Replacing the Worktop on a Kitchen You're Keeping
A new worktop goes straight onto the units you have. Laminate costs €800 to €2,000 fitted, about €50 to €100 a metre, and goes in in a day. Quartz or sintered stone costs €2,200 to €4,800 fitted: it is templated on site, cut in a workshop and fitted a week or two later.
Laminate against stone, what happens to the sink, and what the units need to carry it.
Free, no obligation. One local company prices it, not five.
- €800 to €2,000laminate, fitted
- €2,200 to €4,800quartz or stone, fitted
- 1 dayto fit laminate
Laminate or stone
| Laminate | Quartz or sintered stone | |
|---|---|---|
| Fitted price | €800 to €2,000 | €2,200 to €4,800 |
| How long | A day | Template, then fitted a week or two later |
| Joints | Visible at corners | Near invisible |
| Sink | Sits on top (inset) | Can sit under the worktop (undermount) |
| Heat and water | Keep pans off; seal cut edges | Shrugs off both |
| Weight | Light | Heavy: the units must be level and sound |
What happens to the sink and hob
- The sink and hob come out with the old worktop and go back into the new one, or are replaced.
- The kitchen has no sink for a day with laminate, and between template and fitting with stone unless a temporary top is left.
- A gas hob is disconnected and reconnected by a registered gas installer.
- The tap is the easy time to change: it's out anyway.
What the units need
A worktop is only as flat as what's under it. Before a new one goes on, the base units are checked for level, any swollen unit under the sink is replaced, and legs are adjusted. Stone needs it more than laminate, because it won't bend to fit.
The splashback
A new worktop rarely sits exactly where the old one did, so the bottom row of tiles or the upstand is redone with it. Plan the splashback in the same job.
What it costs
| Job | Typical cost | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Laminate worktop, fitted | €800 to €2,000 | €50 to €100 a metre. Fitted in a day |
| Quartz or sintered stone worktop, fitted | €2,200 to €4,800 | Length, cut-outs for the sink and hob, the edge |
| Plumbing, if the sink or dishwasher moves | €500 to €1,500 | How far it moves |
Ask for the written price to say what's included, and whether VAT is in it.
Every guide, calculator and county page
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More on refurbishing a kitchen
Costs, doors, worktops and timing.
What it costsFrom a €700 respray to €5,000 for doors and a worktop.
Replacement doorsMade to measure for your units, from €48 a door.
Refurbish or replace?Five checks on the units you have.
The small partsHandles and soft-close hinges, €150 to €450.
Ten changes, by costWhat makes the most difference for the least.Kitchen refurbishment in every county
- Carlow44% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Cavan50% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Clare42% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Cork38% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Donegal48% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Dublin32% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Galway48% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Kerry42% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Kildare48% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Kilkenny41% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Laois50% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Leitrim48% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Limerick39% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Longford47% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Louth41% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Mayo43% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Meath48% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Monaghan39% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Offaly42% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Roscommon44% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Sligo43% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Tipperary39% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Waterford40% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Westmeath46% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Wexford48% of homes built 1991 to 2010
- Wicklow37% of homes built 1991 to 2010
Price your refurbishment
Four taps: the doors, the worktop, the size and any extras. You see our price guide for it. Your number is only asked for at the end, if you want one kitchen company that covers your county to ring you.
Questions people ask
Can I replace just the worktop?
Yes, if the base units are level and sound. It's the most common single refurbishment job.
Can stone go on old units?
If they're solid and level. Weak or swollen units are replaced first.
Will my old sink fit the new worktop?
Usually. A new cut-out is made for it. An undermount sink needs stone or solid surface.
Get a price to refurbish your kitchen
One kitchen company that covers your county. Free, no obligation. Nothing is ordered until you accept a written price.