Out-of-level base cabinets
In older Evanston kitchens we level the base cabinets before templating so the new stone sits flat.
Serving Evanston & nearby Skokie, Glenview
Countertop Installation in Evanston, IL
New countertops in Evanston: talk to a fabricator about slabs, templating and install dates.
- Serving Evanston ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Countertop problems we fix in Evanston
New countertops change a Evanston kitchen in a day once the slab is cut. We help you choose the material, template the cabinets on site, fabricate the tops with your sink and cooktop cut-outs and install them with tight seams.
Getting slabs into the building
In condo buildings we plan elevator size, stairways and loading docks before fabrication and cut the tops to fit.
Seams that show or separate
Visible seams come from bad layout or templating. We plan seam locations and use color-matched epoxy.
Stained or burned laminate
Burn marks, peeling edges and swollen seams can't be fixed on laminate. A stone or quartz top solves it for good.
Tile counters with dirty grout
Tile counters trap crumbs and stains in the grout. A single slab surface wipes clean in seconds.
Counters that stain easily
Unsealed granite and marble absorb oil and wine. Quartz never needs sealing; natural stone needs regular sealing.
Speckled builder granite
Busy speckled granite from the 2000s dates the kitchen. A calm quartz or a veined slab refreshes the look without new cabinets.
Undermount sink coming loose
If the sink is dropping away from the stone, we remount it correctly with the new counters and reseal the edge.
What's included
- Old countertop removalCareful tear-out of the old tops and disposal, protecting cabinets and walls.
- Cabinet check and levelingBase cabinets are checked for level and support before the template.
- Digital templatingPrecise templates of the installed cabinets, walls and appliances.
- FabricationCutting, edge profile, sink and cooktop cut-outs and faucet holes.
- Installation and seamsTops set, seams joined with color-matched epoxy, and edges cleaned.
- Undermount sink mountingWe mount and seal the sink to the stone so it is ready for plumbing.
- Bathroom vanity topsMatching stone for bathroom vanities.
Options to choose from
Butcher blockWood tops add warmth and can be refinished; keep them oiled.
Solid surfaceSeamless acrylic surfaces with integrated sinks; scratches can be sanded out.
QuartzEngineered stone: consistent color, no sealing, very stain resistant. Use trivets for hot pans.
Edge profilesMost kitchens get an eased edge; a mitered edge makes thick-looking islands.
LaminateBudget-friendly tops in stone and wood looks.
Kitchens like yours in Evanston: before and after
Before
In progress
After
DetailAn Evanston prewar foursquare: before and after
A prewar foursquare in Evanston, a typical kitchen for Evanston. Before: white laminate with a wood edge and white porcelain sink. The main complaint was laminate that had seen better days. After: black honed granite countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet. The job covered old countertop removal, cabinet check and leveling, plus fabrication.
Before
AfterCountertop Installation in a postwar Cape Cod, Skokie
A postwar Cape Cod in Skokie, a typical kitchen for Skokie. What we started with: laminate with an aluminum edge band and stainless double sink. The main complaint was laminate that had seen better days. Finished kitchen: black honed granite countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet. On site this meant old countertop removal, undermount sink mounting, plus bathroom vanity tops.
Countertop Installation in Skokie →
Before
AfterA Glenview postwar bi-level: before and after
This one is a postwar bi-level near The Grove. The kitchen as it was: light beige laminate and stainless double sink. What bothered the owners most: laminate that had seen better days. After: black honed granite countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet. The job covered digital templating, fabrication, plus undermount sink mounting.
Countertop Installation in Glenview →
Before
AfterEvanston kitchen, 1920s bungalow: kitchen backsplash installation
Finished: a gray beveled subway tile backsplash with clean edges and outlets set flush.
Kitchen Backsplash Installation in Evanston →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a prewar brick bungalow in Evanston
Finished: soft sage-green inset-style cabinets with unlacquered brass hardware, honed white marble-look quartz counters, a white handmade-look square tile backsplash, restored oak strip floor and schoolhouse pendant lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Evanston →How the job goes
- Choose your materialVisit a slab yard or look at samples at home; we help you choose.
- TemplateA precise template of your cabinets, walls, sink and cooktop.
- FabricationSlabs are cut, edged and drilled for sink, faucet and cooktop.
- InstallationOld tops out, new tops in, seams joined and sink mounted — usually in a day.
- HookupPlumbing goes back on after the sink adhesive sets.
Countertop Installation questions from Evanston homeowners
My kitchen walls aren't straight. Is that a problem?
No. Templating captures the real wall lines, and we scribe the stone so gaps against the wall stay small.
Can you install in a high-rise?
Yes — elevator dimensions and loading dock rules are checked before fabrication.
Can I put hot pans or a toaster on quartz?
Small appliances are fine; very hot cookware is not. Use a trivet to protect quartz.
Do you install laminate and solid surface too?
Yes. Modern laminate can look like stone or wood, and solid surface gives seamless, repairable tops.
What does countertop installation include?
Template, fabrication, removal of the old tops, installation, seams, sink mounting and cleanup. Plumbing reconnection is usually a separate step.
Do I need a Evanston-registered contractor for countertop installation?
All contractors working in city limits must register with the City; annual fee General Contractor $150, Trade Contractor $125. We take care of that before work starts.
Can you do countertop installation in an Evanston condo?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Does countertop installation need a Evanston building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Community Development Department, Building & Development Services (Building & Inspection Services), phone (847) 448-4311. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
What happens to the old appliance in Evanston?
Appliances and tires are not collected in regular bulk pickup; call 311 or 847-448-4311 to arrange free removal. If you'd rather not deal with it, we haul old units and debris away.
Do I need a permit for countertop installation in Evanston?
It depends on the scope. Evanston's rule in short: Residential permit applications go through the Citizen Portal; City worksheets signed by the contractors are required for any electrical, plumbing or HVAC work. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department, Building & Development Services (Building & Inspection Services).
Do you work in my part of Evanston?
Yes. Our crews work across Evanston — ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208 — and nearby Skokie, Glenview, Park Ridge.
Working in Evanston
- Most Evanston homes are prewar. We work around plaster walls, radiators and out-of-square rooms every week.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
ZIP 60201ZIP 60202ZIP 60208
Countertop Installation nearby
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Other kitchen services in Evanston
Countertop RepairChips, cracks, seams and burns fixed without replacing the top.
Kitchen Backsplash InstallationTile backsplashes with clean lines and flush outlets.
Kitchen Sink Installation & ReplacementNew sinks, undermount and farmhouse styles.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.