Replacing countertops on cabinets you are keeping is one of the most effective kitchen updates, and one of the easiest to get wrong. The new stone is the visible part. The work that decides how it turns out happens before it arrives: removing the old tops without wrecking the cabinets, leveling what is left and settling the sink and backsplash plan.
What Countertop Replacement in Dallas Includes
A full countertop replacement with us covers:
- A licensed plumber to unhook the sink, faucet, disposal and dishwasher, plus the cooktop where needed
- Removal and haul-away of the old countertops and, if planned, the backsplash
- Cabinet inspection, leveling, reinforcement and repair of damaged sink bases
- Templating, and fabrication of the new tops to that template
- Installation of the new countertops, seams and undermount sink
- Reconnection of plumbing and appliances, and a final walkthrough
Many homeowners choose quartz countertops for low maintenance or granite countertops for heat tolerance and natural pattern, though any stone we install can go on existing cabinets that are in good shape.
How Do You Know It Is Time to Replace Old Countertops?
It is time when the top is failing or the cabinets under it are, not only when the color is dated. These are the signs we see most in 1960s to 1990s Dallas kitchens:
Laminate that has lifted at the sink edge, burned near the range or peeled at a seam will not lie flat again. Tile counters with grout that crumbles or stays dark after scrubbing let water reach the plywood underneath. An old drop-in sink with a rusted rim or a leaking seal often means the sink base below is already soft. And a backsplash that has pulled away from the counter, or a top that rocks under pressure, points to a cabinet that has dropped as the slab moved.
The last two are the reason we inspect before quoting. A soft or sagging base cabinet changes the scope, and it is better to know that before the stone is ordered.
Replace Tile or Laminate Countertops: What Comes Off and How
How hard removal is depends on what you have now.
- Laminate is screwed to the cabinets from below and usually lifts off quickly with little mess.
- Tile on backer board comes off in sections with moderate dust.
- Tile on a mortar bed, common in kitchens from the 1970s and 1980s, is a thick, heavy layer that has to be broken out. It is dusty, and the plywood beneath is often replaced.
- Old stone is cut free of its adhesive and lifted, often in pieces.
We protect cabinets, floors and appliances, contain dust as well as possible and haul away all debris.
Talk Through Your Countertop Replacement Project
Tell us what is not working in the room today. We will walk through options, the order of work and what drives the price, then follow up with a written scope.
- 34 Google reviews
- Design and build under one team
- Based in Lake Highlands, Dallas
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Can New Countertops Go on Existing Cabinets?
New countertops on existing cabinets work well when the boxes are solid, dry and firmly attached. Before any stone goes on, we look for sagging sink bases, loose corners and boxes racked by foundation movement, which is common on Dallas-area clay. Low spots are shimmed until the tops of every run are flat and level.
Thicker stone typically sits directly on the cabinets, while thinner stone usually needs a plywood subtop. Seating overhangs beyond what the stone can carry alone need hidden brackets or corbels. Dishwashers are reattached with side-mount brackets, since stone cannot take screws from underneath. If your cabinets are dated, consider updating them first, because templating comes after any cabinet change.
Will a Sink Swap With New Countertops Be Needed?
In most cases, yes. A drop-in sink from a laminate or tile counter rarely suits stone, and most people choose an undermount sink so crumbs and water wipe straight in. The new sink and faucet must be chosen and on site before templating, because the cutout, faucet holes and soap dispenser hole are cut to those exact models.
Cooktops work the same way: the cutout is made for a specific model. If you plan to change your cooktop, choose it before templating.
What Happens to the Backsplash During Old Countertop Removal?
Old countertop removal usually damages at least the bottom row of a tile backsplash, because the tile sits on the counter. New stone may also be thicker or thinner than the old top, which changes where the backsplash meets it. Outlets in the backsplash may need extenders.
Replacing the backsplash with the counters avoids patchwork and lets you match it to the new stone. See kitchen backsplash for options.
Countertop Replacement, Step by Step
- Consultation. Together we assess the existing tops, cabinets, sink and backsplash and narrow down materials.
- Selections. You choose the stone, edge, sink, faucet and any new backsplash.
- Permits when needed. Plumbing is disconnected and reconnected by plumbers licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. New or relocated outlets need a TDLR-licensed electrician, as the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation requires.
- Tear-out and prep. Old tops come off, and cabinets are leveled, reinforced and repaired.
- Template and install. Measurements are captured, the new tops are fabricated, and installers set them and mount the sink.
- Reconnect and walkthrough. The plumber reconnects, the backsplash goes in, and we walk the kitchen with you.
Does a Countertop Replacement Need a Permit in Dallas?
Not when the layout stays the same. City of Dallas Building Inspection lists a countertop replacement with no plumbing or electrical change as not needing a permit. Moving the sink to a new wall, adding a prep sink or adding countertop circuits does need one, filed by a contractor registered with the city. Garland, Richardson, Mesquite and Plano each set their own rules, so we check them before tear-out.
What Changes Countertop Upgrade Cost in Dallas?
The main drivers of a countertop upgrade in Dallas are the stone, square footage, edge profile, the number of cutouts, how hard the old tops are to remove, cabinet repairs, a new sink and faucet, and whether the backsplash is replaced. Removal is the variable people underestimate: laminate lifts off quickly, while a mortar-bed tile top means real demolition and far more debris. Cabinet repair is the other, because a soft sink base found after tear-out has to be rebuilt before templating. Our guide to countertop replacement cost in Dallas breaks these down, and kitchen updates that help a Dallas home sell covers when new counters make sense before listing.
Original tile and laminate counters are common in the 1960s to 1990s homes near Lake Highlands. We replace countertops in Garland about 20 minutes away, Richardson about 20 minutes, Mesquite about 25 minutes and Plano about 30 minutes. Call (239) 545-0550 or request an estimate.
Why Six Design Group for Countertop Replacement
One team for the whole sequence
Tear-out, cabinet prep, templating, plumbing coordination and backsplash are planned together, so nothing waits on a missing trade.
Fair when old tops hide problems
Old counters sometimes hide leaks and rot. Jeff H.'s review credits us with fair handling of the surprises his job uncovered.
Clean work in a lived-in kitchen
Removing tile on a mortar bed is dusty work. Katy F. and Elsie T. both mention clean, efficient crews.
Kept on schedule
Chris B. wrote that we stayed on schedule, which matters most during the days your kitchen is without counters or a working sink.
What Customers Say About Working With Us
Real words from Six Design Group customers on Google, quoted as written. Six Design Group has 34 Google reviews (checked November 2026).
“Six Design Group did an amazing job on my kitchen. They really listened to what I wanted and made it happen. The new cabinets and countertops look great and are very well made. The team was friendly, professional, and easy to work with. If you want quality work done by people who care, I highly recommend them.”
“If you’re needing a kitchen remodeled, bathroom remodeled or other construction work ,Six Design Group does excellent work! You won’t find someone who is more dedicated and reliable to work with. I’ve known and sold Arian numerous homes and you won’t find a more hands on nice guy for your project.”
“I highly recommend Six Design Group for your remodeling projects. Arian and crew transformed our old kitchen into a sleek, modern, open area for entertaining and social events. Their attention to detail and quality is without equal.”
Where We Do Countertop Replacement Around Dallas
- Countertop Replacement in Farmers Branch, TXFarmers Branch's 1950s-1960s ranch kitchens inside LBJ Freeway often still carry tile or laminate tops over original cabinet boxes.
- Countertop Replacement in Garland, TXGarland ranches west of Lake Ray Hubbard often keep original oak cabinets and tile counters, a classic top-only replacement.
- Countertop Replacement in Arlington, TXArlington's large stock of 1970s-1980s homes includes many laminate tops on sound cabinets that can take stone without a remodel.
- Countertop Replacement in North Richland Hills, TXIn North Richland Hills' 1960s-1980s neighborhoods, old drop-in sinks usually change to undermount when the tops are replaced.
- Countertop Replacement in Watauga, TXWatauga's mostly 1970s-1980s homes have modest kitchens where replacing only the tops keeps the budget in check.
- Countertop Replacement in Haltom City, TXHaltom City's 1950s-1960s homes often have cabinets older than their counters, so every box is checked before stone goes on.
- Countertop Replacement in Red Oak, TXRed Oak's growing subdivisions have builder laminate or entry granite that owners replace on the existing cabinets.
- Countertop Replacement in Seagoville, TXOlder Seagoville homes on the rural edge can have sink bases softened by past leaks, repaired before new tops are set.
- Countertop Replacement in Cockrell Hill, TXCockrell Hill's compact 1940s-1950s houses often have walls out of square, which the template captures before stone is cut.
Countertop Replacement Questions, Answered
Can you replace countertops without damaging the backsplash?
Do my cabinets need to be leveled before new stone goes on?
Will I need a new sink with new countertops?
How long will I be without a kitchen?
Can a tile countertop on a mortar bed be removed cleanly?
Request an Estimate for Countertop Replacement
Calling is fastest: (239) 545-0550. Or send the basics and we will call you back on the next business day.
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