Frequently Asked Questions

It depends mostly on material and square footage. HomeGuide's figures run $50 to $200 per square foot installed for quartz, with granite most often at $80 to $150, and Fixr puts a typical kitchen countertop job at $1,400 to $5,250 nationally. Edge profiles, cutouts, removal of the old top and backsplash add to that. Los Angeles-area prices can run above national averages, and the figure on your signed quote is what you pay.

Usually it means engineered stone, most often called quartz: crushed natural stone bound with resin and pigment, then pressed into slabs. Solid surface (such as Corian) and laminate are also manufactured. Natural stone like granite, quartzite and marble is cut from quarried blocks instead.

Setting the stone in most kitchens fills a single working day. The full process, from measuring to install, typically takes one to two weeks, depending on slab availability, whether cabinets are new, and how soon the sink and cooktop are on site for templating.

As of our latest check, yes, though fabrication is tightly regulated. Cal/OSHA's silica standard (Section 5204, permanent since February 2025) requires wet methods for high-exposure work on engineered stone, and SB 20 adds certified fabrication shops from July 2027. In May 2026 the state Standards Board granted a petition seeking a ban on fabricating engineered stone and asked Cal/OSHA to draft an emergency standard, so availability may change. We will tell you the current status at your estimate.

Swapping a counter on existing cabinets, without moving plumbing or electrical, often does not need a permit, but moving a sink, adding a circuit or relocating a gas line usually does. Rules change, so check with the City of Pasadena's Permit Center for your project. In landmark districts, interior alterations are exempt from historic design review unless the interior itself is designated.

Quartz is the easiest: it is non-porous, so mineral spots wipe off with a damp cloth and a mild cleaner. Honed or lighter granite also hides spots well. Polished marble and dark polished stone show water rings most, and acidic hard-water cleaners can etch marble.

Often, if the boxes are sound, fastened to the wall and can be leveled. We check for rot, loose face frames and sagging bottoms at the estimate. If a cabinet cannot carry stone, we will say so before you buy a slab.

Nationally, HomeGuide and Angi list installed quartz between $50 and $200 per square foot, with most projects around $70 to $100 and an average kitchen at $1,500 to $8,000. Los Angeles-area labor often runs higher. Once we have measured, you get a firm number on paper.

No. The resin makes quartz non-porous, so there is nothing to seal. Clean it with a soft cloth, warm water and mild soap, and avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive pads.

It is best not to. Direct heat from a pan can scorch or discolor the resin. Use trivets or hot pads, especially near the range.

Not as of our latest check. Fabrication is regulated, with wet-method rules in force and shop certification starting July 2027, and in May 2026 the state Standards Board granted a petition seeking a fabrication ban and asked Cal/OSHA to draft an emergency standard. We confirm the current status and product availability at your estimate.

Spots can appear, mostly on dark solid colors, but they sit on the surface and wipe off. Speckled and veined patterns hide them best.

National figures from HomeGuide run about $80 to $150 per square foot installed for typical granite, from $50 for basic colors to $250 for exotic stone, and Angi puts most projects at $2,000 to $4,000. Local labor and slab choice move the total; the signed quote is what you pay.

Stones differ a lot here. Dense, dark granites may go years without it, while lighter, more porous ones benefit from sealing every year or two. Put a little water on it; if the stone darkens, reseal.

Each wins in different kitchens. Granite copes with hot pans better and no two slabs match; quartz needs no sealing and has a more consistent look. Your cooking habits and taste decide it.

Most can, provided they are solid, sit level and are screwed to studs. We inspect them at the estimate and point out anything that needs reinforcing first.

Fixr puts a typical kitchen countertop job at $1,400 to $5,250 nationally, averaging about $3,000 for a 35 square foot quartz kitchen. Material, removal, edges and plumbing change the total, and Los Angeles-area prices tend to run higher. Our signed quote is what you actually pay.

Usually, as long as the boxes are solid, level and screwed to the wall. We inspect them first and reinforce or shim as needed before templating.

Plan on about one to two weeks from removal to install if old tops come off before templating, with the installation itself taking one day. Some jobs template over the old top to shorten that gap.

Often you can keep it. Top-mount sinks usually go back in, but undermount sinks need to be compatible with the new cutout. If you are changing sinks, have the new one on site before templating.

HomeGuide puts a 20 by 36 inch marble vanity top at $200 to $750 installed, and HomeAdvisor lists quartz material at $50 to $200 per square foot. Size, sink type and edge choice change the price.

Yes, if the cabinet is in good shape and level. We measure it, check how it is fastened and cut the top to fit.

It can be. Marble etches from acidic products and shows hard water, but a honed finish and quick wiping make it manageable, and the small surface area keeps the cost reasonable.

In many cases, yes: offcuts from bigger kitchen slabs suit single vanities when size and color line up. Ask about remnants at the estimate.

No. Quartzite is a natural stone cut from quarried rock, while quartz countertops are engineered from crushed stone and resin. You seal quartzite now and then; engineered quartz never needs it.

It etches easily from acids such as lemon juice and vinegar, and it can stain if not sealed. A honed finish hides etching better than polished.

HomeGuide lists quartzite at $65 to $150 per square foot installed, or about $1,950 to $6,000 for an average kitchen. Rare colors cost more. The number on your signed quote is the one that counts.

True quartzite scratches glass and resists a knife blade. Softer stones sold as quartzite will scratch. We help check samples before you buy.

Only quartz rated for exterior use. Standard indoor quartz can fade and weaken in UV light, as manufacturers note. Granite, porcelain and outdoor-rated quartz are safer picks for full sun.

Granite gets picked most because sun does not fade it and heat does not hurt it. Lighter colors stay cooler in summer sun. Porcelain and concrete also work well.

HomeGuide's outdoor kitchen guide gives granite at $80 to $150 per square foot and concrete at $50 to $150; Lawn Love gives lower granite figures of $65 to $75. Island size and cutouts drive the total.

Granite and concrete should be sealed, and outdoors that may need repeating more often than indoors. Porcelain and outdoor-rated quartz do not need sealing.