We sincerely appreciate you sharing the story of your project with us. It is great to hear you removed those drawers and doors before installing your cabinets, as we do recommend that being done to prevent damages and make access to the interior easier for installation. With the countertop, we hope you were able to find the best option needed for the top you selected to be a part of your project. If you were to have any other questions or concerns, your purchase does come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Your Hampton Bay Customer Care Team will be here to discuss those with you at (888) 578-4009 or homeproducts_cc@woodmark.com. Thank you again for your review, and we hope you enjoy your new Natural Hickory cabinetry for many years to come.