Countertops in Arlington Heights, IL
Templated, fabricated, and installed by our own crew — about 6-7 miles northwest of the shop via Arlington Heights Rd.
What Arlington Heights kitchens are working with
Countertop advice starts with the housing stock, so here is yours.
Median construction year is 1973 with the largest share built 1960-1979, layered over an older pre-war core near the downtown Metra station; detached single-family homes are 54% of units while apartments and condos are about 35%, reflecting substantial downtown multifamily growth. Median property value was $414,500 in 2024 — the highest of the twelve towns — and teardown/new-build activity pushes some sale prices well above $500K.
The market spans three distinct remodel profiles: pre-war bungalows and farmhouses near downtown with small closed kitchens, 1960s-70s ranches and split-levels due for full kitchen updates, and higher-end newer construction where owners upgrade builder-grade granite to premium quartz or quartzite. Higher home values support larger countertop budgets, waterfall islands, and full-height stone backsplashes.
The projects we see most in Arlington Heights
- Straight swap: measuring the existing footprint and replacing an aging laminate or early-granite top with quartz — the bread-and-butter job for Arlington Heights's housing stock.
- Open-up remodels: the countertop goes in after a wall or half-wall comes out. We template last, after the dust, so the new top fits the new room.
- Island and peninsula additions where the floor plan allows — we will tell you honestly if yours does not.
- Sink and faucet upgrades done in the same visit as the top, so there is one cutout, one seal, and one crew to call.
What countertops run in Arlington Heights
Same shop, same crew, same price in every town we serve — distance is not a line item.
| Kitchen size | Engineered Quartz | Granite | Quartzite | Marble |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galley kitchens (30–45 sqft) | $3,600–$6,750 | $4,200–$7,650 | $4,500–$8,550 | $5,100–$9,000 |
| Small kitchens (45–60 sqft) | $5,400–$9,000 | $6,300–$10,200 | $6,750–$11,400 | $7,650–$12,000 |
| Medium kitchens (60–75 sqft) | $7,200–$11,250 | $8,400–$12,750 | $9,000–$14,250 | $10,200–$15,000 |
| Large kitchens (75–90 sqft) | $9,000–$13,500 | $10,500–$15,300 | $11,250–$17,100 | $12,750–$18,000 |
| Extra large kitchens (90–120 sqft) | $10,800–$18,000 | $12,600–$20,400 | $13,500–$22,800 | $15,300–$24,000 |
Installed project ranges as of 2026-07 — template, fabrication and standard installation included. A free in-home template turns the range into a firm number.
Permits in Arlington Heights
The rule of thumb, and who actually decides.
Village and contractor sources indicate countertop replacement without moving plumbing typically does not require a permit, while remodels involving electrical, plumbing, or structural work do. Verify the specific scope with the Building & Life Safety Department at (847) 368-5560 — do not assume exemption for anything beyond a same-footprint top swap.
Either way, it is not your problem to untangle: when a job needs a permit, we say so in the quote, and the Village of Arlington Heights Building & Life Safety Department has the final word — not a contractor's website, including this one.
From our shop to Arlington Heights
About 6-7 miles northwest of the shop via Arlington Heights Rd; roughly 15-20 minutes.
- The Chicago Bears bought the 326-acre Arlington Park racetrack site in February 2023 for a proposed stadium district; the plan's status has shifted repeatedly and remains a running local story
- Home values here are the highest of the northwest-suburb cluster ($414,500 median in 2024)
- A walkable downtown surrounds the Arlington Heights Metra station on the UP-NW line, dense with 2000s-era condo buildings and restaurants
Close enough that template, delivery, and install are all the same crew — and close enough to come back fast if anything ever needs attention.
Questions homeowners ask us
Can I get new countertops without touching my cabinets, or will the swap wreck them?
Countertop-only replacement is one of the most routine jobs in remodeling, and sound cabinets survive it fine. The installer pries off the old tops, checks that the boxes are level and solid, shims where needed, and sets the new surface. The honest caveats: cabinets with swollen particleboard around the sink from years of small leaks may need repair first, old tile-over-mortar tops can be violent to remove, and you should expect some paint touch-up along the wall line where the old backsplash sat. A good fabricator flags all of this at the template visit, not on install day.
Can I install a tile backsplash myself?
Of the three projects, this is the most DIY-friendly: small area, no structural stakes, forgiving timeline. The skills that separate good from regrettable are layout planning around outlets and edges, straight cuts (rent a wet saw), consistent spacing, and clean grout work - and buy 10 to 15 percent extra tile for cuts and breakage. Professional labor runs roughly $5 to $20 per square foot if you decide midway that a flawless finish matters more than the savings.
Can I install my own backsplash, or should I hire a tile setter?
A straight running-bond or stacked ceramic backsplash is one of the most DIY-friendly tile jobs in a house - small format, no water exposure like a shower, and you save roughly $10-15 per square foot in labor. Hand it to a pro when the job involves glass tile (visible adhesive and cut edges), natural stone (sealing, blade chatter, breakage), herringbone or diagonal layouts (compounding alignment errors), large-format panels, or any slab product, which is fabricator work full stop. Whoever installs it, outlets are the tell: sloppy cuts around receptacles are the first thing a trained eye notices.
Can I keep my existing countertops if I replace the cabinets?
Usually not, and it is better to hear that early: granite and quartz tops rarely survive removal in reusable condition, because they are rigid, brittle, and adhered to the old boxes. Even when a slab comes off intact, new cabinets seldom match the old footprint within the tolerance stone requires. If the counters are the part you love, consider refacing or painting the existing cabinets instead of replacing the boxes.
Ready for a real number in Arlington Heights?
Free in-home template, honest quote, and the same crew from tape measure to install.
Ready for a real number?
Free in-home template and an honest quote — you keep your money until there's a countertop to trade it for.