Kitchen Worktop Replacement

Keep your cabinets. Swap the worktops. Transform your kitchen for a fraction of a full refit. Supplied and fitted by our own team across London, the Home Counties and the wider South East. We’ve been doing replacement-only worktop jobs for 16 years from our base in Thame, Oxfordshire.

You don’t need a new kitchen — just new worktops

Here’s something most kitchen companies won’t tell you. Most of the time, your cabinets are absolutely fine. They’re solid, they work, they’ve got years of life left in them. It’s the worktops that let the side down. Chipped laminate. Scratched timber. Stained solid surfaces that have seen better days.

Replacing your worktops with quartz, granite or marble completely changes how your kitchen looks and feels. It’s the single most impactful upgrade you can make. New stone worktops on existing cabinets will make the whole room look like a different kitchen.

We see it constantly. Clients who were ready to spend the budget of a full refit, then realise they can get the transformation they want for a fraction of that.

Our “replace only” service

This is what we do day in, day out. We remove your old worktops, fit brand new stone surfaces on top of your existing cabinets, and leave you with a kitchen that looks like it cost several times what it did.

Your units stay exactly where they are. Your plumbing stays in place. Your tiling stays on the wall. We take off the old tops and put new ones on. Cleaner, faster and far less disruptive than ripping out the whole kitchen.

What about the cabinets?

Sometimes a cabinet or two needs a bit of attention before new worktops go on. A carcass might have swollen slightly where water got in. A corner unit might not be quite level any more. That’s fine. We have a carpenter on hand who can sort out minor repairs, replace a damaged panel or adjust units so everything sits perfectly before the stone goes down.

We’re not a full kitchen fitting company, and we’ll always be honest if your cabinets genuinely need replacing rather than patching up. In most cases, a bit of TLC is all that’s needed.

How it works

1. Send us photos and dimensions. Snap a few pictures of your current kitchen and give us the rough measurements. A quick sketch showing the layout helps too. You can email these to info@ipstone.co.uk or send them via WhatsApp.

2. Free quote. We’ll come back with a detailed price, usually within 24 hours. We recommend materials that suit your budget and style.

3. Templating. When you’re happy with the quote, we send our templater to your home. They use a digital laser system to map every edge, cutout and angle to the millimetre. This is what ensures a perfect fit.

4. Fitting day. Our team arrives, removes the old worktops, installs the new stone surfaces, connects your sink and hob, and seals everything up. Most replacements take a single day. You’ll be making dinner on your new worktops that evening.

In a rush? The 5-day fast track

Our 5-day fast-track service takes you from template to fitted kitchen in just five working days. Useful when you’re working to a deadline or simply can’t wait.

Materials available

You can choose from any stone in our range:

Quartz. Over 1,000 colours. Non-porous, zero maintenance, consistent colour. Our most popular choice for replacements. The marble-look quartzes (Calacatta-look, Carrara-look) outsell everything else.

Granite. Natural stone, unique patterns, completely heat-proof. A brilliant choice if you want character and durability.

Marble. The luxury option. Carrara, Calacatta, Statuario and more. Needs a bit more care, but nothing else matches it for beauty.

Quartz overlay. A different approach again — quartz fitted directly on top of your existing worktops. Usable when the existing tops are sound and the layout doesn’t need to change. Faster and less mess than a full replace.

Not sure which material suits you? That’s what the consultation is for. We’ll talk you through the pros and cons of each, bring samples if you like, and help you make a decision you’ll be happy with for years.

How much does a worktop replacement save vs a full refit?

We don’t put numbers in writing on the site because no two kitchens are the same. What we can tell you is the principle.

A full kitchen refit — new cabinets, new worktops, new appliances, plumbing, tiling, electrics — runs into the tens of thousands of pounds, depending on size and spec. A worktop-only replacement with quality stone is a fraction of that. The exact ratio depends on which stone you choose and how complex the layout is.

If your cabinets are structurally sound, new worktops deliver most of the visual impact for a small share of the cost. It’s the smartest renovation move going for kitchens that are tired but not falling apart.

Beyond the money, there’s the disruption factor. A full refit means weeks without a functioning kitchen — washing dishes in the bathroom, living off takeaways, tripping over fitters every morning. A worktop replacement? One day. Two at most for larger kitchens. Your kitchen is out of action for hours, not weeks.

When worktop replacement is — and isn’t — the right move

Replacement makes sense when:

• Your cabinets are structurally sound (no swelling, no broken hinges, no major water damage)
• You like the current kitchen layout
• The doors and drawer fronts still look good (or you’re planning to repaint/replace them separately, which is much cheaper than full cabinet replacement)
• The chipping, staining or wear is concentrated on the worktops

Replacement isn’t the right move when:

• The cabinets themselves are failing (rotted carcasses, broken structure)
• You want to redesign the layout (move sink, change cooker position, add an island)
• The kitchen is too small for the way you actually live now and a fundamental rethink is needed

In those cases, a full kitchen company is the right call. We’re stone worktop specialists, not full kitchen fitters, and we’ll tell you straight which path makes sense for your situation.

Common questions about worktop replacement

Can you replace just the worktops without changing the cabinets? Yes. That’s our whole speciality. Cabinets stay in place. Plumbing stays in place. Tiling stays. We swap the worktops only.

How long does a replacement take? Most kitchens are done in a single day. Larger or more complex kitchens (long L-shapes with islands, multiple sink cutouts, complex edge profiles) can run into a second day.

Will my new worktops fit on my existing cabinets? In nearly every case, yes. We template the worktops to your exact cabinet positions, so the new tops fit precisely. If a cabinet is wonky or damaged, we’ll flag it before fitting and our carpenter can sort it.

Do I need to disconnect my sink and hob before you arrive? No. Our team handles disconnection and reconnection of the sink (taps, waste, isolation valves) and hob (gas or electric). If your sink connects to a complex setup or there’s anything unusual, we’ll talk about it at templating.

Can you keep my existing tiling and splashbacks? Usually yes, especially if the new worktops are similar thickness to the old ones. If the new worktops are noticeably thicker or thinner, the relationship to the splashback might need attention. We’ll flag this at templating.

Can I choose any stone? Yes. Quartz, granite, marble or quartz overlay — same range we offer for new kitchens. Over 1,000 colours across the quartz range alone.

What if a cabinet is damaged? We have a carpenter on hand for minor repairs (swollen carcass, damaged panel, levelling adjustments). For full cabinet replacement, you’ll want a full kitchen fitter — we’ll be upfront if that’s what your kitchen needs.

Is overlay better than full replacement? Different. Quartz overlay is even less disruptive (no rip-out at all) but requires a sound substrate and no layout changes. Full replacement gives you more flexibility on edge profiles, thickness and stone choice. We’ll tell you which suits your kitchen at consultation.

Will you remove and dispose of my old worktops? Yes. We take the old worktops away as part of the job. They go to appropriate recycling or disposal — laminate to landfill, stone to stone-recycling where available.

Can I have a written quote before booking? Yes, always. No work happens until you’ve seen and accepted a written quote covering material, templating, fitting, sealing and VAT.

Do you replace worktops in London? Yes. We’re based in Thame, Oxfordshire and cover London, the Home Counties and the wider South East. Same team for every job, no subcontractors.

Why IP Stone

We’re worktop specialists based in Thame, Oxfordshire, with 16 years of experience. Worktop replacements are our bread and butter. We do them constantly, and we’ve got the process refined to cause you as little hassle as possible.

Our own team handles every stage, from the first phone call to the final seal. No subcontractors, no miscommunication, no surprises.

We cover London, the Home Counties and the wider South East.

Get a quote for your worktop replacement

Send us photos of your kitchen — phone snaps are fine — along with your rough measurements. We’ll reply with a clear, honest quote. No obligation, no chasing follow-up calls.

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Paula (office): 01844 698 821 Direct mobile: 07492 363 932 Email: info@ipstone.co.uk

Related guides

• Quartz Worktops
• Granite Worktops
• Marble Worktops
• Granite vs Quartz
• Quartz Overlay Worktops