Big gap on side on granite countertop

shaine2080

12 years ago

When we moved to our home, there was a wonderful granite countertop already installed in our kitchen. Its primarily hunter green with swirls of brown and gold with specks of cranberry red. We also had 4" back and side trims of the game granite.

We finally decided to install a backsplash (with no side splash) and pulled out the back and side trims. The back of the granite was installed flush against the back but the sides have a gap of 1/2"!!! Hence the dilemma. Obviously we need the 4" trim or caulking on the sides The design of the new back splash (1/2" square desert cream travertine installed diagonally with a border/deco listello running through about 4" above the lower end) does not allow us to install the 4" granite trim on the backsplash.

So the question is,

1. Should we just caulk the sides and live with it?

2. Should we install the 4" green granite back on the sides with the cream on the back?

3. Should we install a 4" trim of the same desert cream we are using on the back splash?

Since we are not professionals, and this is the first time we are doing this, I would really appreciate all opinions.

Thanks

Shaine

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

poohpup
12 years ago
It sounds to me like your best option is to install a side splash with your tile. 1/2" gap is way too big to caulk and look good.
shaine2080
Original Author
12 years ago
Aesthetically speaking though, what would look better:

4" green granite on the sides (to match the countertop) with the cream tile on the backsplash OR
a 4" trim of the same desert cream we are using on the back splash?

Thanks Again
Related Discussions
Gap between granite counter and wall (with pictures)
Q
Comments (5)
deannagv: Nice looking project, but yes, a few of the gaps are a concern. Here's my suggestions- 1. Gaps 5, 4 and part of 3 should be covered by backsplash- I know you said that you are only running splash on the wall where gap 5 is, but I would wrap splash around the corner so it will cover gap 4. This (IMHO) will look more finished- regardless of whether there was a gap 4 & 3 or not. I would also do a splash on the left side to balance the "look". 2.Can the upper be shifted at all to split the difference in the size of the gaps between the stone and the walls, or is it set? the 3/8" gap is (again IMHO) a bit wide, however, it can be filled with polyester and colored to match the stone (IF you have a competant Fabricator and Install crew that HAS the skill sets to do that). 3.Re-making anything is the last resort, especially if there's no more stone left - IF there is enough material, this is a possible option, but I would give your Fabricator an honest chance to remedy the situation first - without having to resort to re-fabbing anything (unless of course HE brings it up first). In that case then, I'd let him remake the upper - it's easier to make something bigger and trim it down on the jobsite, as opposed to making it shorter and having to rely on the "stone stretcher" to solve the problem... ;-) 4. It's not unusual for gaps to exist between walls and stone - remember that homes "breathe" throughout the year, and your walls & cabinets will expand and contract at a different rate as opposed to the stone, so caulk joints are a fact of life in any application, however, 3/8" is a bit wide for my taste My .02 cents worth kevin Kevin M. Padden MIA SFA Fabricator, Trainer & Consultant to the Natural Stone Industry www.azschoolofrock.com
...See More
Gap Between Range Sides and Granite Counters
Q
Comments (3)
There are different widths of T squares; you can get them in stainless. I have white (bcs I have white stove & counter). I bought a set at Bed Bath & Beyond, and they were too wide (narrow clearances); I ended up ordering them from Home Trends catalog or Improvements catalog or some company like that. I like them, bcs I can remove them to clean any drips that have run off the edge. They look neat and tidy (and bonus for me, they cover the ding my DH put in my 3-month-old stove).
...See More
granite counter-top seams ... are we being too picky?
Q
Comments (44)
These are my pics of my countertops placed Friday June 22, 2018. I cried looking at these seams. It looks so cheap. Fabricator explains that's the way it comes. I explained that I shouldn't be able to see the seams so clearly. It looks so unprofessional. They ended up taking them back to their warehouse. In hopes they say if it is quality control will try and fix it just to make it look better. Otherwise I will have to pay an additional fee for them to come out again to install. I just don't know what to do and if still looks the same. This is the first time I've replaced my counters in 24 years. I don't and can't live with it. looking at this for another 24 years. It looks so cheap and it really was not it's a lot of money to me. I hope fingers crossed that they will fix this problem. They never told me that there would be such seams. I thought the edges were done by a machine and it would be all one piece. I have read up on this and now understand there are seams. But now I do know that they should not look like this. If they are good fabricator you shouldn't be able to see them so clearly. I will find out next week what happens.
...See More
How to fix 1/4" gap in drywall above granite counter
Q
Comments (13)
Thanks - unfortunately they are unresponsive and the company no longer exists shortly after finishing the job (we had so much work done to an older house it took me a while to realize the little things that were done poorly - I've learned that lesson of how to choose folks to work on your home the hard way. I realize this seems like a glaring mistake but it was a gap that didn't bother me too much at first, but got worse when we recently had to shim up the counter which was also poorly installed. Thanks for the paintable caulk suggestion - maybe I should try a caulk backing strip (or whatever those are called) and drywall putty if needed for the gouged looking part, then caulk and paint?
...See More
ci_lantro
12 years ago
I think it would look best to reinstall the 4'' granite strips on both the side & back and then tile above. Whether to tile above on the sides is your call. It will look good either way. But I think using the 4'' granite strip on just the side and not on the back would look weird.
poohpup
12 years ago
I'd use the same tile on the side splash that you use on the back splash. IMHO I think it would look weird to have the 4" granite splash on the side and then tile on the back. You don't have to have the side splash at the same 4" as your old granite splash. You can take it up to the same height as the backsplash or transition it to a lower level. The link below has some examples.

Here is a link that might be useful: Side splash
rollie
12 years ago
Reinstall the back and sidesplashes and tile up from there.
CEFreeman
12 years ago
Shaine, what happened?
shaine2080
Original Author
12 years ago
Hi All,

I tried to post pics but couldn't figure it out. Still waiting for the tile to arrive :( One of my "walls" is wood. I don't think a big side splash would be an option (the thin set would crack over time.) I think I'm leaning towards a 4" side splash of the desert cream travertine like the backsplash followed by a listello only on the backsplash. What do you all think?

Thanks
Shaine
gr8daygw
12 years ago
A friend of mine had this same dilemma. She got a pencil tile molding that was one of the complimentary tiles to her selection and just used that. It looks terrific. She went ahead and used it all along the bottom row of the tile and then at the end of the tile along the finished vertical edge of the tile below the end of the cabinet. Honestly, it looks so pretty. Wish I had a picture!
shaine2080
Original Author
11 years ago
gr8day, this sounds interesting...can you elaborate a bit on "then at the end of the tile along the finished vertical edge of the tile below the end of the cabinet" Do you mean she created a big I____I (U-shape) with the rope tile? Thanks Again.

Big gap on side on granite countertop

Comments (9)

poohpup

shaine2080
Original Author

Related Discussions

ci_lantro

poohpup

rollie

CEFreeman

shaine2080
Original Author

gr8daygw

shaine2080
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Big gap on side on granite countertop

Comments (9)

poohpup

shaine2080Original Author

Related Discussions

ci_lantro

poohpup

rollie

CEFreeman

shaine2080Original Author

gr8daygw

shaine2080Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

shaine2080
Original Author

shaine2080
Original Author

shaine2080
Original Author