New countertops touch your kitchen, your cabinets, your plumber’s schedule, and usually a budget conversation at home, so it helps to know the whole path before you commit. The short version: send dimensions, pick materials at our showroom, approve a quote, sign and pay a deposit, template, approve drawings, and install. Since 1984 we have taken Lowcountry homeowners through the same six steps, from the first set of measurements to the day our crew finishes the caulk line and cleans up. Every slab we sell is cut and finished in our own 35,000-square-foot facility in North Charleston, and our own crews handle templating and installation. Below is exactly what happens at each step, what we need from you, and the few things that most often slow a project down. If you already have measurements in hand, you are closer to a firm price than you might think, and a showroom visit is the next move.
Step 1: Send us your dimensions (or let us measure)
Everything starts with dimensions. We cannot write an accurate quote without them, so this is the first thing our team will ask for. A rough sketch of your countertop runs with lengths and depths is enough to get started; a cabinet layout or the drawings from your kitchen designer or builder works even better. Note where the sink, cooktop, and any island or peninsula sit, and whether you want a backsplash in the same material.
If you do not have dimensions, that is common and easy to solve. We will set up a complimentary Measure for Price appointment, and one of our field techs will come to your home and measure the space for you. There is no charge for that visit, and it gives you numbers you can use to compare materials with confidence.
One thing to know up front: these quoting measurements are not the final measurements we cut from. Those come later, at templating (Step 4), once your cabinets are in place. The first set gets you a reliable price; the second set gets you a precise fit.
Step 2: Meet with a sales consultant at our showroom
With dimensions in hand, the next step is a showroom appointment at 7645 Southrail Road in North Charleston. You will sit down with one of our sales consultants to go over material selections, edge profile, and the other details that shape your quote.
Our 2,000-square-foot design showroom and slab yard hold full slabs of granite, marble, quartzite, engineered quartz including Cambria, and DuPont Corian solid surface, so you can see true color and veining instead of a small sample. If you find the slab you want, we can reserve that exact piece for your project.
Bring your measurements, cabinet and paint or flooring samples, and photos of the space. The showroom is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Visits are by appointment. Call 843-569-1131 to make a showroom appointment.
Step 3: Get your quote within 48 hours
Within 48 hours of receiving your dimensions, your sales consultant will email you a quote based on your dimensions and the materials you selected, so the number reflects your actual kitchen or bath.
Take the time you need to review it. If you want to price a second material or a different edge, ask; it is easier to compare options now than after the job is in production.
When you are ready to move forward, let your sales consultant know. They will send over the contract to sign and a link to pay the material deposit. Once the signed contract and the deposit are both back with us, your project is officially on our schedule and we move to templating.
Step 4: Templating, after your cabinets are in
Once the contract is signed and the deposit is received, we schedule your template appointment. We book it based on our earliest availability or your project timeline, whichever works better for you. If you are mid-remodel and waiting on other trades, we can plan around that.
Templating is where we take the exact measurements we cut from. Our team uses digital laser templating on site, which captures your space far more precisely than hand templating and cuts down on gaps and rework at install.
Two things have to be in place first. Your cabinets must be installed before we template, because we measure the cabinets themselves, not the plan. We also ask for your faucet and sink model numbers up front, in case we need them to program the cutouts on our CNC machinery. Having them early keeps your job from waiting on a spec sheet.
Step 5: Production and drawing approval
After templating, we ready your job for production and prepare drawings from your template. Once those drawings are approved, we schedule your install.
Your slab is then cut on our CNC machinery and the edges are profiled and polished in our North Charleston shop. Every piece is inspected in-house before it leaves the building. Because we never subcontract fabrication, the same team that templated your kitchen answers for the finished result. That is also why a precise template matters so much: our CNC machinery cuts exactly what the template captured, so an accurate template on installed cabinets is what produces a tight fit on install day.
Step 6: Install day
On install day, our installation crew protects your space and preps the cabinets. Then they set and level the countertops, seam the joints so they are tight and inconspicuous, secure the material, caulk, and clean up. Plumbing and electrical reconnects are typically handled by your own trades.
How long it takes, and what slows it down
Your quote arrives within 48 hours of receiving your dimensions. For most residential projects, it is about one to two weeks from digital templating to installation, depending on material availability and project size. We confirm your install date when we book it.
What stretches a timeline is usually something small: no dimensions at the start, cabinets that are not installed by the template date, missing sink and faucet model numbers, or drawings waiting on approval. Before install day, clear the countertops and the area beneath them, and make sure your sink, cooktop, and faucet are on site.
Common questions we hear
Do I need exact measurements to get a quote?
No. A rough sketch with lengths and depths is enough. Without dimensions, we will set up a complimentary Measure for Price with one of our field techs.
How fast will I get my quote?
Your sales consultant will email a quote within 48 hours of receiving your dimensions, based on the material selections you make at your showroom appointment. To move forward, you sign the contract and pay the material deposit through the link we send.
Do my cabinets need to be installed before templating?
Yes. Cabinets must be installed before we template, because our digital laser template measures the actual cabinets. That is how we get a precise fit on install day.
Why do you need my sink and faucet model numbers?
We may need them to program the sink and faucet cutouts on our CNC machinery. Sending them before templating means your job will not stall in production waiting on a spec sheet from the manufacturer.
Do you remove my old countertops?
Yes. We can remove and dispose of your existing countertops. Removal is scheduled separately from installation, so let us know in advance and we will plan both visits.
Come see the process start to finish
The easiest first step is the showroom. Bring your measurements if you have them, or call and we will schedule a complimentary Measure for Price. Our showroom is at 7645 Southrail Rd, North Charleston, SC 29420, open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Call 843-569-1131 or request a free estimate, and we will walk you through every step above for your own kitchen or bath. Not sure which material yet? Start with our guide to choosing a countertop material.