If you’ve never had granite countertops installed before, the process can feel a little mysterious. How long does it take? What happens between the day you choose your slab and the day it shows up in your kitchen? Who needs to be home, and for how long? After 25+ years of installing granite countertops in Atlanta homes, we’ve answered these questions thousands of times. Here’s exactly what to expect when you book a granite installation with Top South, or with any reputable Atlanta fabricator.
The Big Picture: 7 to 14 Days, Two On-Site Visits
A typical granite countertop project in Atlanta takes 7 to 14 days from the day you sign the contract to the day your new countertops are installed. Most of that time is fabrication. The actual installation usually takes a single day. You’ll need to be home for two on-site visits: the templating appointment (about 60–90 minutes) and the installation itself (typically 4–8 hours for a kitchen, less for a bath).
Step 1: Slab Selection (Day 0)
Everything starts at the showroom. At Top South’s Marietta facility, you’ll walk through hundreds of full slabs — not samples — across granite, quartz, quartzite, and marble. We strongly recommend bringing two things: a sample of your cabinet finish and a picture (or sample) of your flooring. Seeing all three together is the single best predictor of how the finished kitchen will feel.
What you’ll decide during selection:
- Which granite slab(s) — for larger kitchens, you may need two matched slabs
- Edge profile — eased, beveled, ogee, bullnose, or waterfall (we show physical samples of each)
- Backsplash treatment — none, 4″ granite backsplash, or full-height
- Sink type — undermount, drop-in, or farmhouse (this affects the cutout and template)
- Faucet hole configuration — standard, sprayer, soap dispenser, air switch
Step 2: Digital Templating (Day 2–4)
Once you’ve selected your slab and signed the contract, our team schedules a templating appointment at your Atlanta home, typically within 2 to 4 business days. This is the single most important step in the process. Our templater uses a digital laser system to capture millimeter-precise measurements of your cabinets, walls, and existing layout.
What you need to do before templating:
- Remove everything from your current countertops
- Make sure your sink and faucet are on-site (or you’ve confirmed the exact model)
- Confirm cabinet installation is 100% complete (no last-minute shimming after template)
- Plan to be home for the full appointment so you can answer any layout questions
- Decide on overhang dimensions (standard is 1.5″ past cabinets, but we’ll discuss)
Once we leave with the template, your cabinets cannot be moved or modified — the slab is about to be cut to those exact dimensions. Any changes after this point require a re-template (and may delay your installation).
Step 3: Fabrication (Days 4–10)
Fabrication happens in our Marietta facility — not outsourced, not shipped out of state. The digital template is loaded into our computer-controlled cutting equipment, which then cuts your slab to the exact dimensions captured at your home. After cutting, the slab moves to the edge-profiling station where the chosen edge is shaped, then to hand-polishing where our finishers bring the edge to a flawless gloss or honed finish.
Typical fabrication takes 5 to 7 business days from the templating appointment, depending on slab complexity. Waterfall edges, custom shapes, and bookmatched seams take longer. Our project manager will give you a confirmed installation date during this window.
Step 4: Installation Day
Installation day is the day everything comes together. Our installation crew typically arrives between 8:30 and 9:30 AM in a covered truck with your fabricated slabs. A standard kitchen installation takes 4 to 8 hours from arrival to finish, depending on size and complexity. Bath vanities are usually 2 to 4 hours.
Here’s what happens, in order:
- Existing countertops are removed and hauled away (we include disposal in every estimate)
- Cabinets are inspected for level — small shims may be added if needed
- Slabs are carried in (granite is heavy — typically 2 to 4 installers)
- Slabs are dry-fitted to confirm alignment with walls, cabinets, and appliances
- Seams (if any) are color-matched and epoxied, then polished flush
- Sink is undermounted (if applicable) and silicone-sealed to the underside
- Faucet, soap dispenser, and any other fixtures are installed if you’ve provided them
- Final caulking around backsplash edges and against walls
- First coat of sealer applied (your installer will explain ongoing sealing)
- Walkthrough with you to confirm everything is right
What you need to do on installation day:
- Be home and accessible by phone — questions sometimes come up during install
- Empty the cabinets directly below the countertops (in case water lines are touched)
- Disconnect your existing plumbing before installers arrive (or schedule us to handle it)
- Make sure the path from your driveway to the kitchen is clear of obstacles
- Plan to be without a functioning kitchen sink until plumbing is reconnected (usually that evening)
Step 5: Plumbing Reconnection and First Use
Top South does not reconnect plumbing as part of standard installation. Most Atlanta homeowners schedule a plumber to arrive a few hours after our installers finish, or the next morning. If you’re using a plumber we’ve worked with before, we can coordinate directly. We typically recommend waiting 24 hours before placing heavy items on the counters, to let the seam epoxy and silicone fully cure.
Step 6: Sealing and Ongoing Care
Granite needs a yearly sealing — about 20 minutes per kitchen. We apply the first coat at installation and give you a complete care guide at handoff. Daily cleaning is just warm water and a pH-neutral cleaner. Avoid bleach, ammonia, and acidic cleaners (lemon, vinegar) on the surface.
Read: Granite Countertop Care & Sealing Guide →
Common Questions From Atlanta Homeowners
Will my installers damage my floors or walls?
We protect floors with drop cloths and dollies and use a two- or three-person carry for every slab. Minor wall touch-ups (paint touch-ups around backsplash edges) are sometimes needed after install. This is normal and easy to fix once the silicone has cured.
Can I install the granite myself?
We don’t recommend it. A typical 3cm granite slab weighs 18–22 pounds per square foot. A medium kitchen island slab can easily weigh 400+ pounds. The lifting, fitting, and seaming work requires specialized tools and experience, and any cracks during install are not covered by manufacturer warranty.
How do you handle seams?
Whenever possible we use a single slab. When seams are necessary (very large islands, complex L-shapes, or long perimeter runs), we color-match the epoxy to your slab so the seam disappears visually. We always place seams in the least visible locations and discuss them with you in advance.
What if I find a chip or imperfection after installation?
Call us. Top South covers craftsmanship issues under our lifetime warranty. Minor chips that occur during normal use can almost always be filled and polished invisibly.
Schedule Your Atlanta Granite Installation
Ready to start? Schedule a free in-home consultation. Our team brings granite samples to your Atlanta property, takes preliminary measurements, and gives you a transparent, itemized estimate — typically within 48 hours of the visit.