Guide
How templating and fitting work
A stone worktop is cut to the exact shape of your kitchen, so it cannot be bought off the shelf and trimmed on the day. Here is how the process works for a Guildford kitchen, and what you need to have ready at each stage so nothing gets held up.
1. The quote
For a first price we need rough lengths and depths of each run, the stone or colour you are drawn to, and whether there are sink, hob or tap openings, upstands or a splashback. A sketch or a kitchen designer’s drawing is ideal. The quote should list what is included so you can compare it properly.
2. Getting ready to template
We template when the cabinets are in, level and secured, with end panels and under-counter appliances fitted. You need to have chosen the sink, tap and hob, ideally with the models to hand, because every opening is measured from them.
3. Templating day
On site we record each wall, corner, opening and overhang. Walls are rarely perfectly straight, and the template captures the real shape of the room so the stone sits tight to it. This is also when we agree where any joins will go.
4. Cutting
In the workshop the slab is wet-cut to the template, and every opening, tap hole, drainer groove and edge profile is finished there.
5. Fitting day
The stone is carried in, levelled, bonded and joined, and the joins are filled with colour-matched resin. Upstands and splashbacks go on next. Natural stone is sealed. Then the sink, tap and hob can be reconnected; a gas hob needs a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Things that cause delays
- Units not fixed or level when we arrive to template.
- Sink, tap or hob not chosen yet.
- A change to the layout after templating.
- No clear route to carry large pieces in.
Common questions
Can you work from my own measurements?
They are fine for pricing. The cutting is done from our on-site template.
Do the old worktops need to be off before templating?
Not always. For replacements, we can often template with the old tops in place. We will tell you which applies to your kitchen.
Get a worktop price
Phone us, or give us your number for a call back and a price.
- Rough lengths, or a sketch
- The stone or colour you like
- Your sink, tap and hob if chosen
Related worktops
Worktop replacement
Stone worktops on the units you already have.
Island worktops
One big slab of stone at the centre of the kitchen.
Upstands and splashbacks
Matching stone above the worktop, from a strip to a full wall.
More guides
Quartz vs granite: how to choose
The two most asked-about stones, compared honestly.
What is quartzite, and is it the same as quartz?
Two similar names, two very different materials.
Silica in quartz worktops: what homeowners should know
What the silica headlines mean for your kitchen.
Limescale and stone worktops in a hard-water area
How each stone copes with Surrey’s hard water.
What decides the price of stone worktops
Why quotes differ, and how to compare them fairly.
Ask for a free quote
Pop your number in and we will ring to go through the job and give you a price. Or call 01483 694680.