As a homeowner, you would want to make your kitchen a happening and attractive space. Installing an elegant countertop can significantly transfer your kitchen. Without the right kind of preparedness, you might find the task overwhelming. Installing the countertop properly calls for professional hands. After all, you would channelize a significant investment to renovate or remodel your kitchen. Therefore, it makes sense to understand the countertop installation process. The reputed countertop installation companies can help you with these projects.
In this post, we will discuss what you should expect when you install a countertop.
What to do before the installation team arrives?
- You need to get some things in place before the professional team arrives to install the countertop.
- Clear the access to the job site from the closest entrance. In case you are going for a stone countertop made of granite, it would be heavy. Therefore, the installation team must have a clear pathway to your kitchen while carrying the heavy load.
- For families with kids at home, it’s imperative to keep them away from coming in between the path.
- If there is a cooktop cutout, cover the accessories and furniture stored nearby to protect them from dust.
- In case you are installing the countertop at a new construction site, there might be other staff working on the same premise. When the countertop installers carry the heavy stone to the site, other artisans might have to stall their work for some time.
Removing existing countertops in old homes
The countertop installation team needs to do away with the existing countertop, if you have one. So, here are some aspects to note that would help you prepare for the project.
- The installation professionals would keep your water supply off. They do so to prevent any possible water damage during the installation. Besides, the installers might disconnect your faucet and sink.
- Once the experts turn off the water supply, they would remove and dispose of the existing countertops. In case you won’t be using your old sink, the professionals would remove that too.
- The removal process would be subject to change, depending the condition and age of the existing countertop. The experts need to cut the material in case you have a laminate countertop. This process can be messy, as laminate tends to crumble if it has sustained water damage. Therefore, it would be wise to get some additional protection in place, such as plastic coverings. When you install these covers on the furniture and floors, they remain protected from flying debris.
Installing the new countertops
The countertop installation experts would start working on the new installation once they have removed the old ones. Before installation, they would assemble the stone around the area. To ensure that the countertop is level, they might use shims. Considering the heavy load, you cannot rule out the possibilities of your cabinets and drywall sustaining scratches.
- When they install the new countertop and level it, the experts would install epoxy on the seam, considering a suitable color. Reputed countertop installation companies use large suction cups for pulling the countertops together around this area. The process takes around half an hour, and the epoxy gets adequate time to properly settle in its place.
- As the epoxy takes some time to settle, the installers would start working on your backsplash. They might also apply silicone under the countertops, so that they remain properly secure in place.
- Next, the installers would apply white paintable caulk to the countertop that might come in touch with painted surfaces.
- The professionals would install the sink in your kitchen once they are done with installing the new countertop.
Once the installation process is over, the experts would clean up your kitchen. Professional countertop installation companies carry out these processes in quick time. This ensures that you would have your kitchen ready with the new installation pretty fast.
