The Ultimate Guide to a Flawless Granite Countertop Installation
The remodel of your kitchen changes how you live in your home. Countertop surfaces endure daily usage and must be chosen carefully based on the type of material used to create them. Professional installation of granite countertops combines both the natural beauty of the stone with the strength and durability of granite and will turn a typical kitchen into an outstanding place to make meals.
Many homeowners do not realize how complicated it is to install heavy stones, like granite, into an existing kitchen. To create a seamless transition from one countertop to another with a perfectly level finish requires skill, precision, specialized tools, and a lot of training.
A professional granite installation is an extremely complicated process that needs expert installation or you could end up cracking the granite, damaging your cabinets or creating uneven surface areas that trap moisture when not installed properly.
This guide will provide you with all the necessary information that you need prior to beginning your granite installation project. In this guide you will learn about the many advantages of granite as a natural product, how the granite installation process is completed, and the best way to locate local granite professionals who will be able to assist with the heavy lifting required during your kitchen remodel.
Why Natural Stone Elevates Kitchen Upgrades
Homeowners tend to display a preference for natural stone products for large kitchen renovation projects versus laminate or solid surfaces. The hundreds of thousands of years granite has taken to grow from the depths of the earth to the surface, creates textures, colours and patterns unique to each granite slab. This is something that cannot be produced in a factory setting.
In addition to their striking good looks, granite countertops are the workhorses of busy family households; they resist scratching from daily utensil use and can withstand extreme heat from hot pans without being scorched. With a proper sealer applied, the non-porous surface will repel stains from spilled red wine, coffee and cooking oils.
The return on investment associated with choosing high-quality granite countertops is significant. Home buyers are actively searching for high quality kitchen surfaces. Upgrading your counters to high quality granite will increase the overall value of your home immediately and create a very competitive status for your home in the current real estate market.
The Step-by-Step Installation Process
Knowing how a skilled team handles the installation of your new granite counters allows you to be ready for the day that your new countertop arrives. There is a significant amount of preparation involved prior to when the actual stone is delivered.
Standard Installation Timeline
| Project Phase | Typical Duration | What Happens |
| Material Selection | 1-2 Days | You visit the stone yard to pick your exact slab. |
| Digital Templating | 1-2 Hours | Experts visit your home to take laser-precise measurements. |
| Stone Fabrication | 1-2 Weeks | The shop cuts the stone and profiles the custom edges. |
| Installation Day | 3-6 Hours | The crew secures the stone, applies epoxy seams, and seals it. |
1. Precision Templating and Cutting
Digital templates are the first step of the stone production process of natural stone countertops. Advanced lasers are utilized by technicians to create precise measurements of the base cabinets that will support the natural stone countertops. Since most walls are not perfectly straight or square, the use of a laser template ensures that the natural stone will be cut to fit the exact contours of your space.
Once the template is completed, the granite is fabricated. Heavy-duty diamond blade saws and water jets are used by the craftsman to saw the designated slab of granite into the proper size.
The craftsman then cut holes in the granite for the sink and cooktop, and used router bits on a high-speed router to produce the edge profiles as selected by the homeowner. Examples of possible edge profiles include rounded bullnose or straight edges.
2. Delivery and Fitting
Once they arrive to deliver your stone, the workers will transport each piece into your home as needed based on weight and carry them into your home carefully. The installer will perform a ‘dry’ fit of each piece of stone to confirm everything fits correctly.
Once they confirm that everything fits, they will use strong industrial adhesives to affix the top of your cabinets before lowering the stone permanently into place.
3. Seamless Stone Installation
When you have a kitchen layout that requires more than one piece of stone, the installers join the individual pieces using an epoxy that will match once installed. Because the installers are very skilled in this process, they will blend the seams together so that it is very difficult to see.
At the end of the installation, the team will drill the holes for the faucet(s), install the undermount sink, and then apply a commercial-grade sealant to the entire surface area of the stone.
The Value of Custom Countertop Installation
Many adventurous DIYers consider doing their own work with Natural Stones. Unfortunately, this is usually a nightmare! First, granite is so heavy that there’s no way to lift it. Second, granite is extremely fragile while being transported. And last, there is little to no “give” to the granite when you make a mistake on cutting it.
By hiring an experienced professional for custom granite countertops, it’s easy to see that there are many advantages. Examples of the benefits of hiring a professional:
- Structural Soundness – Many professionals will know the proper way to brace and support heavy stone; therefore, they will guarantee that your cabinets won’t collapse or shift badly.
- Seamless Finish – Experts typically have suction clamps and specialty colored resin that blend the seams of the stone into its natural design flawlessly.
- Reduce Risk – Most respectable contractors have liability insurance. If a stone cracks during transportation, the company replaces it; Not you.
How to Find Trusted Local Granite Experts
You want craftsmanship for your home at a top-level. You need to choose a granite contractor who can build your project the way you want it. If a contractor uses a third party for cutting and/or polishing, there can be miscommunication and delays. Choose a contractor that does both fabrication and installation in-house.
You may request to review a portfolio of their completed local work to see how tight their seams and smooth their custom edge profiles are. Likewise, a reputable granite installation company should have no issue providing references and a detailed written proposal before the project starts.
Evaluating Granite Contractors
| Feature to Check | Professional Local Experts | Low-Quality Contractors |
| Fabrication | Done entirely in-house | Outsourced to third parties |
| Estimates | Upfront, clear, and itemized | Vague pricing with hidden fees |
| Insurance | Fully licensed and insured | Uninsured (puts you at risk) |
| Slab Selection | Let you pick the exact slab | Force you to buy from tiny samples |
Choose AA Granite Fabrication Center
AA Granite Fabrication Center is your leading partner in creating beautiful changes in the way you live in your house. They do it all from start to finish – measuring to polishing – ensuring that there are no mistakes along the way.
AA Granite uses only the most advanced equipment in order to produce the most accurate (and beautiful!) pieces possible. We do not want any of our work done by a 3rd party contractor; everything is done by our own highly skilled team (they will be local and will respect your home and routine).
Why Partner with Us?
| Service Advantage | Benefit to Your Home |
| Massive Inventory | Access hundreds of unique colors and patterns in our local yard. |
| Expert Craftsmanship | Enjoy perfectly level surfaces and virtually invisible epoxy seams. |
| Comprehensive Service | We handle the templating, cutting, delivery, and installation. |
Are you tired of an outdated kitchen or subpar craftsmanship? If so, it’s time to look at our Granite Services to get ideas for your kitchen remodeling project. Contact AA Granite Fabrication Center to discuss setting up an appointment for a personal consultation in your home when you’re ready.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I have to empty the lower cabinets out before the installation?
Yes. We would highly recommend that you remove all of the pots, pans and appliances out of the lower base cabinets. There will be some dust during the installation and the installers also will need clear access to the undersides of the countertops to secure your sinks and apply adhesive.
How soon can my new kitchen be used after installation?
You can generally start using your countertops 24 hours after they’ve been installed. This gives your epoxy seams and sink adhesives enough time to cure completely. Usually, your plumber will be able to come in the very next day to reconnect your water lines and drain pipes.
Will my walls be damaged by installing a granite countertop?
Our installation crews take great care to protect your home. There may be some minor scuffing or minor paint touch-ups needed to the walls from the heavy granite being pressed snug against the drywall. If you are going to be installing a new tile backsplash as well, you will be able to cover any of the minor wall marks that may have occurred from the granite counter being installed up against the drywall.
How frequently do I need to reseal my new granite counter?
At AA Granite Fabrication Center, we use the highest quality commercial grade sealer at the time of installation. For maximum protection, we recommend you apply a simple liquid stone sealer to your granite once per year. The liquid stone sealer is a very affordable and user-friendly product that will create a moisture barrier between your granite and environmental elements, while also protecting your surfaces from getting dark stains.
