Plano Countertops helps homeowners and businesses across Plano, TX choose, fabricate and install the right countertop. A countertop replacement is one of the shorter home projects, but it has more moving parts than people expect. Knowing the sequence lets you prepare properly and catch problems while they are still cheap to fix.
Step 1: Selection and quote
You pick a material and see slabs. For natural stone, view the actual slabs, not a sample chip — granite and quartzite vary enormously within a colour name.
The quote at this stage is an estimate based on rough measurements. It becomes firm after templating.
What to settle now
- Material and specific slab.
- Edge profile.
- Sink type — undermount, drop-in or farmhouse. This affects the cutout and must be decided before fabrication.
- Backsplash: none, 4-inch stone, or tile installed later.
- Overhang depth on the island.
Step 2: Templating
A technician comes to the house and measures precisely, usually with a digital laser templating system. This takes an hour or two.
What has to be true before templating
This is the step most often rushed, and it causes most of the problems:
- The old countertop must be off, unless you have arranged for the fabricator to template over it.
- The cabinets must be installed, fastened and level. Stone cannot correct a cabinet that is out of level.
- The actual sink and cooktop must be on site. Not the model number — the physical appliance, because real dimensions differ from spec sheets.
- Any wall repairs behind the counter should be done.
If cabinets are not level, they get shimmed now. Our countertop installation crews check level at templating rather than discovering it on install day.
Step 3: Slab layout and approval
The fabricator lays your pieces out digitally on a photo of your actual slab. You should see this and approve it.
This is where you catch a seam falling in a bad spot, a dramatic vein landing at the sink cutout, or a blemish ending up in the middle of your island. Once the saw runs, it is done.
Step 4: Fabrication
Cutting, edge profiling, polishing and cutouts happen at the shop, usually over one to two weeks. Nothing is required of you here.
Step 5: Installation day
Usually a single day for a standard kitchen. The crew brings the pieces in, dry-fits them, scribes to the walls where needed, sets them with adhesive, joins and fills the seams, and installs the sink if that is part of the scope.
What to prepare
- Clear the kitchen entirely, including the cabinets below the counter.
- Clear a path from the driveway — the pieces are heavy and awkward.
- Keep pets and children out of the work area.
- Expect dust. Cutting and polishing happen at the shop, but scribing and adjustments happen on site.
What to inspect before the crew leaves
- Run a fingernail across each seam. It should be flat.
- Check the seam colour — the epoxy should match the stone, not stand out.
- Put a level on each run.
- Check the overhang is even along its length.
- Look at the edge profile under a light for polish consistency.
- Check the reveal where the counter meets the wall and the backsplash line.
Raise anything now. It is far easier to address on the day than in a follow-up visit.
Step 6: Plumbing and finishing
The adhesive under the sink usually needs time to cure before the plumbing is reconnected — commonly around 24 hours, though it varies by product. Your plumber comes after that.
Caulking at the wall and around the sink is either included or left for you. Clarify which.
If you are having a tile backsplash installed, that happens after the counter is in.
Timeline, realistically
Template to installation is usually one to three weeks. Installation itself is one day. Plumbing reconnection is the day after. Budget for two days without a working kitchen sink.
Common causes of delay
- Sink or cooktop not on site at templating.
- Cabinets not finished or not level.
- Slab damaged during fabrication — rare, but it resets the clock.
- A layout change requested after the slab has been cut.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay in the house during installation?
Yes. The kitchen is unusable for the day and there is noise, but the work is contained.
Who removes the old countertop?
Usually the fabricator, as a separate line item. Confirm, because some quotes assume you have done it.
Do I need a plumber, or does the installer handle it?
Most stone installers do not do plumbing. Arrange a plumber for disconnect and reconnect.
What if my cabinets are not level?
They get shimmed. If they are badly out or structurally weak, they need to be fixed first — stone will not hide it and unlevel cabinets can crack a slab over time.
Know the sequence before you start
We walk through each step at the quoting stage so nothing lands as a surprise. Call (469) 649-8119.
