Hi Tom,

We are in process of getting bids to install about 63sq ft of Nova Venezia granite in our kitchen. We are also doing ceramic tile backsplashes. One fabicator suggests not templating over our exisiting formica countertops. Although this means we will be with out countertops for 3 weeks, he says the chance for error be be lessened. However, the other supplier we are considering says we can template over without a problem. What is your advice? Many thanks!

Pam

Hello Pam,

Template can be done over existing countertops. This is often done to lesson the displeasure of being without a kitchen while the granite is being fabricated. There are some situations where the template should definitely not be done prior to removal of existing because the chance of errors are very high. For example, if you have a U-shaped kitchen, then the odds of the cabinets being out of level from across the room is very high. This will cause problems on the day of installation and limit the solutions.

Secondly, if you are installing a full-height granite slab splash, it will be very difficult for the template maker to be accurate with dimensions from between the new granite top to the upper cabinets.

Templating before removal is best only under the following circumstance. 1) The original cabinets were installed with the last 10 years. 2) The kitchen is a short L-shaped or Galley style kitchen. 3) The splash is not full height granite slab.

Best wishes, Tom Cordova

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