Yes, in many kitchens a new countertop goes on the cabinets that are already there. The countertop shop will check the boxes before it makes a template, and a few things decide whether they pass.
What gets checked
Level and flat. Stone and quartz do not bend to follow a sagging cabinet. The tops of the boxes have to be level and in one plane, or brought there with shims before the template.
Strength. A stone top is far heavier than the laminate it may replace. The boxes, their joints and the floor under them have to carry it, and long spans or a cabinet with no back or top rails may need added support.
The sink base. Look inside the cabinet under the sink. A floor that is swollen, stained or crumbling from an old leak means that box has to be repaired or replaced before a new top sits on it. See After water damage.
Height and depth. The new top has to work with the existing box height and depth, the dishwasher opening and the range. If the old top was thicker or thinner, the shop will say how that changes the height.
Overhangs. Seating at a peninsula or an island needs the overhang supported, usually with brackets or a support plate the shop specifies.
Do the cabinets first
If the cabinets will be painted or refaced, do that before the template, or at least before the new top goes on. Painting around a finished stone top is slower and riskier than painting before it. In a house built before 1978, painting or sanding old cabinets for pay is lead-safe work; see Lead-safe remodeling.
What comes out with the old top
Removing a countertop disconnects the sink and faucet, and a tile backsplash usually comes off with it. Plan for a new backsplash, and for the wall behind it to need some repair.
Permits
Replacing a countertop where nothing else changes rarely needs a permit; the City of Las Vegas lists countertops among the work that needs none. Moving the sink or adding outlets is different; see Permits.
Updated 2026-10-12.