Kitchen Countertop Installation Guide for All

“Meals and memories are made here.” 

Kitchen countertops are a primary component in the kitchen as they not only hold a range of different appliances but also complete the look of a kitchen. Kitchen countertops can also be great for food preparation, such as preparing a sauce, marinating the chicken, or cutting the vegetables for dinner. 

If you plan to update the look of your kitchen, including new paint, fancy backsplash, and additional accessories, then you shouldn’t miss out on adding durable counters. Mix and match your countertops with the theme, and make sure they are precise in the style, color, and material you have always dreamt of. 

If you have a specific budget in mind for your kitchen renovation, then it is essential that you try to stay within it. Do you want to install the countertops yourself because you can’t afford the help of a professional right now? If you want to learn the correct way to install kitchen countertops, then read this detailed step-by-step guide until the very end. Once you read this, things will be much more apparent to you, and you will know what exactly should be done. 

Come Up with a Budget

Before you start learning about the Burlington Kitchen Countertops installation and how it is done, establishing a budget will help determine how much the installation will cost. You will know how much savings you have and how much you are willing to spend on the process. Imagine what would happen if you start working on the project and later on realize that you don’t have enough money. When coming up with a budget, please make a list of the materials that will be required along with their prices. Once the budget is final and you have the amount with you, you can start working on the project. 

Prepare the Area 

Now that you have a budget in mind and have decided on the countertops you want to install, you can start working on preparing the area for the installation. This includes taking accurate measurements for the countertop slabs and ensuring that your counters will easily fit into the space. If you already have old countertops and need to replace them with new ones, you will have to remove the old ones first. Remove the sink, garbage disposal, drain trap, and all the connected pipes under the sink. After that, remove the sink and then place it aside. 

Remove the Existing Countertops 

If you are installing the countertops in your kitchen for the first time, you can simply skip this step. 

To remove the old countertops, you must remove the screws and bolts from under the countertop and cut the sealant holding everything together. You might also have to remove the glue properly if you see that it has been used for putting the countertop together. Once you remove all of these things, your countertop will be separated into one solid piece, so you will be able to set it aside. If you haven’t removed any countertops before or any nervous about how the removal will be done, you can always consult an expert to guide you with professional help. 

Cut Your New Countertop 

When you are finally cutting your new countertops, remember that you will need to take the exact measurements; otherwise, you will waste the costly counters you made. Use a fine saw or a sharp blade to cut your countertop and ensure you get it right on the first go. Once you are done with the cutting, make use of a filer to smoothen the edges. Instead of doing everything alone, you can ask your partner for help because some teamwork will help you get done with the job easily without any issues. 

Check if the Countertop is Fitting 

Before the final installation, it is recommended that you at least check if the fitting has been done the right way or not. To check the fitting, lift the countertop with one more person and set it down where you are supposed to fit it. See if it looks fine or has any issues with the cut or fitting. If you feel that it seems fine, then you can simply mark the spots as it will become easier for you to attach the countertop where you had marked previously. 

Work on the Installation of the Countertop 

After checking the fitting of the countertop, work on putting in the final effort. This will include closing the gap between the wall and the countertop and ensuring that you attach the countertop to the wall properly after working on any final or additional adjustments. Also, file away any burrs that might be there, and don’t forget to re-check the fit after the work has been completed. If you are confused and have no idea what the right thing looks like, you can also follow a YouTube video for guidance. 

Secure the Countertop 

Once you have worked on the installation part, you will have to secure the countertop so that you can be certain that the counter will not just fall off or break into pieces because it wasn’t fixed properly. To do that, add extra support towards the edges and drill through that part so that you can insert the screws inside correctly and then tighten them. You can also apply some adhesive and glue for an additional protection layer. If the area under the countertop is dark, then ensure you set up enough light before drilling the part because wrong drilling will lead to a mess. 

Put up the Sink 

Remember that sink you put aside when you were removing the old countertop? Well, it is time to put it back now that the new countertop has been installed. To put the sink back into its old place, set it in the right place and apply the glue around all the edges. Once the adhesive has been applied, let the sink settle, and do not touch it until the glue dries. Once you have put the sink into place, you can connect all the plumbing, including the drainage pipe, garbage disposal, and other essentials, so the sink starts working correctly like before. 

Finish Your Installation 

Now that everything has been put up, reconnected, and re-joined, you can step back to admire your work and see how everything is ideally in place. See how updated your kitchen looks and is now fully functional. Once you have your countertops ready, you will have a whole place with you where you can chill and relax, work on meal prep, and set your latest appliances on. 

Tools Required for a Kitchen Countertop Installation

Do you want to carry out a quick DIY for your kitchen countertop installation and are unsure what tools will be required for it? Let us tell you what things are a must-have: 

  • A screwdriver 
  • A few screws and bolts 
  • A sharp saw or blade 
  • Safety glasses 
  • Safety gloves 
  • Filer for the countertops 
  • Glue 
  • Tape for measurement of the counters 
  • Drill set 
  • Masking tape 
  • A pencil for making markings 

The tools mentioned above for countertop installation are the basic ones that we have recommended. Keep in mind that if you have these tools, your life will be made a lot easier, and your project will be completed on time. If you have other tools in mind according to your kitchen, you can also add those tools.

Parting Note 

Kitchen countertop installation can be fun and exciting and keep you busy. When installing your countertops, you won’t have to worry about things going wrong or workers not doing the work your way. You can simply follow some YouTube videos for help and install the countertops accordingly. We hope that the guide we have provided will significantly help you and you will learn a lot from it. Happy installation, and good luck with using your countertops the way you always wanted to make use of them.