your house at the estimate.
Where we install countertops
We work from Stoneham across 25 towns north and west of Boston. See the full service area for every town.
Norfolk County
Not sure if your town is covered? Put it in the form and we'll tell you.
Request my free estimate
Tell us your town, what's on your counters now and what you'd like instead. Photos of the kitchen help.
- We read your request and the photos you send
- We price the countertops and any related work, free
- You choose the material, edge and sink before anything is ordered
Step 1 of 6
What do you want done in your kitchen?
Pick the closest one.