White quartz countertop with subtle veining and an undermount sink
Residential service
Kitchen Countertop Replacement in Irvine, CA
Irvine Kitchen Remodeling Pros is Orange County's trusted expert in kitchen countertop replacement, specializing in engineered quartz fabrication, granite and quartzite slab installation, and marble custom cutting.
We offer solid surface, butcher block and porcelain slab surfaces. Fully licensed, insured and bonded, we handle everything from a single 30 square foot galley run to a bookmatched island with a mitered waterfall on both ends.
Request a FREE Quote!
Tell us about your kitchen and we will call you back with next steps.
Or call (949) 749-0771. Calls only, we do not receive text messages.
- Licensed, Insured & Bonded
- Itemized written estimates
- Irvine and south Orange County
Our team provides complete digital templating, edge profiling and undermount sink cutout work, delivering precision-fitted stone for Irvine homes and durable, seamless surfaces for both residential and commercial projects.
From placing a seam inside a slab's own veining so it disappears to finishing an undermount cutout edge by hand, our team handles every detail. Serving Irvine, Newport Beach and Laguna Niguel, we template and install in about two weeks and deliver reliable, professional, and beautiful results on every countertop project.
What Countertops Cost in Irvine
Countertops are priced by the square foot installed and by slab count, so three things set your figure: which material you choose, how much surface the layout carries, and how many slabs the fabricator has to buy to cover it. Call (949) 749-0771 and we will template the room and price it for free.
What moves you within that band:
| Factor | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Material | Laminate at the bottom, premium quartzite and marble at the top |
| Square footage | More area, but also more slabs, which is the real step change |
| Slab count | A 2 slab kitchen and a 3 slab kitchen differ by a whole slab, not by a few feet |
| Edge profile | A basic eased edge costs less than an ogee or a mitered laid-on edge |
| Cutouts | Sink, cooktop and faucet holes |
| Waterfall ends | Each end is additional material plus a mitered corner |
| Backsplash | 4 inch splash versus full-height slab |
| Demolition | Removing and disposing of the old surface |
We quote per kitchen after a measure, with the slab allowance broken out separately, so you can walk a yard, fall in love with something, and know immediately what it does to your number.
Every Material We Fabricate
Engineered quartz. Roughly 93 percent stone aggregate to 7 percent polyester resin. It is the most stain-resistant common household surface, needs no sealing ever, and comes in consistent patterns that make matching across slabs straightforward. Available in 6 mm, 1.2 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm and 4 cm thicknesses. It is the default choice in Irvine for good reason.
Granite. Natural dimension stone, the second most stain resistant surface after quartz. Modern oleophobic impregnating sealers have pushed resealing intervals out to roughly five to ten years rather than the annual routine people remember.
Quartzite. Natural stone with marble's visual drama and considerably more hardness. The current favorite for a statement island in high-end Orange County work.
Marble. The most beautiful surface available and the most demanding. It etches from acids and it will patina. Homeowners who want it should have it, with clear eyes.
Porcelain slab. Thin, large-format, UV-stable and heat-proof. What we specify for outdoor work and for anyone who puts hot pans directly on the counter.
Solid surface. Acrylic or polyester, typically 12 mm thick with a built-up edge for a heavier profile. Its advantage is that seams are welded and invisible, and scratches sand out. Sinks can be made from the same material and glued in flush.
High-pressure laminate. Post-formed or self-edged. The most economical countertop on the market and a completely legitimate choice on a rental, a secondary kitchen or a tight budget.
Butcher block and wood. Warm and repairable. It requires real maintenance and must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after contact with raw meat.
Concrete. Cast in place, precast, or gauged slabs. Takes integral color and a genuinely custom shape.
Stainless steel. The commercial answer. Heat-proof, sanitary, indestructible.
Glass. Tempered or textured, extremely heat resistant to around 700 degrees, and striking as a lit feature or bar surface. Recycled glass with a resin binder is a related option.
Tile. Ceramic or stone. Inexpensive and repairable, with grout lines as the trade-off.
Terrazzo, paper composite, phenolic and epoxy resin round out the list. Phenolic handles roughly 350°F and epoxy goes higher, which is why they show up in lab and specialty settings.
BeforeAfterNew slab, new room
Speckled granite and a busy backsplash swapped for a quiet marble-look slab that runs full height behind the range.
Drag across to compare the surfaces.
Request a Free EstimateQuartz Versus Granite, Straight
The two questions we get most.
| Engineered quartz | Granite | |
|---|---|---|
| Stain resistance | Most resistant of common surfaces | Second most resistant |
| Sealing | Never | Roughly every 5 to 10 years with a modern impregnator |
| Pattern | Consistent and predictable | Every slab is unique |
| Heat | Resin binder means use a trivet | Higher tolerance, still use a trivet |
| Matching slabs | Straightforward | Requires selecting from the same block |
| Outdoors | Only if specifically rated for exterior use | Long-standing outdoor choice |
Neither is the wrong answer. Quartz wins on maintenance and consistency. Granite wins on natural character and heat. Pick the one whose trade-offs you would rather live with.
Edges, Seams and Sink Cutouts
Edge profiles. Eased and rounded edges are the modern default. Ogee, bullnose and beveled profiles suit traditional kitchens. A mitered laid-on edge builds visual thickness from a thinner slab and costs more.
Seams. In a kitchen bigger than a single slab, there will be a seam. The craft is where you put it and how you book it into the pattern. A good fabricator hides a seam inside veining or behind a sink; a careless one puts it across an open span where you will look at it for twenty years.
Sink cutouts. Three approaches:
- Undermount. The sink hangs below the surface. The cut edge is exposed, so it must be carefully finished rather than left rough. Works on stone and solid surface.
- Self-rimming or drop-in. The rim sits on top of the counter. This is what laminate requires, since laminate cannot provide a finished cut edge.
- Integrated. On solid surface, a sink of the same material is glued in and sanded flush so the joint disappears entirely.
Thickness. Quartz comes in 6 mm through 4 cm. For a kitchen, 2 cm and 3 cm are the working choices, and 3 cm is standard on an island with an unsupported overhang.
Backsplash Options
A 4 inch splash of the same material is the economical, traditional finish. A full-height slab backsplash running counter to uppers eliminates grout entirely and reads as one continuous surface, which is where a lot of high-end kitchens spend their money. Tile remains the most versatile and the most affordable. Backsplashes exist to stop spills disappearing behind the cabinets, and every option does that; the rest is aesthetics.
See our kitchen backsplash installation page for the tile side of that decision.
How Replacement Runs
- Measure and estimate. In your kitchen, on your actual counters.
- Slab selection. We go to the yard with you and tag the specific slabs.
- Digital template. Laser-templated on your installed cabinets, never from a drawing.
- Fabrication. Cut, edged, cutouts made, polished.
- Demolition and install. Old surface out, new surface set, seams joined and color-matched.
- Plumbing reconnect. Sink, faucet, disposal.
- Backsplash. Where included.
Template to install is typically a few business days. The whole project runs about two weeks from selection.
Your counters have to be templated on installed cabinets, which is why on a full remodel the counter step lands after cabinets rather than before. On a counter-only project, your existing cabinets have to be sound and level.
Where We Install
Across Irvine in ZIP codes 92602, 92603, 92604, 92606, 92612, 92614, 92618 and 92620, throughout the Woodbridge, Northwood, University Park, Turtle Rock, Quail Hill, Walnut, El Camino Real and Portola Springs villages. Irvine's 2023 median household income was $129,647 across 119,215 housing units, which is a market that supports real material choice rather than only the entry tier.
Also Newport Beach, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Dana Point and Yorba Linda.
Services Related to Countertop Replacement
- Full kitchen remodel in Irvine
- Kitchen island installation
- Cabinet refacing, often paired with new counters
- Luxury kitchen remodeling
- Outdoor kitchen construction
- Back to Irvine kitchen remodeling
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do new countertops cost in Irvine?
It is priced by the square foot installed and by slab count, so material grade, the surface area of your layout, and how many slabs the fabricator has to buy all move the figure. We template the room and quote it free.
How long does it take for countertop replacement work?
About two weeks from slab selection to installation. Template to install is a few business days, and installation day itself is usually a single day.
Quartz or granite for countertop replacement work?
Quartz is the most stain-resistant surface and never needs sealing. Granite is second and needs resealing roughly every five to ten years with a modern impregnator. Quartz for consistency and low maintenance, granite for natural character.
Do I have to seal my counters?
Not with quartz. Natural stone yes, but modern oleophobic impregnating sealers stretch that to roughly every five to ten years.
Can I keep my existing sink?
Usually yes, if it is in good condition and the cutout dimensions work with the new material. We will tell you at template rather than on install day.
Will there be a visible seam?
In any kitchen larger than one slab, there is a seam. Good fabrication hides it inside the veining or behind the sink. We show you the planned seam location on the layout before we cut.
Can I put a hot pan on quartz?
Use a trivet. The polyester resin binder is the limiting factor. Glass, porcelain and stainless are the genuinely heat-tolerant surfaces, with glass rated to around 700 degrees.
Can you replace counters without replacing cabinets?
Yes, provided the existing cabinets are sound and level. We check that at measure.
Do you offer free estimates for countertop replacement work?
Yes. The in-home measure and written estimate are free with no obligation.
Are you licensed and insured for countertop replacement work?
Yes. California contractor license and general liability coverage. Certificates on request.
Get Your Free Countertop Estimate
Call (949) 749-0771 or request a visit. We will measure, walk you through the material trade-offs honestly, and take you to the yard to see actual slabs.
Licensed, Insured & Bonded. Calls only, we do not receive text messages.
Request a FREE Quote!
Tell us about your kitchen and we will call you back with next steps.
Or call (949) 749-0771. Calls only, we do not receive text messages.