Who Installs Kitchen Countertops? Who to Hire

This article was created using automation technology and thoroughly fact-checked and edited by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.

If you're wondering who installs countertops, countertop contractors handle design, fabrication, transport, and installation. Verify licensing, insurance, and bonding, and check references before you sign a contract. This hiring guide helps you assess fit, compare quotes, and align scope with your material and design needs so your installation goes smoothly.

Benefits of Hiring a Countertop Contractor for Countertop Installation

Countertop slabs are heavy and unwieldy, so safe handling takes special equipment and multiple installers. Pros take precise measurements, fabricate to fit, and manage seams, sealing, and hardware for a finished look. Reputable contractors are licensed and insured and assume responsibility for deliverables and installation quality from shop to kitchen.

Here are the benefits of hiring a countertop contractor for your installation:

• Safely transports heavy slabs from warehouse to home

• Uses stone saws, polishers, and routers for clean cuts

• Takes precise measurements and fabricates to fit

• Color matches seam epoxy for a seamless look

• Verifies cabinets are level and stable before install

• Secures slabs with epoxy or construction adhesive

• Adds backsplash and sink cutouts as needed

• Seals surfaces and installs faucets and accessories

• Holds liability for workmanship and deliverables

• Provides insured, licensed, and bonded service

If you want to ensure your project is handled by a qualified professional from start to finish, consider hiring a countertop contractor near you to guarantee a smooth and high-quality installation.

Can I Hire a General Contractor for Countertop Installation?

Countertop contractors are the primary pros for fabrication and installation. During a full kitchen remodel, a general contractor may coordinate the schedule and keep essentials usable. For example, a general contractor can plan work so the sink base and dishwasher remain connected while other elements change. Roles vary by company, so confirm whether the GC self-performs the countertop work or brings in a dedicated countertop installer.

How Do Pros Install Countertops?

Granite installation takes two to seven hours, with complex designs exceeding eight hours. Quartz installation takes two to five hours, with a 24-hour settling period. Marble installation can take up to two days.

Countertop installation pros follow this process:

1. Remove fixtures and clear the workspace.

2. Check cabinets for level and stability.

3. Take precise measurements.

4. Fabricate off-site or on-site.

5. Set slabs with epoxy or construction adhesive.

6. Join seams with color-matched epoxy.

7. Cut the sink opening; add backsplash if required.

8. Seal surfaces.

9. Install faucets and sink accessories.

How Much Does Countertop Installation Cost?

Countertop replacement ranges from $400 to $12,000, with an average of $3,150. Material selection drives price: ceramic runs $1 to $15 per square foot, while marble reaches up to $190 per square foot. Labor accounts for 10% to 20% of the total. Edging, corner treatments, backsplashes, and sink cutouts increase cost.