Countertop Installation in Big Lake, MN

Pick Your Stone and Leave the Templating to Us

Quartz countertops are nonporous and never need sealing, but the resin that binds the stone begins to scorch around 150F, which is why the surface you choose should match how you cook. Curtis C Contracting LLC handles countertop installation in Big Lake, MN, Elk River and Otsego: quartz, granite, solid surface, laminate and butcher block, templating and seam planning, sink and cooktop cutouts, removal of the old tops, backsplash coordination, and bathroom vanity tops sized to the cabinet below.


Each installation follows a set order: we template after the cabinets are level and fastened, plan seams away from the sink cutout, and return 1 to 3 weeks later to set the tops in a single day. Licensed plumbers on our projects reconnect the sink, faucet and disposal. We hold Minnesota residential building contractor license BC808587, carry BBB A+ accreditation, bring 30 years of finish carpentry and surface work, and quote for free. Request yours through our contact page.

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Countertops We Install

  • Quartz Countertops

    Engineered quartz combines ground stone with resin, giving a surface that resists stains without sealing but scorches above 150F. We set slabs on leveled cabinets, cut sink openings with polished edges, and place seams where the pattern hides the joint.

  • Granite Countertops

    Granite is quarried stone, so every slab is unique and porous enough to need sealing every 1-2 years if honed or 3-5 years if densely polished. We help you tag the slab at the yard, then template, fabricate and set it.

  • Solid Surface Countertops

    Acrylic solid surface can be joined with color-matched adhesive and sanded flush, so seams nearly disappear and an integral sink bonds underneath with no grime-collecting rim. Scratches sand out, and we fabricate coved backsplashes as one piece with the top.

  • Laminate and Butcher Block Countertops

    Laminate remains the budget option, lasting 10-20 years if hot pans stay off it, and we build it on particleboard substrate with a post-formed or square edge. Butcher block gets glued-up hardwood strips, a food-safe finish and monthly mineral oil.

  • Templating, Seam Planning and Cutouts

    Templating happens after cabinets are set, so the pattern captures every wall bow and out-of-square corner. We map seams away from sink and cooktop cutouts, hold the 1-1.5-inch overhang, and add corbels where a seating ledge runs past 12 inches.

  • Bathroom Vanity Tops

    Vanity tops take the same quartz, granite and solid surface as kitchens, sized to the cabinet with a 4-inch backsplash and faucet holes drilled for your fixture. Undermount and vessel sinks need a different cutout, and licensed plumbers handle the hookup.

Why Choose Us for Countertops

Seams Planned Where the Eye Will Not Land

Seam placement is decided on paper before cutting, with joints steered toward the back of an L, under a pattern change or away from the sink. Veining is matched across the joint, and we show you the layout before fabrication.

Cabinets Checked for Level Before We Template

A stone top will not bend to a cabinet run that dips 1/4 inch over 10 feet; it will crack or rock instead. We shim and screw the boxes level, confirm the face frames are flush, and only then take the template.

Cutouts Matched to the Sink and Cooktop You Chose

Undermount sinks, drop-in cooktops and slide-in ranges each call for a cutout with different clearances, so we work from the manufacturer's template, not a generic one. Bring fixture spec sheets to the template appointment and openings fit the first time.

Backsplash Coordinated With Your Tile Setter

Tile backsplash, a full-height slab or a 4-inch stone lip each change how the top meets the wall, so we settle the plan before templating. For tile, we leave the right reveal and schedule the tile setter after the set.

Old Tops Removed Without Wrecking the Cabinets

Prying off a glued laminate top or a stone slab can tear face frames and split cabinet sides when rushed. We cut caulk lines, back out the fasteners, leave plumbing disconnects to licensed plumbers, and haul the old tops away.

Plumbing Reconnected by Licensed Plumbers

Sink, faucet, disposal and dishwasher connections under a new top are plumbing work, and Minnesota requires a licensed plumbing contractor. We schedule licensed plumbers on our projects to reconnect after the set, so the kitchen is back in service without a gap.

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From Template Day to the First Meal on Your New Counter

A countertop is the surface you touch more than any other in the house, and the install is what decides whether it stays flat, sealed at the wall and quiet under a cutting board for years. Curtis C Contracting LLC handles countertop installation in Big Lake, MN from slab selection through templating, seam layout, cutouts and the set, with licensed plumbers reconnecting the sink once the adhesive cures. Whether you are swapping tired laminate for quartz, adding a granite island top, or finishing a vanity, we can walk you through the options on your own cabinets and put a price to each. Request a free quote through our contact page and we will set a template date.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How long do quartz countertops last?

    Expect quartz to outlast most of the kitchen around it, because the resin-bound surface never needs sealing and resists stains; the realistic threats are heat above 150F, a blow to an unsupported edge and solvents. Trivets and mild soap keep it sound.

  • Can you put a hot pan on a quartz countertop?

    No, not straight from the burner or oven. Quartz is bound with resin that discolors or scorches around 150F, well below the temperature of a pan off the stove, and the mark is permanent. Set a trivet down first, every time.

  • Is granite or quartz better for kitchen countertops?

    Neither wins outright. Granite takes heat better and each slab differs, but needs periodic sealing; quartz is nonporous and color-consistent but scorches above 150F. Curtis C. Contracting installs both in Big Lake, MN and brings samples of each to your kitchen.

  • Can you cut directly on a granite countertop?

    Cutting on granite rarely marks the stone, but it dulls knives fast because granite is harder than steel, and repeated cutting can wear through the sealer and leave a dull patch. Use a board to save the blade and the polish.

  • How thick should a kitchen countertop be?

    Most quartz and granite tops are 3 cm, about 1-1/4 inches, spanning cabinets without plywood underlayment. A 2 cm slab, about 3/4 inch, needs support and a laminated edge for a thicker look, while laminate tops build up to 1-1/2 inches.

  • Do butcher block countertops need to be sealed?

    Yes, with a choice between a penetrating oil and a film finish. Food-prep surfaces get food-grade mineral oil monthly, more often at first, while a polyurethane or hardwax finish seals the wood but should not be cut on. Standing water damages either.

  • How long does it take to install a new countertop?

    Setting the tops takes 1 day, but the full process runs 1 to 3 weeks from template to install because fabrication happens off site. Curtis C. Contracting schedules templating in Big Lake, MN once cabinets are level and fastened.

  • Can you replace countertops without replacing cabinets?

    Usually, if the cabinet boxes are sound, level and strong enough to carry the new material, since stone weighs far more than the laminate it replaces. We add plywood decking or cross-bracing where needed and leave doors and drawer fronts untouched.