Templating Basics

Posted on by Fred Hueston, Ph.D

Ask any stone fabricator which is the most important step in the fabrication process and you will get answers ranging from cutting the stone, selecting the stone to any number of steps within the fabrication process. The most important step is constructing the proper template. The reason for this is simple. If your template is wrong, and every other part of the fabrication process is perfect, the whole job will be a wash due to that fact that the templating process was not performed properly. Regardless of weather your dealing with 2cm or 3cm there are some guidelines that must be followed in order to make sure you can template properly.

Here are the templating basics. The following checklists are conditions that need to be meet before you run out to the job to construct the template.  This checklist applies to all templating process, from the basic stick templates to the more advanced laser, photo and digitizing process.

Pre-Templating Checklist 2 CM

EVERY SINGLE ITEM BELOW HAS TO BE COMPLETE AND CHECKED OUT

  1. General Conditions
    1. Actual sizes of slabs and quantity have to be available at time of Templating. (Should have been purchased)
    2. Unsupported overhangs shall not exceed 6” on 3/4” countertops or 10” for 1 ¼ “countertops. In an overhang condition, the supported area must be firmly secured and properly anchored to insure that the unsupported area, when loaded, will not cause failure of the setting material. If overhang exceeds maximum amounts, the cabinetmaker or builder must add proper brackets, legs, or other rigid support.
  2. Cabinets
    1. Cabinetry is installed on a true plane and level to within 1/8” in ten (10’-0”) feet. Areas to receive slab are stable and rigid and capable of supporting the weight of slab. Stone counters and rough tops rely on the secure ness and strength of the cabinets.
  3. Rough Tops
    1. Counter and horizontal surfaces to receive slab have rough top preinstalled. 5/8” thick plywood, (between 9/16 to 11/16” is acceptable), installed flush with cabinet face unless noted otherwise. Reinforcement may be required in areas in front of cutouts to insure that they can adequately carry the weight of the stone without flexing (stove or sink cutouts). We recommend waterproof exterior grade (CDX) or marine plywood be used.
    2. Rough top plywood is installed true, plane and level, variation not to exceed 1/8” over a 10-foot span.
    3. Rough top has been inspected for lippage. No lippage greater than 1/16”.
    4. Lippage is a condition, which occurs when adjacent plywood edges are not flush with one another.
    5. All cutouts (i.e. sinks, cook tops, holes) have been made and are complete. The technician cannot make these decisions.
    6. Rough top is firmly secured and properly anchored, free of dirt, dust, oil, paint or other coatings that may prevent bonding of slab to rough top.
  4. Undermount Sinks
    1. All actual sinks (not sample sink or a template) are mounted but not hooked up to plumbing. The sinks may be taken to shop for exact Templating.
    2. The sink is mounted flush with rough top.
    3. The sink has adequate support. NOTE: I am starting to see a lot of countertops cracking due to anchoring the sink to the stone. The sink should be supported by the cabinets and not the stone. Todays larger sinks when fill with water can place a lot of stress on the stone and cause it to crack. (Insert pic of cracked top here.)
  5. D1. Self-Rimming Sinks
    1. All actual sinks are cut in place, but not hooked up to plumbing.
  6. Edge details
    1. Edge detail of countertop have been discussed and agreed upon.
    2. Edge detail at sink opening have been discussed and agreed upon.
    3. Edge detail of back splash have been discussed and agreed upon.
  7. Back splash
    1. Backsplash height has been discussed and agreed upon.
    2. All electrical outlets have been roughed in and checked by owner.
    3. Door or window casings are clear of slab installation, or a drawing of the slab to casing transition to be supplied at time of measurement.
  8. Fixtures and Appliances
    1. All appliances including but not limited to Range tops, Ovens, Microwaves, Dishwashers, etc. are installed, or currently present at jobsite so that transitions with slab can be determined and correct measurements can be taken.(some range tops made need to be removed prior to installation)
    2. Hood is currently installed or a line as to finish of splash has been marked by the Contractor or Owner.
    3. All fixtures intruding the slab (i.e. faucet, drinking water, air switch, soap dispensers) are available for measurement, or a guaranteed measurement is provided. The positions of all holes have been drilled through the rough top.

I hereby confirm that I have read and understand all of the above. All of the boxes have been checked and are completed as per requirements above. The job is ready for measurement.

____________________________________________________

Home Owner or Agent to Sign

 

Pre-Templating Checklist  3cm tops

EVERY SINGLE ITEM BELOW HAS TO BE COMPLETE AND CHECKED OUT

  1. General Conditions
    1. Actual sizes of slabs and quantity have to be available at time of Templating. (Should have been purchased)
    2. Unsupported overhangs shall not exceed 6” on 3/4” countertops or 10” for 1 ¼ “countertops. In an overhang condition, the supported area must be firmly secured and properly anchored to insure that the unsupported area, when loaded, will not cause failure of the setting material. If overhang exceeds maximum amounts, the cabinetmaker or builder must add proper brackets, legs, or other rigid support.
  2. Cabinets
    1. Cabinetry is installed on a true plane and level to within 1/8” in ten (10’-0”) feet. Areas to receive slab are stable and rigid and capable of supporting the weight of slab. Stone counters and rough tops rely on the secure ness and strength of the cabinets.  Cabinets must be anchored and in place.
  3. Cabinet Support
    1. Reinforcement may be required in areas in front of cutouts to insure that they can adequately carry the weight of the stone without flexing (stove or sink cutouts).
  4. Undermount Sinks
    1. All actual sinks (not sample sink or a template) are mounted but not hooked up to plumbing. The sinks may be taken to shop for exact Templating.
    2. The sink has adequate support.
  5. D1. Self-Rimming Sinks
    1. All actual sinks are cut in place, but not hooked up to plumbing.
  6. Edge details and Seams
    1. Edge detail of countertop have been discussed and agreed upon.
    2. Edge detail at sink opening have been discussed and agreed upon.
    3. Edge detail of back splash have been discussed and agreed upon.
    4. Seams are placed by us depending on the size of the slab and the layout of the cabinets. Seams will be discussed and a drawing of these seams will be attached to this document and signed by the customer.
  7. Back splash
    1. Backsplash height has been discussed and agreed upon.
    2. All electrical outlets have been roughed in and checked by owner.
    3. Door or window casings are clear of slab installation, or a drawing of the slab to casing transition to be supplied at time of measurement.
  8. Fixtures and Appliances
    1. All appliances including but not limited to Range tops, Ovens, Microwaves, Dishwashers, etc. are installed, or currently present at jobsite so that transitions with slab can be determined and correct measurements can be taken.(some range tops made need to be removed prior to installation)
    2. Hood is currently installed or a line as to finish of splash has been marked by the Contractor or Owner.
    3. All fixtures intruding the slab (i.e. faucet, drinking water, air switch, soap dispensers) are available for measurement, or a guaranteed measurement is provided. The positions of all holes have been drilled through the rough top.

I hereby confirm that I have read and understand all of the above. All of the boxes have been checked and are completed as per requirements above. The job is ready for measurement.

____________________________________________________

Home Owner or Agent to Sign

I would recommend that these forms be presented to the customer so they are prepared for you when you show up for templating. This will not only save you a returned trip but will also make the templating process easier as well as having the proper template for the fabrication process.

Take the Guesswork Out of Fabrication

How many times have you taken a template and it has notes writing all over it, “Add 1/8 inch here” or “Polish here,” and other notes that you can hardly read.  In our templating classes we preach the following when it comes to templating: Make the template exactly the size of the stone. This includes overhangs, returns etc. By constructing the template to the exact size of the stone you take all the guesswork out.