The countertop trade, explained
Learn how countertops are made, from the slab through the shop to the installed kitchen. Get to know the roles, materials and common hiring questions. Countertop fabrication is the shop work that turns a 2cm or 3cm slab into a finished countertop. Installation is the on-site work that fits it.
This site covers slab countertops made from natural stone, quartz and porcelain. It introduces laminate, solid surface, wood and concrete where relevant, with more coverage planned.
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The path
- 01The parts of a countertopThe parts of a countertop: seams, miters, cutouts and support18 minReference: Countertop anatomy 15 parts →Reference: Countertop edge profiles 23 sections →
- 02How it gets madeHow a countertop gets made, from template to install14 min
- 03Who does whatFabricator, installer, templater, CNC operator: who does what in a countertop shop16 min
- 04The materialsTypes of countertops: quartz vs quartzite, granite, porcelain and the rest10 min
- 05The machinesBridge saw, waterjet, CNC and sawjet: the machines of a US countertop shop46 min
- 06The softwareCountertop software: Moraware, Slabsmith and the programs that run a shop16 min
- 07Is it for you & getting hiredIs this trade for you? Getting hired as a countertop installer or fabricator7 min
- 08GlossaryCountertop terminology: the words a shop uses13 min
- 09Build a jobBuild a job: how to calculate countertop square footage, seams and support6 min
- 10Test yourselfTest yourself37 min