Written by the Al Jory Marble team — countertop fabricators and installers in Crestwood, Illinois, founded by Motie and Naser Hamdan. Updated September 18, 2026.
Quick answer: Countertop quotes vary because they cover different amounts of work, not because one shop is cheaper. A complete quote includes material, templating, fabrication, cutouts, edge, seams, delivery, installation, tear-out and disposal. The three items most often left out — and later added — are tear-out, disposal and the sink cutout. Compare quotes line by line using the checklist below, and if one is far lower, ask which lines it excludes. Call (708) 362-7674 or request a written estimate.
What Belongs in a Countertop Quote: The Full Checklist, the Items Commonly Excluded, Why “Per Square Foot” Means Different Things, the Questions to Ask Every Fabricator, and How to Compare Three Estimates Fairly
Collecting quotes? Ours is written, itemized and includes tear-out and disposal. Visit the Crestwood showroom, we measure at your home, then you get your price in writing.
📞 (708) 362-7674 · 💻 Free estimate · 📍 4711 W 135th St, Crestwood, IL 60418 · Mon–Sat 9–6
The Checklist: 14 Lines a Complete Quote Covers
| # | Line item | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Material, named exactly | The specific line and color, not just “quartz.” Price tiers vary widely within one brand |
| 2 | Slab count | Whether your layout needs one slab or two changes the total more than most upgrades |
| 3 | Thickness | 2cm vs 3cm affects material cost and edge build-up |
| 4 | Templating | The on-site measurement the stone is cut from |
| 5 | Fabrication | Cutting, shaping and finishing |
| 6 | Edge profile | Eased and straight are standard; ogee, bullnose and mitred cost more |
| 7 | Sink cutout | Undermount costs more than drop-in because the cutout is finished |
| 8 | Faucet and accessory holes | Soap dispensers and air switches each need drilling |
| 9 | Cooktop cutout | Requires the appliance spec sheet |
| 10 | Seams | How many, where, and how they’re finished |
| 11 | Delivery | Including any access challenges |
| 12 | Installation | Setting, leveling, seaming and caulking |
| 13 | Tear-out of the old countertop | The single most commonly excluded item |
| 14 | Disposal | Hauling the old material away |
Plus, if they apply: backsplash (4″ stone or full height), waterfall island ends, support brackets for overhangs, mitred edges, cutouts for outlets in a slab backsplash, and sink or faucet supply if you’re buying through the fabricator.
The Items Most Often Left Out
| Commonly excluded | What it costs you later |
|---|---|
| Tear-out and disposal | Either an added charge or a job you do yourself the night before installation |
| Sink cutout | Added after you’ve already committed |
| Undermount sink mounting | Sometimes quoted separately from the cutout |
| Edge upgrade | Quoted at the base edge, upgraded at templating |
| Overhang support | Brackets or corbels for seating overhangs |
| Backsplash | Assumed out unless specified |
| Second slab | Quoted on square footage without confirming the layout fits one slab |
| Difficult access | Stairs, tight turns and elevator time added after the site visit |
| Plumbing disconnect and reconnect | Usually a separate trade — worth confirming who’s arranging it |
None of this means a shop quoting that way is dishonest. Some genuinely quote material only, and expect you to arrange the rest. The problem is comparing that number against a full installed price as though they’re the same thing.
Why “Per Square Foot” Isn’t Comparable
A square-foot price sounds like a standard unit. It isn’t. One shop’s number covers material and fabrication. Another’s covers everything through installation. A third quotes a low number and prices every cutout separately.
Worse, square footage itself gets measured differently. Stone is usually calculated on the material consumed, not the visible surface — so a kitchen with awkward angles, an island that doesn’t nest well on the slab, or a small area that pushes into a second slab can carry more square footage than a tape measure suggests.
Ask for the installed total for your specific kitchen, not a per-foot rate. Then compare totals against the 14-line checklist.
Questions to Ask Every Fabricator
- Is this the installed total, or material only?
- Does it include tear-out and disposal?
- Is the sink cutout included, and is it undermount or drop-in?
- Which edge profile is this priced at?
- How many slabs does my layout need, and how many seams?
- Where will the seams go?
- Do you fabricate in house, or send the work out?
- Who does the installation — your crew or a subcontractor?
- What happens if a piece breaks during fabrication or installation?
- What’s the lead time from templating to installation?
- Is the price locked once I sign, and what would change it?
- Can I see the actual slab before it’s cut?
Any fabricator worth hiring answers all twelve without hesitating. Question 7 matters more than it sounds: many countertop sellers are resellers who send the work to a shop. That adds a markup and a gap in accountability. We template, cut and finish every slab at our own Crestwood facility and install with our own crew.
How to Compare Three Quotes Fairly
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Line them up against the 14-item checklist and mark what each one includes |
| 2 | Add the missing items back at realistic prices, then compare |
| 3 | Confirm all three quoted the same material — a different line or tier isn’t a fair comparison |
| 4 | Confirm the same edge profile and sink type |
| 5 | Check the slab count each one assumed |
| 6 | Ask each who fabricates and who installs |
| 7 | Only then look at the bottom line |
The honest rule: if one quote is dramatically below the others, something was left out. Find out what before you decide it’s a bargain.
Warning Signs in a Countertop Quote
- A price given over the phone without measuring or seeing photos
- A single total with no breakdown
- No named material — just “quartz” or “white quartz”
- A large deposit demanded up front
- Pressure to sign today, or a discount that expires that afternoon
- No written scope at all
- Cash-only terms
- No showroom or local address you can visit
- Vague answers about who fabricates and who installs
- Refusal to show you the actual slab before cutting
What Our Written Price Includes
So you can hold every quote to the same standard, a full Al Jory countertop quote covers:
- The named material, line and color
- Slab count for your layout
- Templating at your home
- Fabrication at our Crestwood facility
- Edge profile
- Sink and cooktop cutouts
- Faucet and accessory drilling
- Seam locations and finishing
- Delivery
- Installation by our own crew
- Tear-out of the existing countertop
- Disposal
- Any backsplash work you’ve specified
Plumbing disconnect and reconnect is the one item we don’t cover, because it’s a licensed trade. We’ll tell you exactly when to schedule it — usually the day after installation. See the installation timeline.
Getting an Accurate Quote Faster
Send us these and we can give you a realistic number quickly:
- Rough measurements of each countertop run, or a sketch
- Photos of the current kitchen
- Island dimensions, if any
- The material and color you’re considering, if you know it
- Sink type: undermount or drop-in, and the model if chosen
- Whether the old countertop needs removal
- Your address, and any access issues
Or text a photo of your kitchen with rough measurements to (708) 362-7674 for a ballpark before anyone visits. Exact pricing still comes after the in-home measurement, because that’s the only honest way to do it. For typical ranges, see our quartz countertops cost guide and countertop cost guide.
How It Works: Showroom, In-Home Measurement, Then Your Price
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Visit the showroom | Compare full slabs of quartz, quartzite, marble and granite in one place |
| 2. We come to your home | We measure on site and settle sink, edge and seam decisions in the actual room |
| 3. You get your pricing | Written, itemized, for the installed project |
Free, with no obligation.
About Al Jory Marble
Al Jory Marble is a countertop showroom, fabricator and installer in Crestwood, Illinois, founded by Motie Hamdan and Naser Hamdan. Motie brings more than 35 years of hands-on stone experience, and between the two founders there are over 45 years in the trade, with crews carrying 10 to 20 years each. We template, cut and finish every slab at our own Crestwood facility and install it with our own crew, which is why our quotes cover the whole job rather than a slice of it. More about our team.
Visiting the Crestwood Showroom
Al Jory Marble
📍 4711 W 135th St, Crestwood, IL 60418
📞 (708) 362-7674
🕔 Monday–Saturday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. · Closed Sunday
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Serving Chicago, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Oak Lawn, Naperville, Downers Grove, Schaumburg, Bolingbrook, Aurora and Joliet, plus Palos, Homer Glen, Frankfort, Mokena and Oak Forest.
Countertop Quote FAQs
What should be included in a countertop quote?
Material, slab count, thickness, templating, fabrication, edge profile, sink and cooktop cutouts, faucet drilling, seams, delivery, installation, tear-out and disposal.
Why are countertop quotes so different?
Because they cover different work. The usual gaps are tear-out, disposal, cutouts and edge upgrades, plus a different material tier quoted as the same thing.
Is tear-out usually included?
Often not. It’s the most commonly excluded item, so ask directly.
Is the sink cutout extra?
Sometimes. Undermount cutouts cost more than drop-in because the cut edge is finished and polished.
Why isn’t the per-square-foot price comparable?
Different shops include different work in that number, and square footage is usually calculated on material consumed rather than visible surface.
Should I get three quotes?
Three is usually enough, as long as you compare scopes rather than totals.
What if one quote is much cheaper?
Ask which checklist items it excludes. The gap usually explains itself.
Do you fabricate in house?
Yes. Every slab is templated, cut and finished at our own Crestwood facility and installed by our crew, with no middleman markup.
Is your quote fixed?
Your written price is for the scope described. Changes you request after templating, such as a different edge or layout, are re-quoted before any work is done.
Do you include plumbing?
No, plumbing is a licensed trade. We tell you when to schedule it, usually the day after installation.
Can I get a ballpark before an in-home visit?
Yes. Text a photo of your kitchen with rough measurements to (708) 362-7674.
Do you charge for the estimate?
No. The showroom visit, in-home measurement and written estimate are free, with no obligation.
Get a Quote You Can Actually Compare
Ask every fabricator for the installed total, itemized, with tear-out and disposal named. That single request turns three confusing numbers into a real comparison — and it’s the standard we quote to anyway.
Request a free written estimate · (708) 362-7674 · 4711 W 135th St, Crestwood, IL 60418 · Mon–Sat 9–6
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