Granite
Granite is quarried stone, so every slab differs and you pick the actual slab. It suits a house that still has original wood cabinets and warm tones. It does need sealing from time to time.
Custom Countertops in La Verne, CA, Built to Replace Old Tile
Rancho Cucamonga Custom Countertops is Los Angeles County's trusted specialist in custom countertops in La Verne, CA, specializing in mud-set tile removal, granite kitchen tops and quartz replacement surfaces. We offer full-height stone backsplashes and undermount sink installs.
- Free template visit
- Seams approved before a cut
- One written quote
Get a free template visit or a bid
Or call (909) 922-1858. Calls only, we do not receive text messages.
Countertops for La Verne
Our team provides substrate repair under the old mortar bed, delivering a flat, sound base for the new countertop in older kitchens and dependable results for both residential and commercial projects. The same crew that templates your kitchen comes back to install it, and every cut is made wet in the shop, never inside your house.
From breaking out the old mortar bed at the cabinet cross-members to setting a level top and reconnecting the sink, our team handles every detail. Serving La Verne along with San Dimas, Claremont and Glendora, we keep each tear-off on a set schedule and leave a kitchen that is clean, sound and ready to cook in.
How we work
One Crew From Template to Install
Homeowners get a free template visit. Contractors, cabinet shops and builders get tops to their schedule.
Same crewThe crew that templates your cabinets is the crew that installs the tops
Seams approved firstSeam layout marked on your chosen slab and approved before anything is cut
Cut in the shopEvery cut made wet in the shop, never in your home
CA License #585047Licensed, bonded and insured
Removing a mud-set tile top in La Verne
Removing a mud-set tile countertop in La Verne means breaking out a thick layer of mortar, not just lifting tiles, so it is planned as its own step on install day. A lot of the town's housing went up in the 1970s, and the tile counters from that era were often floated on a thick sand and cement bed, then tiled over.
That bed does not come off like laminate. It comes out in heavy, dusty sections. The accepted method is to knock off the tiled front edge first, expose the mortar, then drive a bar in at a corner or at a cabinet cross-member and lift, because prying between supports is how cabinet sides get split.
How we keep the dust in the kitchen
- Plastic sheeting on the doorways and over the floor before the first tile is touched.
- Tile and mortar bagged and carried straight to the truck, never piled in the yard.
- Plumbing disconnected before demolition so a supply line is never pulled loose by a falling section.
Tear-off and the new install are usually separate visits. The old top has to come out before the base can be judged, and the new stone is only templated once that base is right.
What is under the old tile
Under a 1970s tile top there is usually a wood deck of plywood, particleboard or 2x6 boards, and its condition decides whether stone can go straight on. That deck has spent decades under grout lines that let water through, most of all around the sink and the dishwasher.
Three things are checked once the mortar is gone:
- Water damage. Soft, swollen or dark wood around the sink cabinet is cut out and replaced, not covered.
- Level. A deck that dips or twists is shimmed or rebuilt so the stone sits flat and seams stay tight.
- Cabinet tops. The front rails and sides are checked for splits from the old bed's weight and from the removal itself.
Particleboard that has swelled near the sink is the most common find. It is also the one that matters most, because a new undermount sink hangs from the underside of the stone right above it.
A 3 cm stone slab does not need a plywood deck to span a normal base cabinet, so on many kitchens the old deck comes off entirely and the stone sits on the cabinet frames. A 2 cm slab is different: it wants a glued and screwed plywood base with supports no more than 24 inches apart. Which one suits your kitchen is settled at the template visit.
Choosing the new top for a 1970s La Verne kitchen
For a La Verne kitchen coming off tile, most owners choose between granite for its natural pattern and quartz for a surface that never needs sealing. Both are a big step up from grout lines that stain and chip.
Quartz
Quartz is an engineered mix of ground quartz and resin. It resists staining from food and household products better than most common surfaces and is never sealed, which suits a busy family kitchen.
The 4-inch splash goes too
The old tile splash almost always comes off with the counter, because it was set on the same bed and shares its grout line. That leaves bare wall behind the counter, which makes tear-off day the natural moment to decide between a short stone splash and a full-height slab to the underside of the upper cabinets. Deciding before templating avoids patching drywall twice.
Countertop costs in La Verne
A standard kitchen replacement in quartz or granite in La Verne is typically estimated at roughly $2,500 to $6,000 for a 30 to 40 square foot kitchen, and a mud-set tile tear-off pushes a job toward the upper part of that range.
Removal and disposal of an old top is usually estimated at about $100 to $500 on its own, and a mortar bed sits at the heavy end because it is slower to break out and weighs more to haul. A full-height slab backsplash typically adds an estimated $2,000 to $8,000, depending on wall area and outlet cutouts.
What moves the price on an older kitchen
- How much of the wood deck has water damage and needs replacing.
- Cabinet levelling or repair after the old bed comes off.
- Material group and slab count, which is set by yield, not just area.
- Edge profile, seams and their placement.
- Cutouts for the sink, cooktop and any outlets in a tall splash.
- Plumbing disconnect and reconnect.
Every figure on this page is an estimate for La Verne and is subject to change. Your final price is set in the written quote after we see the deck under the tile and measure the cabinets.
Scheduling around the university and the 210
Most La Verne jobs are booked for mid-morning arrival so the crew and the stone clear the Foothill Freeway before traffic builds. The 210 cuts across the city east to west, and historic Route 66 runs through it too, so our route in from Rancho Cucamonga is short.
Homes near the University of La Verne on 3rd Street and around Bonita Avenue and D Street see heavier street parking during the school year, so we ask about parking and the drive when we book. The stone truck needs to stop close to the door on install day.
The new Metro A Line stop at La Verne/Fairplex opened on September 19, 2025, beside the Fairplex grounds. Event days there change traffic on the south side of town, and we check the calendar before setting an install date.
The university and the small offices near campus also bring the occasional break-room or reception top. If you manage one, send the drawings and we will price it the same way we price any trade job.
Book a template visit in La Verne
Call to book a template visit. We look at the tile, ask what is under it, measure the run and talk through granite, quartz and backsplash height, then send a written quote. Once you approve it and choose a slab, the tear-off and install dates are set together.
Finishes and Edges We Fabricate
Questions
La Verne Countertop Questions
How long does it take to replace a tile countertop in La Verne?
A La Verne tile replacement gets its install date once the deck is checked and the slab chosen. The tear-off can be its own visit, because the deck under the mortar has to be checked and fixed before the stone is measured. Fabrication then follows your slab choice.
Can you install new stone on my existing cabinets?
Usually, yes. Cabinets built for a heavy mortar bed are often sound enough for stone once the bed is off. We check the front rails and sides for splits and level them before templating. A cabinet with a swollen or soft base is repaired first.
Will removing the old tile damage my walls?
The tile splash is set on the same bed and usually comes off with some drywall paper. We plan for that. If you choose a full-height slab, the wall is covered anyway; if you choose a short splash, the damaged strip above it needs a patch and paint.
Should I repair my tile counter instead of replacing it?
Replacing a cracked tile or regrouting is cheaper in the short run, but on a 1970s top the deck underneath is often already wet. If the grout near the sink is dark or loose, replacement is usually the better spend.
What happens at the template visit?
We measure every run, note the sink, cooktop and faucet positions, and check how level the cabinets are. When the old top is already off, we template the new one then. Otherwise we measure for the quote and template after tear-off.
Do you cover my part of La Verne?
Yes. We cover the whole city, from the foothill streets north of the 210 down to the Fairplex side, and the neighbouring towns of San Dimas, Claremont and Glendora.
What does a countertop job cost in La Verne?
A standard quartz or granite kitchen is typically estimated at roughly $2,500 to $6,000, with a mortar-bed tear-off at the higher end. Your written quote sets the final price after we see what is under the tile.
Do you give a warranty?
Yes. Every install comes with a written warranty, and we go over what it covers before you sign the quote.
Free template visit
Talk to us about countertops in La Verne
Homeowners get a free template visit. Contractors and builders can send plans for a bid.
Licensed, bonded & insured · License #585047. Calls only, we do not receive text messages.