Article
Install day checklist for the homeowner
What to clear, prepare and expect on install day, from cabinet access to the final walk-through once the countertops are set.
What is the one thing that makes install day go faster? An empty kitchen. Dishes still coming off the old counters and boxes stacked across the floor can add an hour before the first piece of stone comes through the door.
Clear the counters and cabinets
Everything on the old countertops needs to come off before the crew arrives, along with anything in the upper cabinets directly above the work area. The crew needs a clear path to lift the old top off and set the new one in its place, and small appliances or dish racks left in the way slow that process down.
Clear a path to the kitchen
Stone is heavy, and a slab moving through a house needs a straight, wide path from the driveway to the kitchen. Move furniture, rugs and anything breakable out of hallways the crew will walk through, and let us know ahead of time if there are stairs or a tight doorway so we can plan for it.
Who needs to be home
Someone should be present when the crew arrives to walk through the layout, confirm sink and cooktop placement, and answer any last questions before the top goes down. You do not need to stay in the kitchen the whole day, but being reachable by phone matters in case a question comes up mid-install.
What happens during install
The crew sets the stone pieces on the cabinets, joins any seams with color-matched epoxy, and checks that everything sits level. If your job includes a sink, it gets set, faucet holes are drilled on site, and a sealer is applied to granite and marble before the crew leaves. Any adjustments to a cabinet or cutout that come up on site get handled before the crew packs up.
Pets, kids and the work zone
The kitchen becomes a work zone with tools, stone edges and moving pieces for a few hours, so it is worth keeping pets and small children in another part of the house during the install. It is a safety matter more than a convenience one, and it lets the crew move without stopping to work around foot traffic.
Before the crew leaves
Walk the counters with the lead installer before they go: check the seams, run a hand along the edges, confirm the sink and faucet holes line up, and ask about anything that looks off. Cleanup of dust and packaging is part of the job, so the kitchen should be usable, not just installed, by the time the crew drives away.
Utilities and access
Make sure the water supply under the sink can be shut off easily, and that there is a clear outlet nearby if the crew needs power tools inside the kitchen. If a range or dishwasher needs to be disconnected before the old top comes off, let us know ahead of time so we can plan whether that falls to a plumber or to our crew on the day.
After install
Sealed stone needs a short cure window before it gets heavy daily use, and we will tell you what that looks like for your specific material before we leave. A clean kitchen and a clear path in the morning make the whole day move faster for everyone.
How long the day takes
A straightforward kitchen with one or two seams and a single sink usually wraps in a matter of hours, while a larger kitchen with an island, a waterfall edge or multiple cutouts can run longer. We give you a realistic window when we schedule the install so you can plan the rest of your day around it rather than guessing.
If you are scheduling an install or still planning the job ahead of it, send the estimate form or call us.