Key takeaways
- Templating is an exact site measurement taken after the cabinets are installed and secured.
- Sink, cooktop and faucet details must be decided before templating.
- A clear, empty countertop area and a ready kitchen prevent re-visits.
- Ask your fabricator for their own schedule, as times vary by shop and season.
What templating is
A template is a precise record of your cabinets and walls: every corner, wall irregularity and cut-out. It can be made from thin strips of wood, or captured with digital measuring tools and sent to the fabrication shop, where the slab is laid out and cut to fit.
That is why countertops are measured after the cabinets are installed. Floors and walls are rarely perfectly square, and the stone has to fit what is really there.
Where it sits in the project
In a full renovation, templating usually happens once the base cabinets are installed and secured, and before the final plumbing, cooktop and faucet connections. Fabricators commonly describe a shop turnaround of one to three weeks after templating, followed by an install day of a few hours. This varies, so confirm your own timeline.
See the whole sequence in kitchen renovation: what happens in what order.
Your pre-template checklist
- Cabinets, including the island, are installed, level and secured.
- Sink, faucet and cooktop are chosen and on site (or their exact spec sheets are available).
- Appliances that sit against the countertop are on site or their dimensions confirmed.
- The stone name and code are confirmed, plus edge profile and overhangs.
- Any backsplash height, splash and seam preferences are decided.
- Countertop areas are clear and there is access to the room.
- Someone who can make decisions is present.
Design choices such as the sink type, edge profile and overhang lock in at templating. Changing them afterwards can mean recutting the slab.
Before you ask for a quote
You don’t need a template to get a quote. The most useful details are the stone names and codes you like, an approximate square footage, and your expected installation time frame. Send them through our free quote form and we’ll take it from there.
Sources & further reading
- Houzz, Contractor tips: countertop installation from start to finish
- Crowley’s Granite & Quartz: Kitchen remodel countertop timeline example
General guidance only. Always follow your product manufacturer’s instructions and confirm details for your own project with your fabricator or installer.
