Angela, 1980s and 1990s master-planned tracts, Chino Hills
Countertop Replacement
- Material
- grey-veined quartz
- Size
- 36 sq ft kitchen
- Est. investment
- $2,800 to $3,700
- Est. duration
- 1 to 2 days
Original 1992 tile counters with lifting edges
Countertop Replacement in Riverside, CA
Riverside Custom Countertops has become the Inland Empire's leading specialist in countertop replacement, specializing in tile counter tear-out, cabinet leveling, and new quartz and granite tops. We offer same-cabinet countertop swaps and full-height backsplash upgrades.
Replacing Old Counters With Riverside Custom Countertops
Our team provides careful demolition and haul-away, delivering updated kitchens for homes and fast turnovers for both residential and commercial projects. With 12 years in business and our 1-year workmanship warranty on seams, fit and sink mounting, we've completed over 1,870 projects, from a single bar top swap to apartment kitchen turnovers.
From prying up mortar-set tile without cracking a cabinet face to shimming every base level, our team handles every detail. Serving Riverside and neighboring Chino Hills, Corona and Yorba Linda, we take out the old counters and leave a new top on the cabinets you already own.
Book a free estimate, and we will check your cabinets before we quote a single slab.
What you can hold us to
The Shop Behind Every Top
12 yearsCutting and installing stone from our Riverside shop
1,870Kitchens, islands, bars and commercial tops completed
1-year1-year workmanship warranty on seams, fit and sink mounting
35 milesFrom Riverside to Yorba Linda, Villa Park and Chino Hills
A Tile-to-Quartz Replacement in Chino Hills
Investment and duration figures are estimates. Your written quote sets the final price and schedule.
Angela's kitchen sits in one of the 1980s and 1990s master-planned tracts of Chino Hills, and it still had its original 1992 tile counters with lifting edges. Angela's cabinets were sound, so we recommended tear-out to the cabinet frames and a plywood check before new 3cm quartz, rather than a new kitchen. We set grey-veined quartz across the 36 sq ft kitchen, an estimated $2,800 to $3,700 job that took an estimated 1 to 2 days on site. The result is a modern grey-veined quartz kitchen in Chino Hills, set on the original cabinets.
What Every Countertop Replacement Includes
- Slab thickness
- 3cm slabs set straight onto the cabinets as our standard; 2cm stone gets a plywood sub-top
- Templating
- Digital laser template at the site visit, before any slab is cut
- Seams
- Hairline seams under 1/16 in., color-matched epoxy, kept away from the sink cutout
- Edge profiles
- Eased edge included; half-bullnose, ogee and mitered drop edges priced per linear foot
- Sink mounting
- Undermount sinks mechanically mounted with clips and epoxy, not silicone alone
- Overhangs
- Up to 10 to 12 in. unsupported on 3cm stone; concealed steel supports beyond that
- Sealing
- Granite and quartzite sealed at install; quartz never needs sealing
- Lead time
- Typically 1 to 3 weeks from laser template to install day
- Crew
- 2 to 3 installers per kitchen, 3 to 4 for waterfall islands
- Payment terms
- Deposit no more than 10% or $1,000, whichever is less, then progress payments as the work is done
- Quartz price
- Engineered quartz typically runs $65 to $145 per sq ft installed, never needs sealing
- Granite price
- Granite typically runs $55 to $135 per sq ft installed, sealed every 1 to 2 years
- Quartzite price
- Natural quartzite typically runs $85 to $185 per sq ft installed
- Marble price
- Marble typically runs $80 to $195 per sq ft installed
- Solid surface price
- Solid surface typically runs $70 to $130 per sq ft installed
- Porcelain slab price
- Porcelain and sintered stone typically run $55 to $120 per sq ft installed
Countertop Replacement Jobs We Quote Most Often
Kitchen countertop replacement (30 to 45 sq ft)
- Est. investment
- $2,100 to $4,800 per kitchen
- Est. duration
- 1 to 2 days
Tear-out, laser template, new 3cm tops, undermount sink and eased edge
Kitchen island top
- Est. investment
- $1,600 to $3,400 per island top
- Est. duration
- 3 to 6 hours
Standard 40 x 80 inch island, overhang support checked
Waterfall edge drop
- Est. investment
- $800 to $1,800 added per waterfall side
- Est. duration
- 4 to 8 hours
Mitered vertical panel with the vein carried down the side
Full-height slab backsplash
- Est. investment
- $600 to $3,000 per backsplash
- Est. duration
- 1 to 2 days
Slab from countertop to the upper cabinets or hood
Outdoor kitchen granite tops
- Est. investment
- $1,400 to $2,800 per outdoor kitchen
- Est. duration
- 1 to 2 days
Granite rated for sun and heat on a block or steel BBQ island
Wet bar or home bar top
- Est. investment
- $750 to $2,400 per bar top
- Est. duration
- 3 to 5 hours
12 to 20 sq ft bar top with a bar sink cutout
Old countertop tear-out and haul-away
- Est. investment
- $150 to $500 per project
- Est. duration
- 2 to 5 hours
Added to a replacement job; old tops removed and recycled
Investment and duration figures are estimates. Your written quote sets the final price and schedule.
What Stays and What Goes in a Countertop Replacement
In most Riverside and Corona replacements the cabinets, the flooring and the appliances stay, and the old counters, the old sink and the 4-inch tile riser go. That is what keeps a replacement to an estimated 1 to 2 days on site instead of a full remodel.
The cabinets stay only if they are sound and can be made level; a box with water damage under the sink gets repaired or replaced first. The sink usually goes, because a drop-in sink from a tile or laminate counter rarely suits a new stone top, and an undermount bowl is what most owners pick. The faucet can stay if it is in good shape. The backsplash depends on the wall: a 4-inch stone riser covers the line the old tile leaves, while a full-height slab backsplash replaces the tile wall entirely.
One thing our installers do not do is reconnect plumbing. A plumber unhooks the drain and disposal before tear-out and hooks them back up after the new top is set, and we schedule around that visit so your sink is out of service as briefly as possible.
Cabinet Leveling Before the New Top Goes On
A stone top is only as flat as the cabinets under it, so every replacement starts with a level across every base. Older kitchens in the Wood Streets, Canyon Crest and Chino Hills tracts often have bases that have settled or were set out of level when the tile went on, and tile hid it.
We shim low cabinets with hardwood shims, screw loose boxes back to the wall and each other, and add concealed steel supports under any seating overhang past 10 to 12 in. Cabinet leveling, shimming and overhang supports are typically estimated at $150 to $500 on the written quote, priced up front rather than found on install day. On a 2cm slab we add a plywood sub-top over the cabinets; on 3cm stone the slab sits straight on the frames.
How a Countertop Replacement Works, Step by Step
A replacement typically runs 1 to 3 weeks from the laser template to install day, with an estimated 1 to 2 days of work in your kitchen. The steps are the same on almost every job:
- Site visit: we check the cabinets for level and soundness, then laser template over a laminate top, or after tear-out when tile sits on a thick mortar bed.
- Slab selection: you pick the slab and edge, and we lay out the seams so they land over cabinet partitions.
- Tear-out day: the old tops come off in an estimated 2 to 5 hours, with debris hauled away.
- Leveling: bases are shimmed, braced and checked again before stone goes on.
- Install: the new top, undermount sink and seams go in, typically within 1 to 2 days on site.
- Reconnect: your plumber hooks the sink back up, and granite or quartzite gets sealed at install.
Countertop Replacement Cost in Riverside
Countertop replacement in Riverside is estimated at roughly $2,100 to $4,800 for a standard 30 to 45 sq ft kitchen, and the new material, the old counter being removed and the state of the cabinets move the price most. Tile over a mortar bed is the hardest tear-out, typically estimated at $300 to $600, while removing a laminate top is typically estimated at $150 to $300.
| New surface | Est. installed price | Upkeep after replacement | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineered quartz | Est. $65 to $145 per sq ft | Never needs sealing | Busy kitchens on sound cabinets |
| Granite | Est. $55 to $135 per sq ft | Sealed every 1 to 2 years | Heat, outdoor runs, ranch kitchens |
| Natural quartzite | Est. $85 to $185 per sq ft | Sealed at install, then on a schedule | A natural look with high hardness |
| Solid surface | Est. $70 to $130 per sq ft | Never needs sealing, seamless sinks | Low-care kitchens and rentals |
Replacement figures here are estimates for Riverside and are subject to change. Your written quote after the cabinet check and laser template sets the final price and the install schedule, and it depends on the new surface, the old counter coming out and any leveling your cabinets need.
Countertop Replacement Mistakes to Avoid
The most expensive mistake is setting stone on cabinets that are out of level, because a 3cm slab will not bend to follow them and can crack across a sink cutout, a problem we see on settled bases in older Norco and Woodcrest ranch kitchens. The second is putting 2cm stone straight onto the frames without a sub-top, which leaves long spans unsupported.
Reusing a worn drop-in sink under a new stone top is the third: the rim sits on the stone and traps grime, which is why most replacements we do in Eastvale and Temescal Valley move to an undermount sink. And skipping the cabinet check under the sink hides water damage that the new top then sits on.
Why Replacement Customers Trust Our Shop
We check the cabinets before we sell you a slab, so the quote covers the leveling your kitchen really needs, the habit behind more than 1,870 projects. The same crew handles tear-out, leveling and install, and every replacement carries our 1-year workmanship warranty on seams, fit and sink mounting. Meet the team that runs our Riverside shop.
Replacement Countertop Materials
Most replacements go to quartz countertops that never need sealing or granite slabs for heat and outdoor runs, and owners after a softer look ask about marble countertop installation.
Countertop Replacement Service Areas
We replace counters across a 35-mile radius of our Riverside shop, including Chino Hills tract kitchens, Yorba Linda remodels and Villa Park estate kitchens. Corona, Norco, Eastvale, Woodcrest and Temescal Valley are on our service area page.
Related Countertop Services
A replacement is the right time to add a full-height slab backsplash, a new kitchen island countertop or a waterfall edge on the island you already have.
Countertop Replacement Questions From Riverside Homeowners
How much does countertop replacement cost in Riverside?
A standard Riverside kitchen is typically estimated at $2,100 to $4,800 including tear-out, and your written quote sets the final price after the cabinet check.
Can you replace countertops without replacing cabinets?
Yes, as long as the cabinets are sound and can be leveled, which is how Angela kept her original cabinets in Chino Hills.
How long will my kitchen be out of service?
Most replacements take an estimated 1 to 2 days on site, with tear-out typically taking 2 to 5 hours of that.
Do you remove and haul away the old counters?
Yes, tear-out and haul-away is typically estimated at $150 to $500, and the old tops are recycled.
Will my backsplash be damaged?
Tile set against the old counter often chips at the bottom row, so most owners add a 4-inch stone riser or a full-height slab backsplash.
Do you reconnect the sink and disposal?
No, a plumber handles the reconnect, and on every Villa Park and Yorba Linda job we schedule the install around that visit.
Can I keep my existing sink?
An undermount sink in good shape can stay, but a drop-in sink from a tile counter usually gets replaced with an undermount bowl.
What if my cabinets are not level?
We shim and brace them before the new top goes on, and leveling is typically estimated at $150 to $500 on the written quote.
Book Your Countertop Replacement Estimate
Contact us, and we will check your cabinets, laser template the kitchen and give you a free written, itemized quote for the replacement.
Stone, Edges and Finishes
Start to finish
From Laser Template to Finished Counters
Site visit and laser template
We check the cabinets for level and take a digital laser template before any slab is cut.
Slab and seam layout
You pick the slab and approve where every seam and vein will fall.
Shop fabrication
The stone is cut wet, edged and polished in our Riverside shop, cutouts included.
Install day
A crew of 2 to 3 installers sets the tops, mounts the sink and walks the job with you.
Where we work
Where We Install It
Free estimate
Ready to Talk About Countertop Replacement?
Call us or send the form, and we will book a site visit and a laser template.
Calls only, we do not receive text messages.