When it comes to remodeling, many homeowners want to be as involved as possible. In today’s cost-conscious world, many are even turning to ordering their own materials and doing some of the installation themselves.

When it comes to kitchen countertops, for example, some homeowners might want to purchase slabs on their own – but is this really a good idea? Two of Angie’s List highly rated countertop experts share their professional advice.

“No, I absolutely do not recommend this,” Joe Papp of highly rated Solid Surfaces LLC in Greenfield, Ind., says.

Why? The Indianapolis area countertop installer says measurements aren’t as easy to get right as some homeowners might think.

“Lots of people get the measurements wrong, or they don’t account for movement in the wall or sink,” Papp explains. “Also, sometimes people accidentally order mismatches, where the colors don’t really blend well. There is so much that can go wrong with this, it’s just best to go to a professional right off the bat.

“Besides, we buy the materials at a better rate than homeowners can get them for if they buy on their own,” Papp continues. “And if homeowners buy on their own, they are responsible for the cost of fixing their mistakes. But if they buy from us and we make a mistake, then it’s on us to fix it.”

Joy Coleman, Dallas countertop expert of highly rated A Joy of Granite & Natural Stone, has a differing opinion. Coleman’s business will sell slabs to be installed by someone else, as well as install slabs that were purchased somewhere else.

“Lots of businesses won’t do that, but we do,” she says. “If a homeowner wants to buy slabs on their own though, they’ll want to make sure they get their own warranty on them.”

Coleman says the warranty is usually issued when a homeowner purchases countertops from a professional who also supplies them, but if the homeowner goes off on their own to purchase the slabs beforehand, the warranty is not included. A professional countertop installer may be weary of installing countertops that were purchased somewhere else because of liability issues.

“It all just depends on which business you go to,” Coleman says.