CMCORKY'S MHS™ Corky's Corner™

Trade guide

Cabinets & Countertops

Kitchen and bath cabinets, countertops and backsplash tile. Lead times and exact measurements drive the schedule.

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What the work involves

  • Design and measuring
  • Removing old cabinets and tops
  • Installing level cabinets and hardware
  • Templating, fabricating and installing countertops
  • Backsplash, sink and faucet reconnection

What should happen, step by step

Use this as a checklist while the job is underway. If a step is skipped, ask why.

Durations are typical planning ranges from Corky's field experience, not guarantees. Weather, inspections, material lead times and surprises behind walls change them.

How long it usually takes

Installation itself is often a few days, but ordering cabinets and fabricating stone tops add waiting time. Expect a gap between cabinet install and countertop install.

Plan your dates with the Project Timeline Planner

General guidance only. Your contractor's written schedule is what counts.

Inspections to expect

  • Usually no permit for like-for-like replacement
  • Plumbing/electrical inspections if those move

Which inspections apply depends on your city or county. Ask your contractor to share each passed inspection result. Understanding permits & inspections

What a good bid includes

Check off each item on the bids you receive:

How to read a bid · Have one in hand? Second Look Review (from $25)

Payment schedule

Cabinets and stone often need material deposits; tie them to written order confirmations and delivery dates. Balance after install.

  • Pay a modest deposit, then progress payments tied to finished, visible milestones (e.g., 'rough-in passed inspection'), never to dates alone.
  • Keep payments at or behind the work completed - you should never have paid for much more than has been done and delivered.
  • Hold the final payment until the final inspection is passed, the punch list is finished and you have lien waivers.
  • Avoid cash. Pay by check or card so there is a record, and get a receipt for every payment.
  • Deposit limits vary by state: California, for example, caps a home improvement down payment at 10% of the price or $1,000, whichever is less. Arizona has no single statewide percentage cap that we are aware of, so negotiate it and put it in the contract. Check your state's rules.

Payment schedules & lien waivers

Red flags & common rip-offs

  • Large deposit on stock cabinets with no written delivery date
  • Countertop quote without templating
  • Particleboard boxes sold as 'solid wood'
  • Unclear who reconnects plumbing
  • No plan for out-of-level floors or walls
  • Cabinets not fastened into studs

Also watch for the general warning signs: large upfront payments, cash-only, no written estimate, pressure to sign today and no proof of license or insurance.

Questions to ask before you sign

  1. What are the boxes and doors made of?
  2. What is the delivery date, and what happens if it slips?
  3. Who templates and who is responsible if tops don't fit?
  4. Is plumbing reconnection included?
  5. What warranty covers cabinets and countertops?
  6. Who is responsible if the countertop doesn't fit?

Get the answers in writing, in the contract. Always ask for the contractor's license number and proof of insurance, and check the license with your state or local licensing agency. How to hire a contractor · Quick question? Contractor's Desk ($5)

Warranty

Cabinet makers typically warrant boxes/finish; fabricators warrant their seams and install. Get both in writing.

Expect two kinds of warranty: the manufacturer's product warranty (shingles, windows, fixtures, equipment) and the contractor's workmanship warranty on the installation. Get both in writing with the length, what is covered and how to make a claim. Many product warranties require registration or installation per the manufacturer's instructions. In Arizona, a homeowner can file a workmanship complaint against a licensed contractor with the Registrar of Contractors within two years of the last work performed on a remodel or repair.

DIY vs. hire out

Usually OK to DIY

  • Hardware swaps, painting cabinets, simple backsplash tile

Hire a licensed pro

  • Stone countertops, cabinet leveling, plumbing reconnection

Some work legally requires a licensed contractor and a permit even on your own home. Check your state and city rules.

Permits to expect

Replacing cabinets and countertops alone often doesn't require a permit, but moving plumbing, electrical or walls usually does. Permit rules are set by your city, county and state, so they vary a lot. Call or check the website of your local building department before work starts. When a permit is required, the licensed contractor usually pulls it in their own name.

General information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by location.

Sources

Check a contractor license: search your state's contractor licensing board, or find your state consumer protection office. External sites open in a new tab; Corky's MHS™ is not affiliated with them.

Please note

Educational information only - not legal, engineering or code advice. Rules vary by state, county and city, and change over time. Check with your local building department and licensing board, and read your own contract.