Kitchen Countertops in North Charleston, SC
From the run beside the stove to the island in the middle, we replace kitchen countertops for homeowners all over North Charleston.
- Quotes in writing
- 8 areas covered
Worn, stained or just tired kitchen counters? We can swap them out. North Charleston Countertops comes to your home, takes measurements off your cabinets, and has new slabs cut to match, with openings for the sink and the stove top.
Start with how you cook
Before we talk about color, we ask how your kitchen gets used: who chops, what gets spilled, and where the hot pans land.
On scratches, the National Park Service explains that the Mohs scale ranks a mineral by how well it stands up to scratching. On its chart, quartz sits at 7, a steel nail at 6.5 and calcite at 3. Calcite is what marble is made of, and the U.S. Geological Survey compares its tight crystals to pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
On acid, the USGS says acids in polluted air and rain dissolve the calcite in marble and limestone, leaving the surface rough. If lemon, tomato and vinegar end up on your counter a lot, we'll go over that with you before you settle on marble.
NIOSH says engineered stone is also called quartz, and the OSHA and NIOSH hazard alert describes engineered stone as man-made. Quartzite is different, and the USGS calls it a rock made mostly of quartz that formed from sandstone. Soapstone, the USGS says, is an impure rock holding talc, the softest mineral there is.
Every one of these can go in a kitchen, and we fit them all: granite, quartz, quartzite, marble, soapstone, solid surface, porcelain, concrete and butcher block.
Sinks, outlets and the city's rules
If your new layout keeps the sink where it is now, we'll say so up front. If the sink has to move, the City of North Charleston has a plumbing permit, and its permit page says no work can be done until a permit is issued. The city's fee chart lists a $30.00 filing fee that is not refunded, plus $3.50 for each plumbing fixture, and it notes the chart leaves out the city business license fee.
Outlets along the counter are on the city's list as well. Its electrical permit page says all kitchen countertop receptacles, the outlets, must be GFCI protected. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says a GFCI, short for ground fault circuit interrupter, is a device that protects you from severe electrical shocks. If any outlets need changing, the city says only a licensed electrician or a residential home builder can get the electrical permit.
Wiping down and drying out
FoodSafety.gov tells you to wash counters with hot, soapy water, most of all after raw meat, poultry, seafood or eggs have been on them. It also says not to thaw or marinate food on the counter at all.
Near the sink, the thing to watch is water. The EPA says the key to mold control is moisture control, and that in most cases mold won't grow if a wet spot is dried within 24-48 hours of a leak or spill. It also says not to seal over mold. Clean it up and let the surface dry first. If we lift an old top and find a stained or soft cabinet floor under the sink, we'll show you before the new one goes on.
The dust from cutting stone
OSHA says cutting, sawing, grinding or drilling stone creates crystalline silica dust, in bits at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand. Before you sign with anyone, ask where the cutting happens and how the dust is handled.
How we price a kitchen
We don't guess at a price. After we measure, you get a written price based on the material, how many square feet of counter you need, the edge shape, and how many openings we cut for the sink and stove top.
Put it on paper
The city's plumbing permit application asks for a contract with a detailed scope of work, including the cost of materials and labor. A clear written contract helps you whether or not your job needs a permit. Make sure yours covers:
- The material by name and how thick the slab is.
- A layout sketch showing every seam, the joint where two pieces meet, and every opening.
- The edge profile, meaning the shape of the front edge.
- The shop where your slab gets cut and shaped.
- Whether removing and hauling off the old tops is included.
- Who unhooks and reconnects the sink, faucet and stove top.
Questions about kitchen countertops in North Charleston
Which counters are easiest to keep clean?
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service says nonporous surfaces, such as plastic, marble or glass, are easier to clean than wood. That's worth weighing if you're torn between stone and a wood top.
Should I keep a separate cutting board for raw meat?
The Food Safety and Inspection Service suggests one board for fresh produce and bread and a separate one for raw meat, poultry and seafood. Whichever counter you pick, we'd keep knives on a board, not on the top itself.
How long is a North Charleston plumbing permit good for?
The city says plumbing permits are good for 6 months. If no inspection is done in that time, the permit expires and the holder has to start the process again. The permit holder also has to call in their own inspections, unless an authorization letter went to the Building Department first.
Will my HOA need to sign off?
It might. The city's electrical permit page lists a homeowners association letter of approval, if applicable, among the papers to attach. If your neighborhood has an HOA, check its rules before work starts.
Do you take away the old countertops?
Yes, we can take out old laminate, tile or stone tops and fit the new ones in their place as part of a countertop replacement. Ask for removal when you request a quote and we'll list it in writing.
Can the island be a different material from the rest?
Yes, we can fit the island in one material and the wall runs in another. We'll mark where each piece starts and ends on the layout drawing.
Can you add a backsplash too?
Yes, we can add a backsplash once the new counters are in, covering the band of wall just above them with tile or stone to match.
What if only one piece is cracked?
Send us a photo first. We'll tell you whether a countertop repair will hold or that section should be replaced.
Ready for a kitchen quote?
Give us a call, or fill in the quote form with your ZIP code and the rooms you have in mind. We'll come out to measure, walk you through materials and edges, and put the price in writing. The home page lists every countertop we fit in North Charleston.
Ready to talk about your countertop job?
Call us or send the quote form with your ZIP code and what you need. We will get back to you with a written quote.