Quality guide for measuring and installation
A quality worktop installation starts with properly prepared cabinets, accurate measuring and clear agreements. This guide explains how Nordecos measures and installs stone worktops, what to expect from the finished result and how the quality of the work is assessed.
Nordecos provides measuring, technical drawings, transport and installation services. We do not sell or manufacture stone. We address questions about materials and manufacturing together with the customer commissioning the work and the manufacturer or supplier. We take responsibility for our own measuring and installation.
This guide is used together with the approved technical drawing, the work agreed in the order, and the measuring and installation terms.
1. Before measuring
For the worktop to be measured correctly, all elements that affect its position and dimensions must be in their final positions.
- Cabinets, side panels, cover panels and supporting structures must be installed, joined together and securely fixed.
- Cabinets and supporting surfaces must be straight and level. The maximum height difference must not exceed 2 mm.
- At least one cabinet door or drawer front must be fitted, or its exact thickness must be known.
- Required supports must be in place, and the old or temporary worktop must be removed. Measuring from an existing worktop is possible only by prior agreement; concealed structures cannot then be fully inspected.
- For a vertical side panel extending to the floor, also known as a waterfall panel, the finished floor must be installed and level.
- Where a backsplash extends to wall cabinets, the cabinets, panels, lights and trims affecting its height must be installed, or their exact dimensions and final positions must be agreed.
- Walls affecting the measurements must have their final shape. The thickness of any wall covering to be added later must be known before measuring.
- The area to be measured must be clean, well lit and accessible. The room temperature must be at least +15 °C.
The sink, hob, tap and other integrated equipment must be on site. If this is not possible, exact model details and the required manufacturer’s technical drawings or installation instructions must be provided before measuring. The material, thickness, edge profile, backsplash design, and intended positions and installation methods for openings must also be known.
We recommend that the customer or their representative is present during measuring so that we can review the intended design together.
2. Measuring and the technical drawing
We use digital Proliner measuring and also check important dimensions manually. During measuring, we record the actual shape of walls and cabinets, equipment positions and other conditions affecting manufacturing and installation.
Together with the customer or the party commissioning the work, we confirm:
- worktop shapes, dimensions and overhangs, including the points from which overhangs are measured;
- the positions and installation methods for the sink, hob, tap, sockets and other openings;
- joints, component divisions, visible edges and edge profiles;
- backsplashes, upstands, vertical side panels and other special details;
- required supports, preparation, access and lifting arrangements.
By default, the sink and hob are centred on their respective cabinets. Any different position must be agreed before measuring. Equipment openings and installation methods follow the manufacturer’s instructions. A final opening is not added to the drawing until the model and installation method have been confirmed.
We prepare a CAD drawing for manufacturing based on the measurements. Where possible, the drawing is reviewed with the customer on site. For work ordered through a partner, the partner arranges for the drawing to be checked and approved by the end customer before manufacturing. All outstanding questions must be resolved before the drawing is sent for manufacturing.
Measuring photographs, drawings and notes are retained as part of the job documentation. They help the manufacturer and installer understand the agreed design and allow the site conditions to be checked later if necessary.
3. Changes after measuring
After measuring, elements affecting the dimensions must not be changed without consulting Nordecos first. This includes cabinets and their levelling, side panels, cover panels, supports, walls, equipment, openings and floor height.
Installing equipment later or removing temporary spacer strips can also change the position of cabinets. If anything needs to change, contact Nordecos or the partner responsible for the order before carrying out the work. We will assess whether the drawing needs to be revised or new measuring is required.
4. Before installation
The preparation instructions given during measuring must be completed before installation. Cabinets and supporting surfaces must be stable, securely fixed and level; the maximum height difference must not exceed 2 mm. Required supports and preparatory cuts must be completed.
- The old or temporary worktop must be removed unless otherwise agreed.
- The sink, hob and other equipment required for installation must be on site and match the models shown on the drawing.
- Electrical, water, waste and ventilation arrangements must be prepared so that they do not prevent installation of the ordered components.
- The removal of sockets and covers that obstruct backsplash installation must be arranged in advance. Electrical work must be carried out by a qualified electrician.
- The work area and carrying route must be clear, well lit and safe. Parking and any required lifting assistance must be arranged.
- The floor must be covered with strong, secured, slip-resistant protection. Installers wear safety footwear. Nearby furniture and equipment must be protected as necessary.
- The room temperature must be at least +15 °C on the installation day and for at least the following two days.
Nordecos carries out transport with its own team. Where needed, we arrange a crane or additional lifting assistance as agreed.
If we find that preparation is incomplete, we first assess whether the issue can be resolved safely and properly on site. Our aim is to complete the installation in one visit where possible. If continuing would put people, the customer’s property or the quality of the installation at risk, we agree on the next steps.
5. Installation and finishing
Before final fixing, we check component condition, conformity with the drawing, opening fit, overhangs, joints and support. Worktops are fixed to the prepared supporting surface using suitable silicone or adhesive. Sinks, hobs, backsplashes and other components are installed according to the ordered design and the manufacturer’s instructions.
Joints and fixing
Standard worktop joints are filled with silicone in a colour suited to the material. 45° joints and fork joints at hob cut-outs are bonded with two-component adhesive. Standard joints use 0.5 mm plastic spacers between components. Joints must be properly supported and components securely fixed.
Joints and bonded connections may remain visible. Silicone or adhesive colours are selected to match as closely as possible, but an exact colour match with the stone or surrounding surfaces cannot be guaranteed.
Wall joints and backsplashes
Silicone sealing between the worktop and rear wall, and along the top edge of a backsplash, is carried out when separately ordered or agreed in the job instructions. Joint shape and size are affected by wall straightness, the wall covering and its surface texture.
A rigid backsplash or upstand does not follow a curved wall in the same way as a worktop measured to the wall’s shape. The gap between the wall and the component may therefore be uneven or larger than usual. These conditions are documented and a suitable finishing solution is agreed where necessary.
Sink, hob and connections
We check the equipment model, opening fit and agreed installation method. The glass of a flush-mounted hob must not rest directly on the stone; suitable supports and jointing materials are used in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements.
Nordecos does not make water, waste, electrical or ventilation connections. These are carried out by the relevant specialist. Cabinet levelling, adjustment, rebuilding and support alterations should generally be completed before installation. The installer assesses whether minor deviations can be corrected on site.
6. Permitted tolerances
A tolerance specifies the permitted deviation from an agreed dimension or position. The installed design is assessed against the approved drawing, the reference points used during measuring, the actual site conditions and the tolerances below.
| Item assessed | Permitted tolerance or gap |
|---|---|
| Component length | ±2 mm |
| Component width | ±2 mm |
| Component thickness | ±2 mm |
| Deviation of an end or edge from its intended direction or parallel alignment | Up to 2 mm, unless otherwise specified on the drawing |
| Component flatness deviation | Up to 3 mm, provided the maximum height difference in the supporting surface does not exceed 2 mm |
| Overhang relative to cabinets, doors, side panels or cover panels | ±3 mm, assessed against the reference points used during measuring |
| Height difference between components at a joint | ±1 mm |
| Dimensions of holes, cut-outs and recesses | ±2 mm |
| Position of holes, cut-outs and recesses | ±3 mm |
| Level of flush-mounted sinks, hobs and recessed sockets relative to the worktop | ±2 mm |
| Chamfer at a waterfall joint | Generally 2 × 2 mm ±2 mm |
| Joint width and visible adhesive line at a bonded joint | Up to 2 mm; joint width may vary by ±1 mm along its length |
| Difference in depth between the vertical end panel and worktop at a 45° joint | The panel and worktop must have the same depth; permitted difference ±1 mm |
| Vertical end panel depth and front-edge position at a 90° joint | The panel sits beneath the worktop, usually set back from the front edge by the chamfer width; deviation from the intended position ±1 mm |
| Angle between the worktop and waterfall panel | 90° ±1° |
| Gap between the waterfall panel and floor | Generally up to 3 mm; the gap may vary where the floor is uneven |
| Gap between the wall and worktop | Generally up to 4 mm |
| Gap between the end of a backsplash and a side wall or tall cabinet | Generally up to 4 mm |
| Gap between a backsplash and wall cabinets | Up to 6 mm |
| Silicone joint width between the worktop and rear wall, and at the worktop’s end or side edges | Generally up to 5 mm |
| Silicone joint width at a backsplash | Generally up to 5 mm; the joint may be wider where the wall is uneven or curved |
| Silicone joint finishing radius | Generally R3–R10 |
If the cabinet run, doors, side panels or cover panels are not straight or aligned, the overhang may vary along the component. Uneven walls, floors and supporting structures can also affect joint widths and gaps between components. Such deviations are assessed according to their actual cause.
If a flush-mounted product’s own surface is not flat, or its deviation exceeds the permitted limit, the solution must be agreed with its manufacturer or supplier. Later movement of the building, cabinets or supporting surface can also change the position of the worktop, joints and gaps.
7. Handover and first use
After installation, we inspect surfaces, edges, openings, joints and fixings. We remove adhesive and silicone residues from our work, clear away our installation waste and leave the work area tidy. This is an initial clean-up, rather than a full post-construction deep clean of the rooms.
The completed work is photographed and, where possible, reviewed with the customer or their representative. Known deviations, additional work carried out and unfinished work are documented.
The worktop, sink, hob and other newly bonded or silicone-sealed components must not be loaded, cleaned or used until the adhesive and silicone have fully cured, and never within the first 24 hours. If the materials used require a longer curing time, we will let you know. During this period, components must not be moved, and work causing strong vibration or dust must not be carried out nearby.
Plumbing and electrical work following installation must be scheduled after the curing period. Silicone joints need to be checked during use and renewed when necessary. Subsequent worktop care must follow the care instructions for the specific material.
8. If you notice a defect
Where possible, please point out visible defects at handover and report them in writing as soon as possible. Include the order number or site address, a description of the problem, an overview photograph showing its location and close-up photographs of the defect.
Before a third party repairs, alters or dismantles the installation, please give Nordecos an opportunity to inspect it. We review drawings, measuring and installation photographs, and site conditions to establish the cause and an appropriate solution.
If the defect results from a Nordecos measuring or installation error, we arrange for it to be corrected. The customer or partner is not charged for additional work or a return visit needed to correct an error for which we are responsible.
Our aim is clear agreements, checked work and a solution when a problem arises.