Swapping tired laminate for stone without replacing your kitchen. The old tops come out in the morning and the new surface goes down the same day, on the units you already have.
The doors are fine, the layout works, the appliances are where you want them. It is the surface that has had ten years of chopping boards and hot pans on it. Replacing just the worktop leaves the units, doors and appliances exactly where they are and changes more about how the room reads than anything else you could do to it.
It is a different job from a new kitchen, though, and the differences matter. The template has to be taken with the old worktop still down, the whole room has to come apart and go back together inside a single day, and the units underneath are an unknown until the old top comes off.
That last point is why we survey properly and tell you at template if we can see something that needs a joiner or a plumber first. Discovering it on the day, with your sink in the garden, helps nobody.
Fitted 5–10 working days from template. Deposit at template, balance before installation.
What is involved
Everything below happens on one day, which is why the preparation the week before matters more than usual.
We template on and around the existing surface and work off the unit line, allowing for the difference in thickness between laminate and stone. Nothing is removed at this stage. You keep a working kitchen until fitting day.
Before the morning of the fit, a plumber disconnects the tap, waste and anything plumbed under the top. If the hob sits in the worktop, an electrician isolates and disconnects it. This has to be finished before we arrive.
Laminate is usually both screwed and glued to the units from underneath and it often has to come out in pieces. Sealant lines are cut and the bottom row of tiles is freed. This is the messiest hour of the job.
The moment the old surface is off is the first honest look at the carcasses. Levels are checked, fixings are checked, and anything soft or unsupported is dealt with before stone goes anywhere near it.
From here it is a normal installation: scribed to the walls, bedded and levelled, joins pulled and sanded flush, sink and hob seated and sealed.
Once the sealant has had time to cure, the tap, waste and appliances go back on. Book them for the end of the day rather than the middle of it.
The honest bit
Stone is considerably heavier than laminate, and a carcass that has carried laminate for fifteen years has not been asked the same question.
Floors settle, adjustable feet drop and a run that was true when it was fitted can be several millimetres out a decade later. We level and pack on the day, but a run that is badly out will still read badly against a straight stone edge.
A slow leak swells chipboard and MFC carcasses from the inside, and a soft carcass will not carry stone. It has to be repaired or replaced first. This is the single most common thing we find when a laminate top comes off.
Older kitchens sometimes have base units resting in position rather than screwed to the wall or to each other. Under laminate that is survivable. Under stone it is not, and they have to be fixed properly before we fit.
Laminate usually runs underneath the tiles, so taking it out damages the lowest course. Expect to re-tile that row, or move to a stone upstand or a full-height splashback cut from the same slab run, which covers the gap and removes the grout line for good. Plenty of people take the second option once it is explained.
If you are keeping one, the stone is cut around the sink as it sits. If the sink is out of level, a straight stone edge above it will show it. We will tell you at template whether it needs resetting first.
Bodged cut-outs, sagging spans, a section of unit propped up with packers. None of it is dramatic and all of it is fixable, but it is better named at template than discovered at ten in the morning.
Before the day
Two trades have to happen either side of us. Book them before you book us.
Questions
If yours is not here, ring and ask. You will get a straight answer rather than a call-back from a salesperson.
Often, if they are in good order. But an inset sink that sat in laminate does not always suit an undermount cut-out in stone, and an old tap is a false economy when the hole is already open and everything is disconnected. We will give you a straight view at template.
Sound carcasses that are properly fixed to the wall will. Chipboard swollen by a leak under the sink will not, and units that were never fixed down need fixing first. We check at template and tell you what has to be put right before fitting day.
The day. The old tops come out in the morning and the new stone goes down the same day, but the sealant needs to cure before the plumber reconnects, so plan an evening without a working sink rather than a week.
Usually the bottom row, because laminate normally runs under the tiles and taking it out damages them. Stone upstands or a full-height splashback cut from your worktop batch cover that line and remove the grout joint entirely, which is why a lot of replacement customers go that way.
Where this happens
Twelve neighbourhoods whose housing stock throws up this job most often. Each page covers what worktop replacement actually involves in that stock: the access, the era of the building and what that does to the work.
These twelve are a sample, not a coverage boundary. We work in 723 Greater London neighbourhoods and out into Surrey, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Essex.
Next
Every job runs through more than one of these. Follow the thread rather than guessing which order things go in.
Worth reading
The questions that come up most, answered in full rather than in a sentence.
Usually yes, and it is the best value change you can make to a tired kitchen. But it depends entirely on the units underneath, and here is how to check yours before you ring anybody.
Read the guideThe same kitchen, the same units, a completely different object on top of them. What changes when you swap laminate for stone (weight, templating, joins, edges, the sink), and the one check that decides whether you can.
Read the guideSix drivers decide your price, and only one of them is the colour you picked. An honest breakdown of where the money goes and how to compare two quotes properly.
Read the guideA small kitchen does not cost proportionally less than a big one, and knowing why is the difference between a good decision and a disappointing quote. Where the money really goes in a compact room, where you genuinely save, and what to prioritise.
Read the guideThe stone is rarely the slow part. Here is the real sequence, the one dependency that sets your finish date, and how to plan backwards from a weekend you care about.
Read the guideEvery one of these is on our Google profile under the reviewer’s own name. Nothing here is written by us, and the link goes straight to the source.
“We have a new kitchen. Our builder recommended Worktop Worx for our worktop. Now we have an amazing worktop very good price too. Really recommend. They were really good to us. 10/10”
“We recently had the Arctic Starburst worktop installed by Worktop WorX and it looks amazing. The subtle sparkle really catches the light and gives the kitchen a clean, modern feel. The Arctic Starburst surface feels high quality, durable, and is easy to keep clean. The finish and installation from Worktop WorX were spot on. Really happy with the result and would definitely recommend both Arctic Starburst and Worktop WorX to anyone upgrading their kitchen.”
“Great work, super helpful team. I'd definitely recommend!”
“I am really happy with the work! He fitted my kitchen granite worktop really nicely and got the job done on time, just as promised. He was friendly, professional, and made sure everything was done the way I wanted. Would definitely recommend Karam to anyone looking for a great job!”
“We recently had our kitchen worktops supplied and fitted by Worktop WorX using Laurent Gold sintered stone, and we couldn’t be happier with the result. The finish, quality, and attention to detail were outstanding from start to finish. Karem was incredibly helpful throughout the whole process professional, knowledgeable, and always available to answer…”
“I used Karem’s services 5 years ago for purchasing and fitting the quartz worktop in my then brand new kitchen. The price was reasonable and the service reliable and spot on, no delays in fitting, misunderstanding or excuses. I recommended him to a friend, who also used his services and they were happy too! If I need to order new kitchen work top again,…”
“Absolutely delighted with our new worktop from Worktop WorX. The Capri White finish looks incredible, clean, modern, and really brightens up the whole kitchen while pairing beautifully with the darker cabinetry. The quality of the worktop is outstanding, with a flawless finish and seamless installation that really shows the attention to detail. It’s not…”
“Kareem did the countertops dur8ng my kitchen remodel, and I was so impressed that I had him back to do the laundry room as well, which tells you everything you need to know. He is an absolute gem. Shows up when he says he will (which, let’s be honest, is rarer than it should be), does beautifully work, and clearly takes real pride in what he does. The…”
“We recently had a Calacatta Gold worktop installed by Worktop Worx and are really pleased with the result. It has completely transformed our kitchen, much brighter, modern, and high-end compared to our old wooden surface. The team were professional, efficient, and the finish is excellent with great attention to detail. The worktop looks amazing and is…”
“Excellent service from start to finish. The team at Worktop Worx were professional, friendly, and really paid attention to detail. They listened to what I wanted, gave helpful advice, and delivered a high-quality finish. The worktop looks amazing and has completely transformed the space. Everything was completed on time and left clean and tidy. Highly…”
“We installed new kitchen and got the worktop and splash back from them. Their professional work and commitment was wonderful. Quality of work compared to price was way too good. Thank you guys.”
“Karem did a fantastic job at installing my antique bronze mirror for my coffee/drinks unit. He was really professional and his communication throughout was clear.”
“Professional, polite and friendly service. Very pleased with finished product.”
“Great experience from this company, I am happy with the materials, fitting and the team.”
“Perfect service,the best on this job”
“I am really happy with my worktop. It is beautiful and the service provided was second to none. I totally recommend.”
“Nice work from worktop worx. Highly recommended”
“I recently had my kitchen worktop and splashback done by Karem from Worktop WorX and i am very pleased with the result. From the initial consultation and measurements to the final installation, the whole process was smooth and professional. The attention for details and the quality made the difference and everything was finished to a high standard. I…”
“Lovely team, business and quality motivated, prompt delivery with installation. Affordable prices. Wide range of worktops available. High recommendation”
“Karem did an excellent job on my kitchen. He was professional, reliable, and paid great attention to detail. The finish looks amazing and has completely transformed my kitchen. Thank you! Would highly recommend his work!”
“Excellent service and top quality workmanship. The worktop looks absolutely amazing and the attention to detail is impressive. The team was professional, punctual, and very easy to work with. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a premium kitchen worktop! 👌”
“Really impressed with the quality and finish of these worktops. Great range of materials, precise fabrication, and smooth communication throughout. The whole process was easy and the final result looks fantastic. Highly recommend!”
“Karim is excellent, he did superb job with Templeting and fitting my kitchen, highly recommend”
“We had a fantastic experience with Worktop WorX from start to finish. The team was professional, friendly, and delivered excellent workmanship. We chose the beautiful Capri White worktop, and it has completely transformed our kitchen with its elegant, high-end look.”
“Great service. Super quick and easy communication. I love my new worktop 🥹🥹”
“Excellent work and highly recommend. Very professional and did an outstanding job with my worktop. Karem responded very quickly and swiftly, top guy!”
Next step
Plans, a sketch or photographs with rough run lengths is enough to start, even with the old worktop still down. Nothing is payable until we template.