Once you've picked your stone, it's easy to assume the hard part is over. The honest answer is that the deciding part is over. Now comes the part with a calendar.
In post 1, I walked through why we redid our kitchen and how we landed on our stone. This post covers what happened next: the series of steps between "we chose it" and "it's on the production schedule." None of them are complicated, but they happen in order, and each one has a lead time. Knowing the order is what keeps your project on track.
Step 1: The measure
After you've chosen your stone (rough measurements are fine at this stage), the Precision Granite & Marble team comes out to your home to measure. This is the big-picture visit. They're looking at the overall layout, the square footage, and what you're hoping to change.
For us, this was the visit where our changes became real: extending the island overhang so guests aren't bumping their knees on the cabinets, and adding 5 to 6 inches of counter to the right of the sink for prep space. They also recommended not adding back the soup dispenser in the counter.
Tip: Have your wish list ready before the visit. Everything you want to change is far easier to build into the plan now than to fix later.
Step 2: The quote
With the measurements and your stone choice in hand, you get a quote on that specific stone. This is where the design and the budget meet. Our project landed in the $8,000 to $10,000 range for the whole job.
Quartz pricing depends on the stone and the amount of material, so two kitchens with the same footprint can price differently. The edge profile, the cutouts, and a full-height backsplash all factor in too. Ask questions here. Nothing about the quote should be a mystery.
Step 3: The deposit
When you're happy with the quote, you pay a deposit. That deposit is what locks in your stone, and it's the point where your slab gets ordered.
This matters more than it sounds. PGMSA doesn't keep a warehouse of slabs on site. Slabs are ordered per job from stone providers, and some stone can take up to two weeks just to arrive. So the clock on your project really starts when the stone is ordered.
Step 4: Templating
Once your stone is on the way, the team comes back out for the template: the exact, final measurements that the countertops will be cut from. This is the precise version of the first visit, not a rough estimate.
Templating is the week before fabrication and install, so it's your last real chance to confirm the details: the sink position, the overhang depth, how far the backsplash runs, any cutouts. For us, templating was where I fine-tuned two things. I added more depth to the island overhang on the seating side, so guests have even more room for their knees and feet. I also added more depth to the countertop to the right of the sink for extra workspace. Seeing the layout at full size made it easy to tell where a little more room would make a real difference.
Tip: Before templating day, make sure the sink and cooktop you're using are the ones going in, and that anything affecting the layout is already decided. Changes after templating are the fastest way to lose time.
Step 5: The production board
After templating, you're placed on the production board, which is the schedule for cutting and installing. This is where the calendar fills up, especially heading into Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Smaller jobs like a bathroom vanity need one truck and can be done in about half a day. A full kitchen is bigger, so it takes two trucks and two teams.
Our timeline, start to finish
PGMSA tells decisive, on-top-of-it customers to plan on about 4 weeks start to finish. For us, with the stone ordered and templating the week before install, we're looking at roughly 4 to 5 weeks, all aimed at being done before Thanksgiving, since family is coming to town.
| Step | What happens | Who's involved |
|---|---|---|
| 1Choose stone | Pick your slab or sample | PGMSA + You |
| 2Measure | Rough measurements at your home | PGMSA |
| 3Quote | Pricing on your chosen stone | PGMSA + You |
| 4Deposit | Locks in and orders your stone | You |
| 5Template | Exact measurements, the week before install | PGMSA |
| 6Production board | Scheduled for cutting and install | PGMSA |
What slows projects down
The things that most often blow a deadline are small. Taking a while to decide on the stone, waiting on the stone to arrive, and a production board that's filling up. If you have a date in mind, work backward from it, and book earlier than feels necessary. We cover the holiday deadlines in more detail here: [link to holiday-ready post].
Next up
In post 3, I'll cover how I prepped my kitchen before install day: what to clear, what to disconnect, and what to have ready for the crew.
Thinking about your own kitchen? Precision Granite & Marble is a Cambria Premier Partner serving Bluffton, Hilton Head, Sun City, and Okatie. Walk-ins are welcome at 11 Parmenter Rd, Bluffton, or call (843) 247-1935 to book a free design consultation.
