Buying guide
Countertop Installation Timeline: How Long Do New Countertops Take?
Updated October 23, 2026 · Enchanted Kitchens, Stamford, CT
Quick answer
The countertop installation timeline with Enchanted Kitchens is about 1 to 2 weeks from template to installation. Day 1 is the template, the stone is fabricated in our own shop over the next few days, and installation usually happens in the second week, in a single visit of a few hours. You keep using your old countertops until install day. A special-order slab or a very complex layout can add time.
The countertop installation timeline, step by step
Before day 1: estimate and slab choice
You get a ballpark with our free estimator or visit the showroom, then choose your material and the exact slab. Picking the slab early is the easiest way to keep the timeline short.
Day 1: template
Once your cabinets are installed and level, our template technician measures your space precisely. It takes as little as 30 minutes for a small job, or a few hours for a large kitchen, and you keep using your old countertops while you wait for the new ones.
Days 2 to 5: fabrication in our shop
We cut the stone, fabricate it and polish the edges, and the seams get planned on your slab. Everything is checked against our standard before it comes into your home. Because this happens in our own shop, there is no wait for an outside fabricator.
Usually in the second week: installation
We protect your floors and cabinets, remove the old countertops if you asked for it (that is priced separately), and install and seal the new ones in a single visit of a few hours. By the end of the day your counters are ready to use.
Final walk-through
We walk through the job with you and clean up. We do not leave until you are happy with it.
The short version
About 1 to 2 weeks from template to installation
What to have ready
- Cabinets installed and level before the template.
- A decision maker over 18 at the template appointment.
- Your sink, faucet and cooktop chosen, so the cutouts are right.
- A plumber and electrician booked for reconnection after install. We do not do plumbing or electrical work.
Why in-house fabrication is faster
Fabrication is the step that sets the timeline. When a seller sends your stone to an outside shop, every handoff adds waiting: the template goes out, the slab gets scheduled, the pieces come back. We measure, cut and install with our own team in Stamford, so your job moves straight from one step to the next.
What affects the timeline
Material and slab availability
If your slab is in stock, the process moves faster. A special-order or exotic slab can add time.
Project size and details
A large kitchen with an island, a waterfall edge, or many cutouts takes longer to fabricate than a small, simple layout.
Schedule
The fabricator's current workload and your appointment availability affect how quickly template and install dates are set.
Frequently asked questions
What is the countertop installation timeline?
With Enchanted Kitchens it is about 1 to 2 weeks: template on day 1, fabrication in our shop over the next few days, and installation usually in the second week. The install visit itself takes a few hours.
Can I use my kitchen while I wait for new countertops?
Yes. Your old countertops stay in place after the template, so you keep cooking until install day.
How long does it take to install countertops?
The installation appointment itself usually takes only a few hours. The full process, from template to finished installation, typically takes about 1 to 2 weeks with a factory-direct fabricator like Enchanted Kitchens.
What is the fastest way to get new countertops?
Have your cabinets installed and level, pick your slab early, and keep your edge and layout simple. Working with a local fabricator that cuts in-house also shortens the timeline.
How long does templating take?
Templating takes as little as 30 minutes for a small job, or a few hours for a large kitchen. A decision maker over 18 should be present.
How long after templating until installation?
Fabrication usually takes about 1 to 2 weeks after templating, depending on the material and project size, then installation is scheduled.
Can I get countertops installed in Stamford quickly?
Yes. Enchanted Kitchens fabricates in-house in Stamford, CT, so the typical timeline is about 1 to 2 weeks from template to installation. Start with a free estimate to get on the schedule.
Free consultation
Get on the schedule
Start with a fast, free estimate and see your slab before we cut. Installed in 1 to 2 weeks.