Countertop installation process: what to expect on install day
Install is usually 5 to 10 business days after you approve your written quote. The quote comes the day after a free measure of about 15 minutes, and install day itself is normally a single day. This is exactly what happens at each step in between, what to have ready before we arrive, and what to expect once we have gone.
How long each step takes
| Step | What happens | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Book the measure | Call, text or send the form, and we book a time that suits you | Often same or next day |
| Free measure | A technician measures your counters at your home, with no obligation | About 15 minutes |
| Written quote | Itemized: material, edge, cutouts, removal, fabrication and install | The next day |
| Fabrication and install | After you approve the quote: cut by the fabrication shop we partner with, then installed | 5 to 10 business days |
| Install day | We remove the old tops, set and secure the new ones, caulk the backsplash and sink edges, and reconnect the plumbing | Usually a single day |
The full process from first call to finished kitchen
Free in-home measure
We come to your home, measure every run accurately, and bring stone samples so you can see your material options in your own light next to your actual cabinets. This takes about 15 minutes.
Written quote in 24 hours
You receive a firm, itemized quote within 24 hours. Line items include material, edge profile, cutouts (sink, cooktop, faucet holes), removal of old tops, fabrication and installation. No vague estimates.
Slab selection
Once you approve the quote, we select your slabs. For natural stone, we visit the warehouse together or send you photos of the exact slabs we plan to cut from so you can confirm the veining and colour before fabrication begins.
Fabrication
Your countertops are templated (digitally or physically), cut, edge-profiled, polished and inspected at the fabrication shop. Fabrication and install together take 5 to 10 business days from your approval. Waterfall panels, bookmatch patterns and complex layouts can take longer.
Install day
We arrive with your finished countertops, remove the old surfaces, set and secure the new tops, cut and fit all pieces, caulk the backsplash and sink edges, and reconnect the plumbing. We leave your kitchen clean.
Walkthrough and handover
Before we leave, we walk the job with you and look at every edge and every seam together. Anything you are not happy with gets raised then, while everyone is standing in front of it. The care guide has the sealing and cleaning routine for each stone.
How to get ready for installation day
✓ What we need from you
- Clear everything off your current countertops
- Empty the cabinets directly under the counter runs
- Have your sink and faucet ready if it's a new one (we need dimensions)
- Shut off the water to the kitchen before we arrive
- Have a clear path from your driveway to the kitchen
- Be home for the start and the final walkthrough
What we handle
- Removing and disposing of your old countertops
- All cutting, fitting and shimming on site
- Sink cutout and undermount sink attachment
- Cooktop and appliance cutouts
- Backsplash caulking (silicone)
- Plumbing reconnection (P-trap and supply lines)
The first 24 hours with your new countertop
- ✓You can use the surface immediately. Stone is ready to work on right away.
- ✓Silicone needs 24 hours to cure. Avoid getting water on the seam at the backsplash and around the sink for the first day.
- ✓If we applied sealer, wait one hour before placing items on the surface.
- ✗Don't place very heavy items on unsupported overhangs until the silicone fully cures overnight.
- ✗Don't use harsh cleaners for the first week. Soap and water only while the sealer sets.
Not sure whether what you are looking at on install day is acceptable? You are not alone, and that uncertainty is the single biggest thing homeowners post about. We analysed five years of it in our installer trust study, and the questions worth asking any fabricator before you get to this point are in how to choose a countertop company.
Installation day questions
How long does countertop installation take in Calgary?
Do I need to be home during installation?
How long before I can use my new countertop?
Do you remove and dispose of the old countertop?
How long between the measure and installation?
How fast can I get new countertops in Calgary?
Start with a free in-home measure
One call books your free measure. Quote within 24 hours. Installation 5 to 10 business days after you approve it.