And Thanksgiving went off without a hitch. With a lot of help, we installed the new island countertop and cooktop. We had a contractor install the quartz counters along the walls.

Ideally, buy a new cooktop that will fit the opening. The cooktop will drop into this hole and rest on the counter. You are trying to avoid cutting your countertop to accommodate a larger cooktop.

More complex installs—including plumbing (water and gas hookups), countertop and cabinet installation, cooktop ventilation and electrical work—can require the work of several contractors and ...