Installing new counter tops?

[2CRUZ]

Hey Fellas I have been remodeling my kitchen paint, tile floors, new cabinets, I'm going to have the new countertops installed by the guys from Lowes because I have never done it before. My question is will they level the countertop when they put it in? I tried to get the cabinets and the island as level as I could but they are off a little in places. Will they level the top with shims when they put it in? Thanks, Guys
Mike

 

[usa#1]

What is the top material? Post form tops usually require adding 1 x material to make sure top clears the drawer fronts so drawers will work and look right. If granite, ( I wouldn't use Lowes or HD ) the cabinets need to be pretty close to level or you can have problems with gaps under granite back splashes or if using tile back splash the top not being level will cause problems with laying the tile. Additionally the height of adjacent cabinets need to match up. My suggestion would be to, correct any problems with the cabinets before the tops go in. Sounds like you've spent considerable money on new stuff, I would get go ahead and fix it or hire someone to take a look at it and help fix it if need be.

 

[stingry]

Bought my silestone countertops from HD. They required that the cabinets be level before they would install them. So no, They will not level the cabinets, at least not in this area.

 

[rburke65]

I would think they won’t level them.

 

[Jinks]

If they're any good they will, but don't count on it. I had a cabinet/counter top company put the counter tops in my kitchen. Then I inspected & found some pretty big gaps. The tops were level, but any serious weight could have cracked them. I shimmed where needed, & 13 years later, no problems..........

 

[dfiler2]

Had Lowe's install those Corian type counter tops last spring, I was required to level them.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Why not just ask them?

 

[CraigStu]

HD did our Silestone tops maybe 10 yrs ago. They spent considerable time shimming them so both sides of the joint would match. I can't imagine how this could be skipped unless you don't have a joint. The good news is it's easy to do afterwards. Get a pack of door/window shims, the old wood ones are easier to snap to length to get the thickness you need at each point. You want to fill in the gap but do not want to put any upward pressure on the top. Get the size you need, remove it, put a bit of silicone sealer in the gap and slip the shim back into position.

 

[jhrodd]

If your putting on quartz or granite, it's just as important that the surface is flat as well as level. Still I wouldn't sweat a 32nd here or there - they'll be caulking the top down.

 

[TRWham]

My experience with granite installers, which is extensive, is that they do shim tops during installation. Of course the cabinets should also be level to start, but they will move slightly with the weight of the stone.

Someone will also need to caulk the top to backsplash joint some time after installation. Granite does cause settling and the joint always separates within a few weeks. We use grout caulk to allow for subsequent movement.

 

[Showkey]

The guys setting the new cabinets should set them level.

As far a HD granite...........in my area HD sublets to the premiere counter top installer in the area for granite, stone or synthetic tops. Soooooo it varies by location.