Can you post pictures of the seams?

Also how big are the counters? I have one that is about 10 feet long with no seam. I don't like using middlemen for reasons like this. I prefer to be my own GC and hire the individuals to do the work. It's a pain but I usually get what I want this way. Most stone yards have their own fabricators, same for tile stores. Who did your GC use?

I'm getting ready to purchase another slab of granite for a my new place in Conn. and these stories on this site about seams are giving me a stomach ache of nerves.

What should you do? I hope you haven't paid in full because owing money is the best way to get a problem resolved. I learned that the hard way myself. Now I pay in thirds: 1/3 up front, 1/3 in the middle and the balance upon completion.

Here are a couple of photos.

Oops, no photos....

Can anyone please tell me how to post photos in the message?

janine04- have you seen my thread about my granite seam? it might be helpful to youas I am going through the same issues right now although I hired them myself. I have not paid yet so i do have some leverage.

If they offer to redo the counters/seams, please supervise. My advice to all is to supervise granite installation. No matter how good your contractor, subcontractor, worker etc are, one must supervise and approve the quality of work.

First, where are your pictures? If on your computer only, you'll need to upload them somewhere on the web for the rest of us to see them.

I upload pictures to PhotoBucket.

1. Open an account w/PhotoBucket or other photo hosting site.

2. Take a picture using a digital camera (or film camera but get them on disk when they're developed)

3. Resize your pics so they're approx 400x300 (resize keeping the same proportions so they don't get distorted...i.e., don't specify a specific size, use %-ages or similar)

4. Upload your pictures to your photo account

5. Find the label that contains the link to the picture
   (In PhotoBucket, it's the box labeled "HTML Code")

6. Copy that link and paste it into the "Message" box of a post.

7. When you "Preview" your message, you'll see the picture.

Posting a picture from somewhere other than your Photo hosting account

1. Copy the following into the "Message" box where you want the picture to be:
   {{gwi:1467847}}

Next, replace the http://www.XXX/image.jpg with the address of the image.
When you "preview" the message, you should see the picture

Here is a link that might be useful: Read Me If You're New To GW Kitchens!

In all fairness to the guys that did the stick - perhaps they
are not completely finished with the seams.... I know, I know -
you were probably mortified at what you saw, HOWEVER - there
are many different schools of thought on how seams are done.

One technique that I do not use, but many other fabricators use
(that pretty much don't know any better) is to allow the excess glue to
"shmush" out of the top of the seam, and then they allow that to dry
over night. They come back the next day to grind down the excess
epoxy or polyester, and then smooth down their "finished seam" to something
way better than what yo initially saw.

One question for you on all of this - DID your Fabricator make ANY attempt
to give you an opportunity to examine the quality of his seams - BEFORE
you signed his contract and you gave him a deposit on the work?

One thing that way too many guys that are masquerading as fabricators these
days do - is NOT give you an opportunity ti actually SEE the quality of
their finished work - either in person or via pictures or video - and this can
be done so easily to eliminate any problems and establish your level of
expectation
as a consumer... i just wish more guys would take the time to teach their
customers about what EXACTLY it is that they will be providing - quality
wise.....

Hopefully you can post some pics, and your fabricator will make things right byt
you... Ubatuba seams can be done very easily if a guy knows what the heck
he's doing... otherwise - it'll look like Ray Charles did the job!!!!!

hope that helps - post some pics asap too....

kevin

Thanks to buehl's tip, I managed to post the photos. Camera flash blurred the seams, but they are very much there.

My contractor said he would have the installers look at the seams and go from there although he is "quite happy" with the result...now I'm starting to doubt his ability to manage this job.

Here's the big version. It does look awfully rough, I hope you get some satisfaction on this.

Eeeeks! That seam looks awful to me

Janine04

Does the seam bother you?
Here is a link to Tom Cordova's Rock Blog. I am amazed how much I have learned about Granite through this site. Maybe it can help you too.
~Boxerpups

http://tomcordova.com/24/seams-in-granite/

"Granite countertop seams should be smooth to the touch and no more than 1/16ÂÂ wide. There is no written rule about this but this is the quality standard in the industry. The joint should be filled flush with epoxy in a color that best matches the general granite color. If you are not happy with the color, ask the installer to redo it. This is not difficult. Sometimes the joint can be made smoother with the epoxy as well.

If the joint is still rough, then you will need to have the seams professionally ground down and re-polished. This is not easy to do correctly and even impossible with some homogenous colors.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova ..."

..............

gosh, this is scary. any hints for someone looking for a fabricator? ask to see sample work? is there a certification or anything else to look for?

thanks.

janine looking at the seam the worst thing about it is it was put in the corner. Usually that's not the best place for any seam because our "eyes" go to corners. Most seams are better away from corners and a lot of seams are by sinks and stoves since the appliance takes up so much space so the seam is less noticeable. Your seam isn't horrible but it is a bit rough looking. Like it wasn't cut with a very sharp blade. But the color filler, at least in the photos, isn't really horrible. Your stone looks more grey than black and the filler looks grey to me. And you're also lucky that your stone has such a tight pattern. It's not that it's so awful. It's just that there are better looking seams out there.

I'm getting ready to buy another granite for another kitchen and the first thing I ask is: Can I be there when the stone is getting cut? And show me what you think is an acceptable looking seam? I want to see what their seams look like. This way if I get a seam, I can compare it to what ever they showed me assuming I'm not happy.

I'm sorry you're not happy and your contractor doesn't seem to be willing to try and smooth it out.