Countertops

The Order Sheet Matters More Than the Price

The 2026 Cost vs. Value Report puts the national average minor kitchen remodel at $28,458, with $32,141 in resale value added, roughly 112.9% recouped.

That return assumes the cabinets fit. Reorders, returns and field modifications are what turn a clean budget into a messy one.

Ready to assemble cabinets are bought as a list of boxes, and the list is only as good as the drawing behind it. We build that list with customers every day around our stock RTA and custom cabinet lines.

Measure the Room, Not the Old Cabinets

Old cabinets were installed with shims, scribe and caulk. Measuring them tells you what the last installer got away with, not what your walls actually do.

Take wall to wall dimensions at three heights: near the floor, at 36 inches, and near the ceiling. Record every window, outlet, vent and door casing as a distance from one fixed corner.

Pro Tip: On the block and stucco walls common across South Florida, a 12 foot run can vary half an inch between floor and ceiling. Order to the shortest measurement and let fillers absorb the difference. Building to the longest number means cutting boxes down on site.

Layout Decisions You Cannot Undo Later

Corner treatment drives everything. A blind base corner, a lazy Susan and a diagonal corner cabinet each consume a different amount of wall and each forces a different door swing.

Map door and drawer swings before you finalize. Two drawers colliding at an inside corner is the most common layout error we catch on incoming plans.

Sink base sizing is the other one. A 36 inch undermount sink will not drop into a 33 inch base, and that is not fixable once the boxes are assembled. Confirm your sink model before you order.

Granite is built to last, which is part of why so many Broward County homeowners choose it in the first place. That same durability is exactly what makes changing granite countertops more involved than swapping out a laminate surface or a light fixture.

Before deciding whether to tackle the project yourself or bring in a professional, it helps to understand what the process actually requires from start to finish.

What Changing Granite Countertops Actually Involves

Removing an existing granite countertop means disconnecting the sink, faucet, and any built-in appliances tied to the counter. The slab itself is heavy, often several hundred pounds for a single kitchen run, and it has to come off the cabinets without cracking the stone or damaging the cabinet boxes underneath.

Once the old countertop is out, the new material needs accurate measurements, fabrication, and a careful reinstallation that accounts for seams, sink cutouts, and edge profiles. Each step depends on the one before it, so a mistake early in the process tends to show up later as a poor fit.

The Case for DIY: What It Really Takes

Some homeowners are comfortable with heavy lifting and basic plumbing work, and for those projects, DIY removal of an old countertop is possible with the right tools and enough help to manage the weight safely.

Where DIY becomes riskier is on the installation side. Cutting, edging, and seaming granite requires specialized equipment that most homeowners do not own, and a slab that is not leveled correctly can crack under normal daily use. For homeowners set on doing some of the work themselves, removal is usually the more realistic piece to take on, while fabrication and installation are better left to a fabricator.

Pro Tip: If you plan to remove your own countertop before calling a fabricator, take detailed photos and measurements of the sink and cooktop cutouts first. That information helps your fabricator template accurately even after the original counter is gone.

Small stone projects deserve the same quality as a full kitchen remodel, but they do not always need a full slab. Granite offcuts, also called remnants, give Broward County homeowners a practical way to get real stone for smaller jobs without the cost or waste of ordering an entire slab.

At Prime Countertops and Renovations, our slab yard in Pompano Beach holds granite, quartz, and quartzite remnants in a range of sizes, colors, and finishes. These pieces come from larger slabs used on previous projects, which means the material is genuine natural stone rather than a lesser substitute.

What Granite Offcuts Are Good For

Granite offcuts work well for projects that do not require a full slab. A bathroom vanity, a small laundry room counter, a fireplace surround, a wet bar, or a window sill can all be finished with a remnant piece and still look intentional and cohesive with the rest of the home.

Because these pieces are already cut from existing slabs, they are also ready to be fabricated more quickly than a special order. For homeowners in Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Creek, and the surrounding Broward County area who want to move a small renovation along without a long wait, that turnaround matters.

Why Remnants Make Financial Sense for Smaller Jobs

Ordering a full slab for a small surface often means paying for material that never gets used. Remnants let homeowners select a piece sized closer to the actual project, which reduces waste and keeps the process more efficient.

This approach also opens the door to premium stone that might otherwise feel out of reach for a small project. A remnant of a striking granite or quartzite can dress up a powder room or bar top in a way that a plain, budget-driven material cannot.

Pro Tip: Bring exact measurements, including any sink or faucet cutouts, when shopping for a remnant. Because offcuts are limited in size, having your dimensions ready helps you and our team confirm quickly whether a specific piece will work.

Branded and Pre-Sealed Granite Lines

A few companies have added a brand layer to natural granite. Sensa by Cosentino, for example, is granite treated with a stain-resistant coating and backed by a warranty.

These lines can be a good fit if you want the look of natural stone with less upkeep to worry about.

Keep in mind that these treated lines are still natural granite underneath, so you are paying for the coating and the warranty, not a different stone.

Pro tip: If low maintenance matters, ask about pre-sealed granite. A factory-applied treatment can cut down on how often you need to reseal.

Why Your Supplier Matters More Than a Brand

With granite, the fabricator and supplier make more difference than any label. A shop that imports directly and keeps a full slab yard gives you better selection and pricing.

We import stone from around the world and keep a large indoor and outdoor slab yard, so you can see full slabs in person before you choose.

Buying direct from an importer also trims the markup that stacks up when stone passes through several hands, which keeps your project more affordable.

Pro tip: Buy from a fabricator with its own slab yard. Choosing your exact slab beats ordering from a photo or a small sample.

What to Look for in a Granite Supplier

Beyond selection, look for in-house fabrication and installation. When one team templates, cuts, and installs, the fit and finish come out better and the timeline stays in one set of hands.

Ask about turnaround, edges, and how they handle seams. Browse a company’s gallery to see the quality of finished work.

Pro tip: Compare granite against quartz if low upkeep is a priority. Seeing both side by side helps you choose with confidence.

Ready to Find the Right Granite for Your Remodel?

The best granite is not about a brand name. It is about the right slab, a quality supplier, and professional installation. That is exactly what we bring to every project.

Visit our Pompano Beach slab yard to see granite in person and compare your options. Request a free quote or contact us today, and let’s build countertops that make your remodel shine.