If you’re installing new cabinets, it’s best to have them installed and anchored before your countertop contractor visits to template your project. You may be able to find a contractor willing to create a template before final installation, but it is not recommended. Small positioning differences between pinned vs. Unanchored cabinets can undermine the quality of the final countertop installation.

However, if you keep your current cabinets, you may want to consider doing a little demolition work yourself. By removing existing countertops yourself, you can save money. Keep in mind, however, that if you let the contractor remove the countertops and something is damaged through negligence, you’ll have to repair or replace it. If you damage your own cabinets, you may lose out on the savings from doing the demolition work yourself, not to mention the frustration you’ll experience!

Since granite is a natural product, each piece has a different coloration. For this reason, it is best that you personally choose the slabs to be used for your countertops. Different patterns and color variations can be loved by one person and hated by another. Be proactive and avoid an installed countertop you love except for that “weird spot by the stove.” Any trusted installer will be happy to help you choose tiles for your countertops.

Please note that countertop installers are not electricians or plumbers. You will need to unhook all connections before the installers arrive to do the job and you will need an electrician and/or plumber to make the reconnections after the countertops are installed. Being aware of this can help you with timing issues so you’re not stuck with a working kitchen for days after installation. Having the right contractors lined up before installation will make your life so much easier.

Also, make sure your installer will “walk around” your countertops. The granite must be cut during installation to allow for your sink, outlets, or other kitchen implements. Unfortunately, the undercuts make the surrounding granite susceptible to breaking from heavy weights or impact. Rolling is the process of adding rods to the underside of the granite to help it resist cracking or breaking. For best practices, make sure your installer is using stainless steel rods so you don’t have rods that start to rust within the stone over time. A small section of rust can lead to “rock lifting” which will crack the granite. By the way, in experiments with granite samples, samples without rods will break with as little as twenty pounds applied. The same specimens with rods can support hundreds of pounds and will actually bend instead of break! Rodding is particularly important at the front of the sink where there is a lot of activity.

Hopefully these tips will help you have a better installation experience. Congratulations on your stylish new countertops!