Quartz Countertops in North Charleston, SC
Our team templates your cabinets, has the quartz cut off site, and sets new tops in North Charleston kitchens and baths.
- Quotes in writing
- 8 areas covered
We fit quartz countertops in North Charleston homes for people who want one steady color from end to end. We come out, measure every run of cabinet, and price the job for your kitchen or bath before anything is cut.
Quartz is a man-made stone
Quartz goes by a few other names. NIOSH, which is part of the CDC, says engineered stone is also called artificial stone, manufactured stone, or quartz. OSHA uses words like man-made and cultured stone for the same thing.
A report kept in the CDC's library explains the recipe: crushed stone bound by resins, with added pigments. The same report says this material has become the most used countertop material in the United States over the past decade.
Quartz and quartzite are not the same thing. The U.S. Geological Survey says quartzite is a natural rock, made mostly of quartz, that forms from sandstone. We fit both, and you can read about the natural one on our quartzite countertops page.
Why we never cut your quartz in the kitchen
The CDC report says engineered stone typically contains more than 90% crystalline silica, while granite has about 30%. It also says that cutting, polishing and finishing these slabs can release large quantities of silica dust.
NIOSH says silicosis, caused by breathing that dust, is a lung disease that cannot be reversed, and the CDC report describes a new epidemic of it among workers who cut and finish engineered stone. An OSHA and NIOSH hazard alert says to do as much of the work as you can in a shop rather than at the install site. So we make a template, a full-size pattern of your counters, at the house, have the slabs cut and edged in the shop, and bring the finished pieces back to set.
City rules that can touch a quartz job in North Charleston
We look at permits once your sink, pipes or outlets are moving.
- The City of North Charleston issues a plumbing permit and says no work can be done until one is issued. Its application asks for a contract that lays out the scope of work, with the cost of materials and labor.
- The city says any work on the sewer needs a second permit, this one from the sewer district.
- The city's electrical permit page says countertop receptacles, the outlets along the counter, must be GFCI protected. It also says only a licensed electrician or residential home builder can get an electrical permit.
If your new layout moves anything on that list, we tell you when we measure, before you sign.
How we put your quartz price together
We quote once we have measured your house, and the quote is written down. The total moves with the slab color and brand, the square footage we cover, the edge shape, and the number of holes cut for a sink, a faucet or a cooktop, the burners set into the counter.
Your written quote from us names the quartz, shows a layout drawing with the seams marked, and says whether removing and hauling off the old tops is included. We also put in writing who disconnects and reconnects the sink and the faucet. Ask for the same detail from anyone else you get a price from. Thinking about natural stone as well? We can price granite or marble next to it.
Questions about quartz countertops in North Charleston
What does GFCI mean on a kitchen counter?
The CPSC says a ground fault circuit interrupter, called a GFCI or GFI, is a device built into your wiring or into a power cord that guards you from severe electric shocks. When we measure, we point out the outlets along your counter so you know if an electrician should look at them.
How long does a North Charleston plumbing permit last?
The city says these permits are good for 6 months. If no inspection happens in that time, the permit expires and the process has to begin again.
When does the city send an inspector?
The plumbing permit page says inspections take place from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday, on days the city is open. It also says an inspector will not inspect if the site is missing the permit drawings and a permit box.
My house was built before 1978. Does that matter?
It can, if we disturb the painted wall just above your old counters. The EPA says about three-quarters of U.S. homes built before 1978 still have some lead-based paint. Its lead renovation rule, called the RRP Rule, says anyone paid to disturb painted surfaces in those homes must be certified and their workers trained in lead-safe work.
How should I clean a quartz counter after cooking?
FoodSafety.gov says to wash countertops with hot, soapy water, most of all after raw meat, poultry, seafood or eggs have been on them. We also suggest a stand or pad under hot pots and a board under your knife.
Can quartz go in a bathroom as well as a kitchen?
Yes, we fit quartz on bathroom vanity tops too, so a hall bath can match the kitchen countertops we put in.
Could I see a sample before I choose a color?
Yes, we can bring samples to your house so you see them beside your cabinets and under your own lighting, at different times of the day.
What if my laminate tops are worn out?
We take out old laminate or tile and set quartz in its place as a countertop replacement, and once the new tops are in we can face the strip of wall just above them with a backsplash installation.
Ask for a quartz quote
Give us a call or fill in the quote form with your ZIP code and the rooms you have in mind. We will come and measure, show you colors and edges, and write up your price. Our other countertop work is on the North Charleston Countertops home page, and if a quartz top you already have is chipped, see countertop repair.
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.