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Fort Collins Kitchen Co

Kitchen Work

Countertop Replacement in Fort Collins

New quartz, granite, or solid surface on existing cabinets, usually finished within a month of template.

Swapping countertops is the smallest project on this list and often the one with the largest visible payoff. New tops with an undermount sink and a fresh faucet change the whole read of a kitchen for a fraction of a remodel. Typical Fort Collins countertop replacements run $3,800 to $12,000 depending on square footage, material, and edge profile, with quartz sitting in the middle of that band and exotic natural stone at the top. The sequence is fixed: measure, template, fabricate, install. Template happens on the finished cabinets, fabrication takes ten days to three weeks at the shop, and install is a single day with plumbing reconnected the same afternoon or the next morning.

What the scope covers

  • Included in scope Old tops removed and disposed of, cabinet tops leveled and shimmed where needed
  • Included in scope Digital template taken on site so seams and overhangs are agreed before cutting
  • Included in scope Quartz, granite, quartzite, solid surface, or butcher block, priced per slab group
  • Included in scope Undermount sink cutout, faucet and soap dispenser drilling, cooktop cutout
  • Included in scope Seam placement planned around the sink and cooktop rather than through them
  • Included in scope Backsplash removal and drywall repair where the old top had a coved splash
  • Included in scope Plumbing disconnect and reconnect, including disposal and dishwasher line

Setting your expectation before the quote arrives

The figures above describe what this scope costs around Fort Collins when the work is permitted and run by a licensed contractor. Work through the cost calculator to set a number in your own head first, and read the Fort Collins kitchen remodel guide for how the local build sequence and the permit process run.

Questions about countertops

Quartz or granite for a busy family kitchen?

Quartz is engineered stone bound in resin. It is non-porous, so it never needs sealing, and it resists staining from wine, oil, and citrus better than most natural stone. Its weakness is heat: a pan straight off the burner can scorch the resin. Granite is natural stone, handles heat far better, and needs sealing periodically depending on the slab. Both are hard enough to survive family use for decades. The honest answer is that quartz suits people who want zero maintenance and granite suits people who set hot pans down without thinking.

Why does the fabricator need to template after the cabinets go in?

Because walls are never straight and cabinet runs are never perfectly square. A template captures the real geometry of the room, including the bow in the wall behind the range, so the slab is cut to the space that exists rather than the space on the drawing. Templating off drawings is how you get a quarter-inch gap behind the counter that has to be hidden with caulk.

Can we avoid a seam?

Sometimes. Slabs are commonly around 120 to 130 inches long, so a run longer than that needs a seam, as does any L that exceeds a single slab. A good fabricator puts the seam where it is least visible and least stressed, usually at a sink or a corner, and books the pattern across it on natural stone. Ask to see the seam location marked on the layout before the slab is cut.

How long is the kitchen out of action?

One day for the swap, plus the gap between template and install. Practically that means the sink is out of service from the morning of demolition until the plumber reconnects, which is usually the same day for a straightforward job. The longer wait is the two to three weeks at the fabrication shop, and during that time the kitchen stays fully usable on the old tops.

From the Notebook

More reading on countertops

The Best Time of Year for a Fort Collins Kitchen Remodel

Snow, holiday timing, and contractor scheduling cycles all shape when to start a Northern Colorado kitchen remodel. Here is how the seasons really play out.

Why the Cabinet Order Sets Your Kitchen Start Date

Cabinet lead time, not crew availability, decides when a Fort Collins kitchen remodel can start, and how stock, semi-custom, and custom timelines compare.

What Dry Colorado Air Does to Your Kitchen Cabinets

Fort Collins winters run low on indoor humidity, and wood cabinetry moves with it. What to specify, seal, and acclimate to protect a Northern Colorado kitchen.

Other Scopes

Where else the budget could go

Most kitchens come down to one decision: change the surfaces, or change the room. Reading the neighbouring scope is usually what settles which one you are buying.

Full Kitchen Remodel

Everything out, everything new: cabinets, counters, appliances, floor, lighting, and the wiring behind them

Kitchen Cabinet Replacement

New boxes in the same footprint, the fastest way to change how a kitchen works without moving plumbing

Open Concept Kitchen Conversion

Taking out the wall between kitchen and living space, with the beam, the permit, and the inspection that go with it

Small and Galley Kitchen Remodel

Getting real storage and real counter space out of a compact kitchen, without pretending it is bigger than it is

Start your kitchen with a free quote

Call (970) 305-3265 or use the quote form. A local kitchen remodeler comes out, measures, and puts a price in writing.

Call (970) 305-3265 Get a free quote