Per the internet - Countertops of comparable size of granite and quartz will weigh about the same, give or take a few pounds

I'm surprised you still have the 70s cabinets from Ryan. Ryan Homes is not noted for using quality material. Laminate countertops are not the same as in the 70s, if you want to keep the cabinets. Go out and look at Formica and WilsonArt laminate at a store and online. They have many beautiful patterns and edges now, yet they are still the workhorses of countertops. The only way to destroy them is to put a very hot pot on them or cut on them. That is the case in most countertops. When we moved into our present home we replaced the countertops. I researched different types and had the budget to buy what ever I wanted. I still went with laminate and have no regrets. My other choice was SS, but ruled it out because it scratches to easily. By the way if you do go with laminate get an flush mounted sink. Love, love mine.

I wish this "too heavy" myth would die. Your cabinets aren't too weak for natural or engineered stone, I guarantee.

Thanks to each of you for good advice. Verbo, you're right. Joseph, that's interesting. I didn't know it was just a myth. I don't remember where I got the information. And functionthenlook, handy to know they weigh the same. And the reason the cabinets are still standing is that I have repaired them multiple times, probably not correctly… and shifted contents to not overtax them.

Cheap cabinets tend to have poor quality drawer boxes, drawer slides, and hinges. The actual cabinet box typically will support plenty of weight (though I agree with verbo that the cost of quartz may me wasted on old ‘flimsy’ cabinets)

We moved into this house over 20 years ago and barely touched it while getting kids launched. Once we decided to stay here instead of moving, we started upgrading. We are currently in the process of creating a 3/4 bath downstairs for convalescing or those last years. Next we will address the upstairs, creating a private bathroom for every bedroom. And finally, we will address the kitchen and some architectural features downstairs. But the kitchen is such a quandary. My mind goes all over the place. I really appreciate the Yoda advice reminder, "Do or do not; there is no try."

I understand your dilemma in terms of what to do or even whether to do it because I lived with a home that had become rundown since I hadn't done anything after I had moved in and done basic stuff - i.e. put in flooring; new counter and new sink.

My cabinets were the orignal 1965 build - they weren't a brand but had been built on site and were solid as a rock but pretty terrible as the drawers didn't even have slides but were just wood like the way furniture draws are.

I would contemplate making small changes but then realized that one change would inevitably lead to another change and it would cascade. Even a small thing like getting a new refrigerator would be major because the original space was small so a *normal* size would entail cutting down cabinets and then repairing. And so on.

I held out onto I was able to do a full remodel and I was so thankful that I had lived in the "squalor" until the time was right.

I do agree with @Verbo completely as the priority in terms of budget should be dealing with the downstainrs - the kitchen and adding a bathroom if that makes sense in terms of preparing to age in place. Adding bathrooms upstairs that it appears no one currently uses doesn't seem to make sense. Of course doing a remodel of your master bathroom so that it aesthetically pleases you AND works as you age in place is something that makes sense.

Spending any amount of money on putting in new counters - even laminate counters doesn't seem to make sense. I had installed laminate counters when I first moved into my condo and they lasted pretty well but towards the end there were small patches where the color was starting to come off because they had been washed so often but that didn't impact the functionality and so I just lived with the less aesthetic counter.

If some kind of major remodel were not on the horizon I would advise differently as there is no reason not to spruce up something relatively inexpensively. But since you are contemplating expensive remodeling/construction, I think you should consider your priorities and certainly a lovely kitchen that functions better would be more of a priority - at least for me - than guest bathrooms upstairs which are rarely used.

Upstairs not for kids. For grandkids, out of state relatives and international visitors related to work, sometimes staying for 3 months