What is a Counter Top Template?
Today, stone counter tops are very popular. Granite, quartzite are natural stone materials that often appear in kitchens. Quartz counter tops have become very popular because of their low maintenance, added properties, and extended warranties. Wood counter tops can make a kitchen feel warm and inviting even though these materials have many differences. But, there is one thing that they have in common.
That is, they all need a template. This step is completed prior to fabrication since it is done off-site at the shop. A template is a detailed measure needed to get accurate dimensions so that your stone counter top fits correctly.
Template is the First Step in Fabrication
An experienced person who does the template is looking for many things. Here is a list of items under review during a template appointment.
- size of the counter top areas including the overhang
- where will the seams need to be, if there are any
- the amount of counter top material needed
- are the walls square
- cabinets: installed squarely and level
- how much overhang will there be on all open sides
- subtop installed correctly
- where is the sink located
- how many sink holes will there be
- what type of sink is it
- cooktop; part of the appliance package, installation location
- is there a backsplash and of what material
- verification of appliance opening sizes
- if there is a bar overhang, does it need additional support
- can the larger pieces of the countertop get through the doorways
- is the access to the house sufficient to accommodate the counter top sizes
As you can see there are a lot of things to take into account during the template measure. The templeter creates a wood template out of thin wood strips either glued or stapled together to create the form that will be followed back at the shop during fabrication. Some companies use laser technology. Finally, the end result of your template appointment is forms in the shape of your counter tops are created. Then finally, at the fabrication shop these forms are used to cut your counter top into the needed shapes.
Preparing for the Template
There are a couple of tasks that need to occur before your template appointment can be scheduled. The first is that your base cabinets need to be completely installed. Appliances, sink and faucet should be on-site for size verification. Lastly, the subtop needs to be installed.
The subtop is plywood installed on top of the base cabinets. The stone, granite or quartz, will be placed on the subtop and really is there so that the thicker edge can hang over the edge and not hit the doors or drawers. What? (In the pictures above you can see that there is plywood on top of the cabinets already)
Counter Top Edges
The typical stone material is 3/4″ thick (2cm), and the edge is 1-1/2″ thick. Consequently, the edge is really 2 pieces of counter top material glued together and cut into your desired shape (edge detail). So to keep the thicker edge from hitting the cabinet doors the stone top is raised up by installing a plywood subtop on the cabinets.
In some parts of the country 3/4″ (2cm) material is standard, in others the standard is 1-1/2″ (3cm). When the thicker material is purchased a subtop is not needed. If you install a wood counter top then a subtop is not needed either since these tops, if custom prefabricated, are typically 1-1/2″ thick; when custom made you order the desired thickness.
The Subtop Myth
There is a false belief that the subtops are installed to hold the cabinets together or make them sturdier. Not true, because when cabinets are properly installed by screwing them to the wall and to each other most cabinets are plenty study. However, today there are many quality levels of cabinets and varying forms of cabinet construction. The lesser cost cabinets could be problematic when it comes to installing hundreds of pounds of counter top material on them. Just take a good look the quality of cabinet you are purchasing.
What is a Counter Top Template?
So now you have the answer. A template is a detailed counter top measure based on the specific material you are using, the configuration of your cabinetry, plus openings for appliances and plumbing fixtures. The resulting template form provides the needed information to accurately cut the material to fit your space.
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