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What is slab nesting?

Slab nesting is the process of arranging countertop pieces onto stone slabs to minimize the number of slabs used. It accounts for kerf width, the rectangular blank each L-shaped piece consumes, grain direction, and seam rules. Good nesting on a repeating multi-unit job can save 15–20% of slab count versus nesting each unit independently.

What nesting optimizes

Nesting minimizes slab count (and scrap) while respecting kerf between cuts, grain or vein direction when the material requires it, and seam rules that decide whether an L stays monolithic or splits.

Why multi-unit jobs change the math

When one kitchen type repeats across dozens of apartments, identical L pieces can interlock across units. Nesting unit-by-unit misses that yield. Nesting the full piece set for a type — then multiplying by quantity — is how shops recover 15–20% slab count.

Counterly produces a slab nesting layout with the takeoff so quote and material order reflect packed yield, not gross square footage alone.

From the shop floor

We publish what estimators tell us about these pages, including the parts where the software was wrong. If you run takeoff in a shop and this page got something right — or got it wrong — send it to us and it goes here with your name on it, or without it if you prefer.

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