Countertop Installation in Napier

Yes — a templater measures your installed cabinets exactly (often with a laser) so the stone is cut to fit precisely. It happens after cabinets are in and before fabrication. Skipping proper templating is how you end up with gaps, bad seams and misaligned cut-outs.

In Napier, view finished installs, get the price templated-and-fitted with all cut-outs and edging specified, and confirm who fabricates the stone. Compare quotes on the full installed cost per square foot/metre, not the raw slab price.

Look for: material and thickness, templating (a precise measure of your cabinets), fabrication (cut-outs for sink and hob, edge profile), delivery, installation, sealing if natural stone, and removal/disposal of the old top. A slab-only price hides the fabrication and fitting that make up much of the cost.

Dry-cutting engineered (quartz) stone releases silica dust that causes silicosis, a serious lung disease — which is why fabrication must use wet-cutting and proper controls. This is a real, regulated workplace hazard; reputable fabricators take it seriously (see country notes).

Quartz (engineered stone) is non-porous, consistent in colour and needs no sealing; granite is natural, each slab unique, and needs periodic sealing. Both are hard-wearing at similar price points. Choose quartz for low maintenance and uniform looks, granite for natural variation and heat resistance.

Quartz and sintered surfaces just need wiping; avoid excessive heat and harsh abrasives. Natural granite and marble need periodic sealing and are more stain-sensitive (marble especially). Ask the installer for material-specific care instructions and how often to reseal.

Stone benchtops commonly run NZD 500-1,400 per m² supplied and fitted; a typical kitchen lands at NZD 3,500-11,000 depending on material and island. Laminate is far cheaper.