Custom, luxury countertops are typically at the top of the wish list for remodelers and homebuyers. Elegant, sophisticated and durable new granite, marble or quartz countertops can redefine the look of any kitchen or bath.
However, it's a project with many small details and decisions. As with any remodel project, it's best if you gather useful resources and get familiar with all the steps involved well ahead of your desired installation date.
This site will help you: plan your project, provide useful tips, point out pertinent resources, outline a timeline and generally make sense of it all for you in one convenient location. So ...
Be sure to add this site to Del.icio.us or you favorite social bookmarking portal because you'll want to come back again and again as you work through your plan to create that fabulous dream kitchen or bath.
Also, I am definitely interested in what you like, don't like or want to see on this site. Afterall, it's meant to be YOUR resource so click on the stars (top of page) and drop in at the guestbook (at very bottom) to tell me what you think!
Thanks for stopping by and enjoy!
Kitchen Counter Top Installation Timeline
2. Receive the Estimate.
3. Choose your countertop material.
4. Select tile/material for your backsplash design.
5. Buy your sink, faucet and kitchen appliances. (see article below)
6. Choose an edge style.
7. Schedule an installation date.
8. Deposit. A 50% deposit is generally required before work begins.
9. Schedule a time to make the templates for your countertop fabrication.
10. Templates are made at the installation location (remember to clear off your existing countertops).
11. Fabrication. Your countertop material is purchased and cut to size along with the edge design.
12. Tear out old countertops.
13. Installation day!
14. Hook up plumbing and gas. (next day)
15. Backsplash is installed.
16. Granite Sealer is applied if necessary.
Celebrate!
NOTE: The final quote or cost of your counter top installation will depend on the material you choose for the countertop.
For more in-depth information go to the Countertop Installation Guide.
Best of Breed Kitchen Counter Top Links and Related Resources
But what about everything else? Well, whether you've planned to or not you'll be needing, wanting and buying a bunch of other stuff to go with 'em.
The following links represent hours of slaving over a hot keyboard searching out the few quality sites that truly deliver you the best information, products and service you need to keep your sanity.
Link and Learn! Alright!
- A-Z Countertop Tips and Info
- Lots of detailed information and design tips on kitchen counter top surfaces, backsplash ideas, color coordination, care and cleaning, installation, granite, marble, quartz, corian, outdoor kitchens and more. . .
- Cool 3D Edge and Color Tool
- The tool on this site allows you to choose and display a granite or marble color and edge style combo in 3D. You can then position the countertop at any angle you want to view it. Cool! (Caveat: The page is a bit slow, but not annoyingly so and if you are using Firefox you may need to download a plug-in)
- Backsplash Tile Pattern Design Tool
- This very cool online design tool lets you quickly change and play around with different backsplash tile patterns and colors. Try it!
- Sinks, Faucets, Cabinet Knobs and ...
- More kitchen and bath products than you ever thought existed. Plus they have the best product search engine to find exactly what you need to match your design.
- Glass Mosaic Tiles
- Large inventory of glass mosaic tiles in many different colors and patterns.
- Metal Backsplash Tile
- Metal tiles are very popular these days. This site has many different colors and patterns. Lots to choose from.
- Outdoor Kitchen Design
- Need help designing your outdoor kitchen. Send your ideas into this site and get customized help with your design. They'll give you an itemized quote on what you idea will cost.
Buy These Books
No Really...They are EXCELLENT for Design Ideas
If you search online or go to the book store you'll find hundreds of books on design and remodeling. I own many, have looked through most and the following list represents My Top Picks.
You'll be cookin' with ideas after looking at all the photographs and reading these well organized and thorough books.
Feel free to vote and add books you like too!
Stone: Designing Kitchens, Baths and Interiors with Natural Stone by Heather E. Adams
The gorgeous photos are reason enough to buy this more...0 points
Tile Style: Creating Beautiful Kitchens, Baths, and Interiors with Tile by Heather Adams
Very good book with lots of photos covering tile d more...0 points
Ultimate Outdoor Kitchens by Michelle Kodis
Everyone wants to spruce up their backyard barbequ more...0 points
The Essential Kitchen Design Guide by National Kitchen and Bath Association
If you are a hard-core do-it-yourselfer then you'l more...0 points
New Kitchen Idea Book (Idea Books) by Joanne Bouknight
Another solid book that covers all the bases with more...0 points
Kitchen Appliance Buying and Installation Tips
This will almost always include a new sink and faucet and very often a new cooktop, range, vent hood, dishwasher and refrigerator are thrown into the mix.
You might think that all these items are basically "standard" size and have little impact on the counter top installation. Not true!
Here's what you need to consider:
First, plan ahead and buy your appliances BEFORE your counter top installation.
Here's Why:
Sink
Your sink must fit inside your cabinet with enough room to allow for proper support and installation of your faucet, which in turn must fit the holes in your sink and have enough space between the sink and wall to work correctly.
Furthermore, your counter top fabricator needs the "template" for your sink and faucet to cut out the precise holes.
Cooktop
The same is true for your cooktop. It's best to cut the hole at the shop to minimize the ridiculous volume of dust that would fill your house if done during installation. And believe it or not a 30" cooktop from different companies may have different footprints.
Range, Vent Hood, Dishwasher, Refrigerator
These appliances typically don't affect the counter top installation directly, but their dimensions must be known prior to setting the cabinets and cabinets must be set before counter tops can be cut.
So, keep these points in mind when taking a look at the SWEET DEALS below on eBay where you can almost always find a bargain on premium sinks, faucets, etc.
Good Luck and Have Fun!
A Quick Thought About This Lens...
This nifty site made sense of all the Squidoo modules, tricks and tips so I was able to quickly create an organized and useful site with much less effort than if I had to figure it all out on my own.
If you're wanting to build your first Squidoo lens, build lenses faster and easier and get better results from your lens then I highly recommend you visit the site.
Great Granite Countertop Blog
Covers Counter Top Topics A-Z
The lastest updates, new news, articles and resources to help answer all your countertop design, installation and maintenance questions.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand bySuper Savings on Sinks!
You can almost always get a better deal on premium sinks, faucets and cooktops on ebay. Take a look at these SWEET DEALS!
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byPopular Websites
Tops sites voted on by users of the world's largest social bookmarking site
Have you tried Social Bookmarking? Well, Del.icio.us is a popular site people use worldwide to store and share their favorite websites.
Here's a few sites that everyone is hot on right now!
- Countertops from recycled glass - eco-friendly alternative to granite and marble for kitchen & bathroom counters or tiles, for green building or remodeling
- Concrete Countertops for the Kitchen - Solid Surface on the Cheap
- Cheng Concrete Countertops - Design Gallery, Training, DIY Products, Contractors
- Paperstone - The Earth's Surface
- www.icestone.biz - IceStone - 100% Recycled Glass Countertops
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Tell Me What You Think
I'm working hard, hard I tell ya, to find THE best kitchen counter top resources online so, let me know how your project is shaping up and what you like, don't like and would like to see on this site. I'm all ears!
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Reply
- jules47 jules47 Dec 13, 2009 @ 1:40 pm
- Great lens. Keep up the cool content. Jules
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- champagne1 champagne1 Nov 22, 2009 @ 1:51 pm
- I used this site to get estimates for my corian countertops and I loved it.
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- Gilbey33 Gilbey33 Jun 17, 2009 @ 9:07 am
- The step-by-step thing will be very helpful for me. Very nice, it gets my vote.
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- Sep 26, 2008 @ 12:49 am
- The lens is great and it is very informative.The kitchen designing ideas are marvellous and also helpful.
Checkout my the granitesearcher blog
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- Sep 4, 2008 @ 6:51 am
- This lens is very valuble.Every thing is present in a precised manner and is so attractive.
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