[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by RobertScott

I am not a Dev Basher, but it was in very poor taste for them to specify the formica type counters with a seam against the backboard, and two upward facing seams at the 45 degree slope at the front.

No matter how careful one is, water is going to pentrate that seam, and / or roll down at the bottom, and begin compromising the substrate, especially since the water does not pitch inbound. Thus begins swelling, and crumbling along the bottom.

I understand that the defaults that come with the house aren't top tier, but they shouldn't be made of something that fails fairly rapidly under normal use. We eat out a fair amount as well.

That being said, it would appear that we are going to have to replace the kitchen ones in the near future.

About how much would I be looking at, to replace the L shaped one by the sink, the big one on the island, and the one to the right of the stove. I realize this depends upon what exactly we pick, we do not want stone, would want " solid man made" I guess. I understand this is not a cheap thing to do, but I would like to wrap my mind around some ballpark figure, as I have no idea.

We are in the process of replacing the original high pressure laminate counters in kitchen and two bathrooms with quartz.

Depends upon the quartz you picked and square footage as well as the sinks and backsplash but would suggest at least $ 10,000 and possibly more depending on what you want.