Older stone that needs care, not replacement
Original stone in a prewar kitchen can usually be restored rather than replaced. We take out wear and etching and reseal it.
Stone Countertop Restoration →Serving Evanston & nearby Skokie, Glenview
Countertop Services in Evanston, IL
Chipped, stained, dull or just dated? We repair, refinish, restore or replace kitchen countertops in Evanston.
- Crews working in Evanston ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Countertop problems we fix in Evanston
Countertop work covers more than new slabs. Our Evanston crews repair damage, refinish tired laminate, bring etched marble and granite back to a shine and template and install replacement counters. Pick the problem below and we'll point you to the fix.
Peeling or worn laminate
If the laminate is flat and dry underneath but looks tired, a refinishing coat in a stone look is a quick update.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing →Burn mark or scorch on quartz
Scorch rings on quartz come from the binder, not the stone. We assess how deep the damage goes and polish or patch the area.
Countertop Repair →Loose undermount sink
Gaps between an undermount sink and the counter mean the adhesive or clips have failed. Remounting is a repair visit, not a reason for new stone.
Countertop Repair →Oil or water stains in stone
Stains that sit under the surface of granite or marble need to be pulled out, not scrubbed. We treat them and seal the stone afterward.
Stone Countertop Restoration →Dull, etched marble
Those cloudy rings on marble are etching, a surface the acid has eaten away. We hone and repolish the top, then seal it.
Stone Countertop Restoration →Crack across the stone
Cracks start where the stone is thinnest or poorly supported. We repair the line and fix the support, or tell you when the piece needs replacing.
Countertop Repair →Dated cultured marble or tile counters
Resurfacing covers dated cultured marble, and on tile counters it hides grout lines under a continuous coating.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing →What's included
- Diagnosis on siteA visit to see whether the counter needs repair, a new finish, restoration or replacement.
- Chip and crack repairDamaged spots filled, leveled and buffed to blend with the stone.
- Honing and polishingEtch marks and dull areas on marble and granite taken out with diamond pads.
- Stain removal and sealingOil and water stains drawn out, then a penetrating sealer applied.
- Laminate and cultured marble refinishingSurface prepped, repaired and coated in a new solid or stone-look finish.
- Sink remountingWe lift, reattach and seal sinks that have pulled away from the stone.
- New countertop installationTemplating, fabrication, tear-out and installation of new tops.
Materials and finishes
GraniteHard natural stone that takes heat well; it needs resealing over time and can be repolished.
MarbleA classic surface that develops patina and can be refinished many times.
QuartzEngineered stone that never needs sealing; chips and scorch marks can often be repaired.
Repair, refinish, restore or replaceRepair fixes damage, refinishing changes the surface, restoration renews stone, replacement changes everything.
Cultured marble and solid surfaceCast and acrylic surfaces that can often be sanded, patched or recoated.
What the work looks like in Evanston homes
Before
In progress
AfterEvanston kitchen, brick bungalow from the 1920s: countertop services
This one is a brick bungalow from the 1920s in Evanston. What we started with: dark brown speckled laminate. The main complaint was worn laminate counters. Finished kitchen: light marble-look quartz countertops installed on the existing cabinets.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar bi-level in Skokie
A postwar bi-level in Skokie, a typical kitchen for Skokie. The kitchen as it was: laminate with an aluminum edge band. What bothered the owners most: worn laminate counters. The result: black honed granite countertops installed on the existing cabinets.
Countertop Services in Skokie →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1950s ranch in Glenview
A 1950s ranch near The Park, a typical kitchen for Glenview. What we started with: light beige laminate. What bothered the owners most: worn laminate counters. Finished kitchen: charcoal concrete-look quartz countertops installed on the existing cabinets.
Countertop Services in Glenview →
Before
AfterEvanston kitchen, prewar foursquare: kitchen remodeling
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 →
Before
AfterAn Evanston prewar brick bungalow: before and after
The same doors sprayed in soft white, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Evanston →Day by day
- Send photos or callShow us the chip, stain, crack or the whole counter and tell us what bothers you.
- Look on siteA visit to measure, test the stone and confirm which fix fits.
- Written estimateA clear written quote for the option you pick, with what is included.
- We do the workThe work is scheduled, done with the area protected and the kitchen cleaned up afterward.
Countertop Services questions from Evanston homeowners
Can old marble in a prewar kitchen be saved?
Most vintage marble can be restored unless it is cracked through. We check it on site.
Do you repair counters you didn't install?
Yes. Most of our repair and restoration work is on counters installed by someone else.
What is the difference between an etch and a stain?
An etch is a dull spot where acid damaged the stone surface; a stain is a darker spot where something soaked in. Etches are polished out, stains are drawn out.
Can a chipped granite or quartz countertop be fixed?
Usually, yes — the chip is filled, leveled and polished, and on busy patterns it is very hard to spot.
What is the most affordable way to update kitchen counters?
A repair or a refinish usually costs far less than replacement, as long as the counter underneath is sound.
Evanston contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
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.
Do Evanston condo associations need to approve countertop project?
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.
Do I need a permit for countertop project 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 Services nearby
Other kitchen services in Evanston
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.
Kitchen Backsplash InstallationTile backsplashes with clean lines and flush outlets.