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: Replacing countertops without touching the cabinets is the most common project we do in Oak Lawn, and it’s faster than a remodel: templating, about a week of fabrication, then tear-out and installation on the same day. Most Oak Lawn kitchens run $1,800–$4,500 installed depending on material, with tear-out and disposal included in our price. The one thing we check first is whether your existing cabinets are level and sound enough to carry stone. Free in-home measurement, 10 minutes from Oak Lawn. Call (708) 362-7674 or request a free estimate.
Countertop Replacement in Oak Lawn: What It Costs, Whether Your Cabinets Can Take Stone, How Long You’re Without a Sink, Backsplash and Sink Decisions, and What Tear-Out Actually Involves
New counters, same cabinets. The fastest way to update an Oak Lawn kitchen. Free in-home measurement, written pricing, tear-out and disposal included.
📞 (708) 362-7674 · 💻 Free estimate · 📍 4711 W 135th St, Crestwood, IL 60418 · Mon–Sat 9–6
Why Replacement Is the Most Common Project Here
Oak Lawn’s housing stock is mostly post-war brick ranches, Georgians and split-levels, and a lot of those kitchens have cabinets that are genuinely better built than modern ones — solid boxes, real wood face frames — paired with laminate counters from a renovation two or three decades ago.
Replacing just the counters changes how the kitchen looks and works for a fraction of a full remodel, without losing cabinetry that’s still serving its purpose. It’s also the fastest project on our schedule: no demolition, no permits in most cases, no weeks of construction.
What Replacement Costs in Oak Lawn
| Kitchen | Typical sq ft | Granite | Quartz |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galley, single run | 20–30 | $1,200–$2,400 | $1,500–$2,800 |
| Standard L-shape | 30–40 | $1,800–$3,400 | $2,200–$4,000 |
| U-shape or small island | 40–55 | $2,500–$4,800 | $3,000–$5,500 |
| Bathroom vanity | 8–15 | $500–$1,300 | $600–$1,500 |
Tear-out and disposal are included in our written price. That matters, because it’s the most commonly excluded line in a countertop quote — see the quote checklist for the full list of what to compare.
Can Your Existing Cabinets Take New Stone?
This is the question that decides the project, and it’s the first thing we check at the measurement. Three things matter:
| What we check | Why |
|---|---|
| Level | Stone must sit flat. Decades of settling leave cabinets out of level far more often than people expect. Minor shimming is routine; significant issues need addressing first |
| Structural soundness | Granite and quartz are heavy. Boxes need to be solid and properly secured to the wall |
| Top condition | What’s under the old laminate — plywood, particleboard, water damage near the sink |
| Sink cabinet | The most common place to find soft or damaged material from a slow leak |
| Face frame and reveal | Affects overhang and how the new edge sits |
The honest version: most Oak Lawn cabinets pass. When they don’t, it’s usually water damage in the sink base, and it’s better to fix a $200 problem before installing $3,000 of stone on top of it. We’ll tell you either way at the measurement, before you commit to anything.
What Tear-Out Actually Involves
- You disconnect the plumbing, or have a plumber do it, before we arrive
- We remove the old counters — laminate usually comes off with its substrate
- Cabinet tops are checked and cleaned up where needed
- Old material is hauled away
- New stone goes in the same day
Tear-out and installation almost always happen together, so your kitchen isn’t sitting open for days. What we can’t do is reconnect plumbing — that’s a licensed trade. Book your plumber for the day after installation, once the undermount sink and seam adhesives have cured.
How Long You’re Without a Kitchen
| Stage | Timing |
|---|---|
| Showroom visit and selection | Same week you call |
| In-home measurement and written price | Within a few days |
| Templating | 1–2 hours; can happen quickly since cabinets are already in |
| Fabrication | About a week |
| Tear-out and installation | Same day, most of one day |
| Plumbing reconnect | Next day |
Total kitchen downtime: roughly 24 to 48 hours, not weeks. Plan one night of dishes elsewhere. Full detail in our installation timeline.
Decisions That Come With Replacement
Sink: keep, or switch to undermount?
Most replacement customers switch from a drop-in to an undermount sink, because it looks more updated and lets you wipe straight into the basin. It costs a bit more (the cutout becomes finished surface) and usually needs a plumber for the reconnect. If budget is tight, a new drop-in is perfectly appropriate.
Backsplash: what happens to the old one?
Removing an old 4″ laminate splash usually damages the wall behind it, so plan on either a new 4″ stone splash, tile, or paint and patch. It’s easier to decide this before installation than after. Order tile during fabrication week so it’s ready.
Edge profile
An eased or straight edge is clean, current and reproducible. Decorative profiles cost more in fabrication time. In a compact Oak Lawn kitchen, a simple edge usually looks better anyway.
Material
Quartz for zero maintenance and consistent color, granite for heat tolerance and value, quartzite and marble for natural stone character. All four are in the showroom: see quartz in Oak Lawn and granite in Oak Lawn.
Do You Need a Permit?
Replacing countertops on existing cabinets, with no plumbing or electrical changes, generally doesn’t require a permit. Moving a sink or altering plumbing usually does, and requirements vary by municipality. Confirm with the Village of Oak Lawn building department if your project involves plumbing changes, and we’ll flag it at the measurement.
Replacement Is Also the Smart Pre-Sale Move
If you’re listing an Oak Lawn home, counters carry the kitchen in listing photos. Replacing dated laminate with quartz or granite updates the whole room without touching cabinets, flooring or appliances — and it’s a project that finishes in a week rather than delaying a listing by a month. Keep the material neutral and mid-tone so it appeals broadly.
How It Works: Showroom, In-Home Measurement, Then Your Price
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Visit the showroom | Ten minutes from Oak Lawn. Compare full slabs of quartz, quartzite, marble and granite. Bring a cabinet door |
| 2. We come to your home | We measure, check cabinet level and condition, and settle sink, edge and seam decisions |
| 3. You get your pricing | Written and itemized, including tear-out and disposal |
Free, no obligation.
Serving Oak Lawn and the Towns Around It
Evergreen Park, Chicago Ridge, Burbank, Hometown, Alsip, Worth, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Hickory Hills and Oak Forest, plus Mount Greenwood, Beverly, Morgan Park and Ashburn. More on countertops in Oak Lawn.
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, tear-out included. More about our team.
Visit 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
🚗 Get directions · About 10 minutes from central Oak Lawn
Oak Lawn Countertop Replacement FAQs
Can I replace countertops without replacing cabinets?
Yes, and it’s the most common project we do in Oak Lawn. We check that the cabinets are level and structurally sound at the free measurement.
How much does countertop replacement cost in Oak Lawn?
Most kitchens run $1,800 to $4,500 installed depending on material and size, with tear-out and disposal included.
Do you remove the old countertops?
Yes. Tear-out and disposal are part of our written price, and tear-out happens the same day as installation.
How long will my kitchen be out of use?
Roughly 24 to 48 hours. Installation takes most of one day, and the plumber reconnects the next.
Will my old cabinets hold new stone?
Usually yes. The issues we occasionally find are out-of-level cabinets and water damage in the sink base, both of which we flag at the measurement.
Do I need a plumber?
Yes, for disconnect before and reconnect after. Book them for the day after installation.
What happens to my backsplash?
Removing an old laminate splash usually damages the wall, so plan on a new stone splash, tile, or patch and paint. Decide before installation day.
Should I switch to an undermount sink?
Most replacement customers do. It looks more updated and is easier to wipe into, though it costs a little more and needs a plumber.
Do I need a permit?
Generally not for a straight countertop swap with no plumbing changes. Moving a sink usually does require one — confirm with the Village of Oak Lawn.
How soon can you start?
Templating can happen quickly since your cabinets are already installed. From templating to installed is usually about a week to two.
Is replacement worth it before selling?
Counters carry the kitchen in listing photos, and the project finishes in about a week. Keep the material neutral and mid-tone for broad appeal.
Is the estimate free?
Yes — showroom visit, in-home measurement and written estimate, with no obligation.
New Counters, Same Cabinets, One Week
If your Oak Lawn kitchen has solid cabinets and tired counters, this is the highest-impact project available to you — and the fastest.
Request a free estimate · (708) 362-7674 · 4711 W 135th St, Crestwood, IL 60418 · Mon–Sat 9–6
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