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Granite seams

11 years ago

I've seen a few posts about granite seams, but none explicitly addressed the following two questions:
1. Is it true that because the different types of stone that make a granite patterned are of different hardnesses, that some chipping and jaggedness is inevitable when cutting for a seam, particularly with a speckled granite like Azul Platino?
2. Is it true that seams on a granite with wide color variation will inevitably be visible because no matter which color is matched, it will not match most of the colors?

I have a seam that I don't think is good, based on the pictures I've seen here in the forums and elsewhere. My contractor gave me the two explanations above. Is he right? If so, then how good can a seam look from close up on a speckled granite like my azul platino?

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Comments (10)

User
11 years ago
It can certainly look better than that! That's NOT an acceptable seam. It might be the best he can do, and if so, then he's admitting he's a hack.
poohpup
11 years ago
My granite is definitely varied in color and the seams don't look anything like that. There isn't any chipping or jaggedness and the whole seam is perfectly smooth. If I close my eyes and run my hand over the granite trying to find the seam, I can't. My granite is leathered so it isn't a perfectly smooth surface, but there aren't any jagged spots at all.

I think hollysprings is on to something.
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I think the fact that is a poor pattern match is a given. And others have given great advice. I would like to also ask you to make sure your sink is strapped. But something else is worrying me for you. Your original post stated it was a bad granite seam. You appear to have fantasy brown marble, which is a great stone, but not granite, and can be prone to etching, so make sure you are caring for it properly like one would care for a marble.
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ellendi
11 years ago
Not acceptable:(
taggie
11 years ago
Oh my god, that is horrible. It looks like they took a big chunk out of one of the edges and then just carried on regardless. Yipes.
Sharon kilber
11 years ago
Was he, just learning his trade? Might be a short one.
phiwwy
11 years ago
Definitely not acceptable. Did your GC do it or a proper fabricator?
shedthechrysalis
11 years ago
Our granite is busy and speckled and our fabricators were rushed and not the best, and even our seam looks 10 times better than that. No jagged edges, no jagged look.

Now, It is inevitable that he wouldn't be able to match all of the colors, because of the patterning, but the raunchy edges just look terrible. Sorry...
TxMarti
11 years ago
Just curious, but how zoomed in is that photo? Can you see the jagged edges from a foot away?
PRO
Granite City Services
11 years ago
poor seam. it is true some stones will chip badly when sawn although there are a few "tricks" to minimize the chipping. 1st is a quality bridge saw. you cant get a nice cut from a crappy saw. 2nd is refinishing the chippy sawn edge on an edge machine or on a CNC with the 1st 3 or 4 flat edge tools. easy to do if you have the equipment but even a lot of shops with the equipment don't do it because it takes some extra time.

if I had seam edges like yours I at least would have put a small bevel by hand on the top edge of the stone. this would have made the seam look a little wider but at least it would have been regular (straight edges) and would look better than what you have.

re: color matching variegated stone it's always a compromise. in my shop we would have used a brighter white to match the white of the stone better or a clear epoxy. the clear probably would be the least conspicious.

my 2 cents.
gone_south
11 years ago
The color matching in your photo doesn't bother me. The jagged edge seam really speaks to poor workmanship.

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