Thank you for all the feedback! I just didn't know what to expect since I was getting this conflicting information. I have to admit that my gut is that I will get a better end product if there are no countertops in place when the templating is done, and that is how fabricator number two (my preferred one)operates. Good suggestions on asking why it takes so long after the templating is done to get the counters installed, especially since the material is right here in town already, and the fabricator only needs to go over to the yard to pick it up. I can more easily see living for three weeks without countertops than the sink (and as my husband said, if there is no sink there is also no dishwasher!). Since we plan to reuse our sink, I think I am going to talk to them about the possiblity of leaving the sink in as someone else here did. I appreciate the personal stories and the advice.

I am with Michelle. For the laundry room formica is just more practical. No grout to deal with. If you want put the tile up on the wall where it's not such an issue. I am in the process of redoing my laundry room. Refinished the cabinets and replaced the sink and countertop. I put in the preformed formica. I am running tile up the sides and over the top of some tall cabinets that set by the sink. But I use my laundry room sink for washing paint brushes, dog baths, soaking pond filters, etc. and I wanted a countertop that was easy to clean. Some days I would like to put formica over the tile in the master bath. For some reason that tile/grout is a real PITA to keep clean!

The sink is resting on a .75" piece of plywood that is screwed into the front horizontal piece. Going by what the rest of the cabs look like, they may have used dadoes on the side vertical pieces for that plywood to sit on/in Those pocket screws in the photo are most likely attaching the face frame to the cabinet. There will be more attachment points but they will be hidden and you can't access them after the cabinet is installed. From what I see, removing the sink looks do-able and pretty straightforward. Remove the drain pieces--not just the drain pipe but the basket flanges that the drain pipe connects to. Use a razor blade to cut through any caulking/ silicone, etc. sealing the sink to the countertop. And that puppy should slide right out the front. You'll need some muscle-ly help because that sink weighs north of 100#s.

As a rule, BB cabinets and counter tops are separate, but sold as a unit. The usual procedure is to adhere the counter top to the cabinet with silicon. That means simply running a knife between the joint should cut the sealer on the open sides/front of the cabinet. Then pull/pry the counter top free.