When I finally finished installing all of the kitchen cabinets in our DIY IKEA SEKTION kitchen, it was time for one of the biggest milestones of the project—the Cambria quartz countertops. This wasn’t something I wanted to tackle myself, so I hired a professional fabricator to measure, manufacture, and install everything. Looking back, I’m glad I did.
These countertops are one chapter of my complete IKEA kitchen build, sitting on the same SEKTION boxes I later fitted with Blum Aventos automation and appliance lifts.
For our kitchen, we chose Cambria Britannica quartz countertops, and they completely transformed the space. The soft gray veining on a warm white background fits the modern look we were after, and the matte finish hides fingerprints and dust surprisingly well. Even when the counters need cleaning, they still look great.
Choosing the Right Cambria Quartz Countertop Thickness
One detail many people overlook is countertop thickness.
For both the main kitchen and the dining area, I went with 3 cm quartz. I wanted the maximum strength and the substantial, high-end look that the thicker slab gives you, and I didn’t want to compromise that anywhere in the space—even in the dining area, where the cabinets are floating and wall-mounted. Rather than thinning down the stone there, I made sure the supports underneath were strong enough to carry the extra weight.
Cabinet Prep Before Installing Cambria Quartz Countertops
Before the countertop company arrived, I spent a lot of time making sure every cabinet was perfectly level and secure.
I also added extra IKEA countertop braces on top of the SEKTION cabinets to provide additional support. In places where there wasn’t a cabinet underneath—such as next to a dishwasher in one corner—I built extra support using 2×4 framing attached to the wall so the stone would have a solid surface to rest on.
Quartz slabs are incredibly heavy, and unsupported corners can become problem areas over time.
Digital Measuring Was Surprisingly Impressive
The fabricators used modern laser measuring equipment to create an exact digital model of the kitchen. Watching the process was fascinating.
Since I already had all four undermount sinks installed and secured, they were able to capture every curve and dimension precisely. The finished cutouts fit almost perfectly without requiring any adjustments.
They also requested model numbers for every built-in appliance and accessory that would interact with the countertops, including grills, ovens, and specialty components.
Undermount Sinks Need Proper Support
Because all of my sinks mount underneath the quartz, I made sure they had strong structural support before measurements were taken.
Having everything permanently positioned ahead of time helped ensure the countertop openings aligned exactly where they needed to be.
The faucet holes, however, were drilled on-site after installation, allowing final positioning to be fine-tuned.
The Retractable Pop-Up Outlet
One feature I really wanted was a hidden pop-up electrical outlet built directly into the island countertop.
The main opening was fabricated at the shop, but the installers completed the final trimming and fitting on-site inside their work van to achieve perfect gaps and alignment. It took extra time, but the finished result looks factory-installed.
Planning Countertop Seams
The area that concerned me most was the large L-shaped dining section.
Because of its size, it couldn’t be fabricated from one single slab, so seams were unavoidable. We worked carefully with the fabricator to determine the best placement.
One recommendation I’d make to anyone installing stone countertops:
- Keep seams away from areas that may flex or move.
- Reinforce any cabinetry that supports a seam.
In my case, one seam landed near the dishwasher section, so I reinforced that cabinet structure beforehand. Thankfully, the installers did an outstanding job.
Matching Quartz Backsplash
The backsplash was installed several weeks after the countertops.
This is normal because it needs to be measured after the countertops are in place. We used the same Cambria Britannica quartz throughout, creating a seamless, continuous appearance that ties the entire kitchen together.
I also carried the same material into our hydroponic garden area to maintain consistency across the space.
Final Thoughts
After all the planning, reinforcement, measurements, and installation, everything fit beautifully. The appliance cutouts lined up perfectly, the undermount sinks fit exactly as intended, and the finished backsplash completed the modern look we envisioned.
If I had to do it again, I’d make the same material choice without hesitation. The subtle veining, durable surface, and low-maintenance finish have exceeded my expectations, and the careful preparation beforehand made the installation process go smoothly. If you’re working on a similar project, check out the full IKEA SEKTION kitchen build series for all the steps leading up to this point.
Related on Homeject: You might also like the DIY IKEA kitchen build, IKEA cabinets with Miele, Wolf & Thermador and GROHE Blue review.
Disclosure: This post is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by IKEA. IKEA® and all IKEA product names are trademarks of Inter IKEA Systems B.V., referenced here solely to identify products used in this personal DIY project.
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