Countertop Installation in San Diego
Quartz, granite, quartzite, marble and porcelain countertops, templated to your cabinets and installed with matched backsplashes and undermount sinks. One written price that covers the slab, the fabrication and the plumbing reconnect.
- Licensed CSLB #1004363
- Fixed written pricing
- Owner-led since 2014
- Workmanship warranty
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CSLB #1004363
50+ Google reviews
Across San Diego County
Owner-led, fixed-bid
Countertops are the surface you touch a hundred times a day and the first thing a buyer notices, and they are also the part of a kitchen or bath where a bad template or a poorly placed seam is impossible to hide. We have specified, templated and installed countertops across San Diego County since 2014 as part of full kitchen and bathroom remodels and as standalone replacements, from quartz waterfall islands in Carmel Valley to honed quartzite in La Jolla and durable granite in family kitchens in Poway and Chula Vista. As a licensed general contractor (CSLB #1004363) owned by Dave Romero, we handle the slab selection, the fabrication through our stone partners, the plumbing disconnect and reconnect and the backsplash, all under one fixed written bid.
Countertop Materials We Install
- Quartz (engineered stone): the most requested surface in San Diego. Non-porous, no sealing, consistent colour, marble-look veining without marble’s maintenance. Brands and colours chosen from full slabs, not a 4-inch sample.
- Granite: natural stone, heat and scratch resistant, every slab unique; sealed at install and re-sealed every year or two.
- Quartzite: natural stone harder than granite with the look of marble; the choice for a showpiece island when marble’s etching is a concern.
- Marble: classic Carrara and Calacatta for baths and baking stations; we explain the etching and staining honestly before you commit to it in a kitchen.
- Porcelain and sintered stone: ultra-thin, heat-proof, UV-stable, good for outdoor kitchens in Encinitas and Rancho Santa Fe and for full-height slab backsplashes.
- Butcher block and solid surface: warm wood for islands and bars, seamless solid surface for laundry and utility rooms.
Every installation is coordinated with the cabinets underneath: if you are also getting custom cabinets or a custom vanity, we template after the boxes are set and levelled so the top sits perfectly.
Details That Make or Break a Countertop
- Thickness: 3cm (1-1/4 inch) slabs for kitchens, 2cm with a built-up edge where a lighter profile suits the design.
- Edge profiles: eased, pencil, bevel, bullnose, ogee or mitred waterfall edges that run the pattern down the side of the island.
- Seams: planned on the drawing, placed away from the sink cutout and colour-matched; on a long run we tell you in advance where the seam will be.
- Sinks and cutouts: undermount, farmhouse and integrated sinks, cooktop cutouts, faucet and soap-dispenser holes drilled to your fixtures.
- Backsplashes: 4-inch matched stone, full-height slab or tile, laid out so the veining continues from counter to wall.
- Overhangs and supports: seating overhangs of 12 inches or more get hidden steel brackets so the stone never cantilevers unsupported.
What Countertops Cost in San Diego
Typical 2026 San Diego ranges, installed. A written bid follows a template of your actual layout.
| Scope | Typical San Diego range (2026) | What moves the number |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level quartz | $65 to $80 per sq ft | Solid colours, little veining, standard edge |
| Mid-range quartz | $80 to $105 per sq ft | Marble-look veining, more slab choices |
| Premium and designer quartz | $105 to $140 per sq ft | Dramatic veining, large-format slabs, waterfall edges |
| Granite | $40 to $140 per sq ft | Slab grade and rarity, edge profile |
| Typical San Diego kitchen, 30 to 50 sq ft of quartz | $3,800 to $9,000 | Square footage, cutouts, backsplash, sink |
Ranges cover slab, fabrication and installation. Sink, faucet, plumbing reconnect, backsplash tile and cabinet work are itemized separately in the same bid.
Square footage, the number of cutouts, edge profile, a waterfall side and whether the backsplash is stone or tile are what move the number. See our San Diego remodeling cost guide for full-kitchen ranges. Financing is available on qualifying projects.
Timeline and Process
- Consultation and slab selection: we measure, talk through the look and take you to view full slabs, then give you a fixed written bid.
- Template: once cabinets are set and level, the fabricator makes a digital template of the exact layout, sink and cooktop positions and seam plan.
- Fabrication: usually 1 to 2 weeks after template, longer for exotic quartzite or full-height slab backsplashes.
- Installation: usually one day. Tops set and seamed, sink mounted, then plumbing reconnected by our team the same or next day.
For a countertop-only replacement, plan on 2 to 3 weeks from bid to a finished kitchen, with one day without a sink. Inside a full remodel the countertop is templated after cabinets and before the backsplash and glass.
Why Use a General Contractor for Countertops
A countertop replacement touches more than the stone. Old tops come off, cabinets sometimes need shimming, the sink and faucet change, the disposal and dishwasher get disconnected and reconnected, and the backsplash usually follows. A fabricator alone leaves you to arrange the plumber and the tile setter; we do it under one bid and one workmanship warranty, and we already know the cabinets because in many projects we built them. In older San Diego homes in Point Loma, La Mesa and Kensington, where the walls and cabinet runs are rarely square, that coordination is what keeps the reveal even and the seams tight.
The difference is in the contract
| What matters | San Diego Custom Remodeling | Typical contractor |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed written bid before any work starts | Always | Often vague or hourly |
| One accountable team, never subcontracted out | Yes | Frequently subbed |
| Licensed, bonded & insured (CSLB #1004363) | Yes | Not always |
| Permits pulled and inspections coordinated | Every job | Sometimes skipped |
| Written workmanship warranty | Yes | Rarely |
Project gallery
One written price. No surprise change orders.
After we walk your space, you get a single itemized bid for the agreed scope. If it is not in the contract, you do not pay for it. Every project is backed by a written workmanship warranty and the work of a licensed, bonded, and insured San Diego team.
Frequently asked questions
How much do quartz countertops cost in San Diego?
Installed quartz in San Diego runs about $65 to $80 per square foot for entry-level colours, $80 to $105 for mid-range marble-look slabs and $105 to $140 for premium designer quartz. A typical kitchen with 30 to 50 square feet lands between $3,800 and $9,000 before sink, plumbing and backsplash, which we itemize in the same written bid.
Quartz or granite: which is better?
Quartz is non-porous, never needs sealing and comes in consistent colours, which is why it is the most requested surface in San Diego. Granite is natural, heat resistant and unique slab to slab, but needs sealing every year or two. Both install in similar price ranges; the choice comes down to look and maintenance.
How long does countertop installation take?
Fabrication usually takes 1 to 2 weeks after the template, and installation is typically one day with the plumbing reconnected the same or next day. A countertop-only replacement is about 2 to 3 weeks from signed bid to finished kitchen.
Do you replace countertops without replacing the cabinets?
Yes. We remove the old tops, check and shim the cabinets, template, install the new stone, mount the sink and reconnect plumbing, all in one written scope. If the cabinets are worth keeping but dated, we can reface them at the same time.
Can I get a waterfall island?
Yes. Waterfall edges use mitred slabs so the veining runs down the side of the island. They add slab and fabrication cost, which we show as a separate line so you can decide.
Where will the seams be?
Seams are planned on the template drawing, kept away from the sink cutout and colour-matched at install. On long runs we show you the seam position before fabrication.
Do you install the sink, faucet and backsplash too?
Yes. Undermount, farmhouse and integrated sinks, faucet and soap-dispenser holes, and a 4-inch, full-height slab or tile backsplash are all handled by the same team under the same bid.
Is marble a good idea in a kitchen?
Marble is beautiful and it etches and stains. Many San Diego homeowners choose it for a bathroom or baking station and use quartzite or marble-look quartz on the kitchen island. We show you samples of etched marble before you decide.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. We are a licensed, bonded and insured California general contractor (CSLB #1004363), owned by Dave Romero and serving San Diego County since 2014, with a written workmanship warranty on every installation.