System and method of making and installing countertops

Abstract

With conventional countertops, installing stone countertops or other countertop materials can be cumbersome, difficult and expensive. Skilled labor as well as very precise measurements and cuts are required to make such installations. To reduce the overall cost and to reduce the skill required to install stone countertops, a method whereby cabinets are staggered in heights and prefabricated countertop sections having custom edges. The use of the staggered cabinet heights in conjunction with the prefabricated countertop sections allows less skilled laborers to install countertops in less time without the need for precise measurement and precise cutting while continuing to provide same general aesthetic feel without any future maintenance.

1 . A method of installing a countertop, comprising adhering a plurality of countertop sections to cabinetry having a non-uniform countertop height without premeasuring the countertop sections.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises providing staggered countertop heights.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises providing two alternating countertop heights.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of providing two alternating cabinet heights further comprises providing two countertop heights that differ from one another by a distance of an average thickness of the plurality of countertop sections plus a clearance gap.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the clearance gap is selected from a range of approximately a few thousands of an inch to about 2 inches.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the countertop sections comprise a material selected from the group consisting of granite, marble, quartz, slate, shale, gneiss, sandstone, basalt, and artificial stones.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises providing each countertop section with at least one custom edge to seamless form the countertop.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the countertop sections comprise a plurality of selected sizes.  
   
   
       9 . A method for installing a countertop, comprising adhering a plurality of countertop sections to cabinetry to seamlessly form the kitchen countertop.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises providing cabinetry having a first and a second height.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 providing each countertop section with custom edges; and    overlapping the countertop sections such that the custom edges of the countertop sections aesthetically appear to be seamless.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the countertop sections comprise a plurality of selected sizes.  
   
   
       13 . A method for installing a countertop, comprising: 
 providing cabinetry having a top with a plurality of countertop heights;    providing a plurality of countertop sections, wherein each countertop section is one of a set of at least two standard sizes; and    adhering the countertops sections along the top of the cabinetry.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of providing cabinetry further comprises providing staggered countertop heights.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of providing cabinetry further comprises providing two alternating countertop heights.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the countertop sections comprise a material selected from the group consisting of granite, marble, quartz, slate, shale, gneiss, sandstone, basalt, and artificial stones.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises: 
 providing each countertop section with custom edges; and    overlapping the countertop sections such that the custom edges of the countertop sections aesthetically appears to be seamless.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the countertop sections are selected from a set comprising two or more sizes.  
   
   
       19 . A method for installing a countertop, comprising: 
 providing a plurality of countertop sections, wherein each countertop section is one of a set of at least two standard sizes, and wherein each countertop section has custom edges;    providing cabinetry having a top with two alternating countertop heights that differ from one another by a distance of an average thickness of the plurality of countertop sections plus a clearance gap of two inches;    overlapping the countertop sections such that the custom edges of the countertop sections form the kitchen countertop to aesthetically appear to be seamless; and    adhering the countertops sections along the top of the cabinetry.    
   
   
       20 . An apparatus for forming a countertop comprising: 
 cabinetry having a top with at least two heights; and    a plurality of countertop sections adhered along the top of the cabinetry, wherein each section is selected from a set of at least two standard-sized countertop sections, and wherein each countertop section has at least one custom edge to make the countertop aesthetically appear to be seamless.    
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the cabinetry further comprises the two countertop heights are alternated with respect to one another.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein each countertop section further comprises a material selected from the group consisting of granite, marble, quartz, slate, shale, gneiss, sandstone, basalt, and artificial stones.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the difference in the two heights is an average thickness of the plurality of countertop sections plus a clearance gap.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the clearance gap is selected from a range of approximately a few thousands of an inch to about 2 inches.