Generally, the more expensive countertops you purchase, like granite and quartz countertops, require a template with a kitchen or bathroom remodel. Countertop fabricators want to accurately cut the material the first time and they would rather do most of the cutting at their fabrication shop. Because of the dust factor, you would want that too.
So there are two options countertop fabricators most often use to create a countertop template. Those are “digital” and “stick”. The digital method involves using a portable computer to record measurements collected from a laser. The stick method involves using either corrugated plastic material or 1/4 inch luan wood strips and hot glue to create the countertop template.
The stick method is the old school method and the digital template is the innovative method. Likely more countertop fabrication shops will rely on digital than the stick method because of the increasing accuracy, speed and efficiency digital brings to the countertop fabrication process.
Stick Templating
Digital Templating
Granite and Quartz Countertop Preparation
When you are saving your old cabinets, you will get the best countertop template if your old countertop is removed from your cabinets first. If you are getting new kitchen cabinets, then this isn’t something you will have to consider. However, if you want to keep your old cabinets, removing the old countertop does inconvenience you being without a sink. Unless you cleverly re-install the old countertop or a part of it so you can plumb up your old sink until the new countertop is installed.
After the countertop template, your new quartz or granite countertop is installed about 7 to 10 days later. With the old countertop off, the templator can verify that the cabinets are level and/or on the same plane – a necessary step to insure that the new countertop installation will go smoothly. Particularly if you kitchen requires a seam. The average quartz and/or granite slabs are about 120 x 70 inches. Sometimes the slabs come larger.
With this in mind seams are generally needed on a run of countertop that exceeds 120 inches. Sometimes a countertop fabricator will template a kitchen countertop with the old countertop still in place. There are some obvious benefits to this for the home owner. Keeping the old countertop in place means the homeowner will still have use of their kitchen sink while they wait for the new countertop to be installed. On average your new countertop will be ready for install 7 to 10 days after template.
Countertop Templating Options
So which is better, a digital template or a wood template?
A template of your new countertop can be created digitally (using a computer and lazers) or using strips of wood luan. The “digital template” allows the homeowner to see the template on a computer screen as the countertop template is created. With the digital template files can be transferred to the fabrication shop quickly. Sometimes at an extra charge, the customer can see a digital representation of their selected stone or quartz countertop — CLICK HERE — to see this.
Often customers like the “digital template” better. The digital template, if the operator is trained properly, can result in doing the template faster. The average kitchen takes about 1 to 1-1/2 hours to template using the wood luan method and between 45 minutes to one hour using the digital template method. The templator will have some questions that only a homeowner should answer. So it is important that the homeowner be present during the template. So when are you ready for a template? If new cabinets are being installed, then all base cabinets that will come in contact with the new countertop need to be properly installed.
All appliances, particularly the dishwasher, range and cook tops need to be on-site. Plumbing fixtures such as sink and faucet need to be available to the templator. If you are keeping your old cabinets, then all items on old countertop need to be cleared. It makes things easier if you remove all items from the base cabinets prior to old countertop removal and/or template. If you have any questions about the templating process, please give the Kitchen Gallery a call at 603-964-8939.
Digital Countertop Template Layout — CLICK IMAGE — To Enlarge
Granite and Quartz Countertop Preparation
When you are saving your old cabinets, you will get the best countertop template if your old countertop is removed from your cabinets first. If you are getting new kitchen cabinets, then this isn’t something you will have to consider. However, if you want to keep your old cabinets, removing the old countertop does inconvenience you being without a sink. Unless you cleverly re-install the old countertop or a part of it so you can plumb up your old sink until the new countertop is installed. After the countertop template, your new quartz or granite countertop is installed about 7 to 10 days later. With the old countertop off, the templator can verify that the cabinets are level and/or on the same plane – a necessary step to insure that the new countertop installation will go smoothly. Particularly if you kitchen requires a seam. The average quartz and/or granite slabs are about 120 x 70 inches. Sometimes the slabs come larger. With this in mind seams are generally needed on a run of countertop that exceeds 120 inches. Sometimes a countertop fabricator will template a kitchen countertop with the old countertop still in place. There are some obvious benefits to this for the home owner. Keeping the old countertop in place means the homeowner will still have use of their kitchen sink while they wait for the new countertop to be installed. On average your new countertop will be ready for install 7 to 10 days after template.
Countertop Templating Options
So which is better, a digital template or a wood template? A template of your new countertop can be created digitally (using a computer and lazers) or using strips of wood luan. The “digital template” allows the homeowner to see the template on a computer screen as the countertop template is created. With the digital template files can be transferred to the fabrication shop quickly. Sometimes at an extra charge, the customer can see a digital representation of their selected stone or quartz countertop — CLICK HERE — to see this. Often customers like the “digital template” better. The digital template, if the operator is trained properly, can result in doing the template faster. The average kitchen takes about 1 to 1-1/2 hours to template using the wood luan method and between 45 minutes to one hour using the digital template method. The templator will have some questions that only a homeowner should answer. So it is important that the homeowner be present during the template. So when are you ready for a template? If new cabinets are being installed, then all base cabinets that will come in contact with the new countertop need to be properly installed. All appliances, particularly the dishwasher, range and cook tops need to be on-site. Plumbing fixtures such as sink and faucet need to be available to the templator. If you are keeping your old cabinets, then all items on old countertop need to be cleared. It makes things easier if you remove all items from the base cabinets prior to old countertop removal and/or template. If you have any questions about the templating process, please give the Kitchen Gallery a call at 603-964-8939.
from https://nhkitchens.com/templating-granite-quartz-countertops/
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