Here are some photos, not great quality. I would really appreciate some feedback. Every gray blob along the seam is a chip that has been filled by epoxy.

I think I should take another photo with a ruler to show the scale of the photo.

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to all photos of seam

I would suggest posting the above iquiry on stoneadvice.com. Click on "ask the experts" and then on "stone advice" and post your question and pictures. That site is monitored by professional fabricators who can give you quality advice.

I don't feel qualified to help you myself, but I do notice the problem areas you picture and they would bother me too. Hopefully either someone here can help or the fabricators on stoneadvice.com can help you.

That is quite an amateur seam. I would stand firm on requiring a fix.

Bump with a few more photos. I would really appreciate someone who works with stone to provide some feedback. I fear if I let it go without some industry insight I might always be unhappy. If I knew that this was not a fantastic but OK(not sub-par) seam for this stone I may be able to get over it. My husband is pretty unhappy.

vrjames is an expert in the industry - if he says it's a bad seam, you can take it to the bank!

Yup, that's a bad seam. I used a stone that is harder to work with and have some spots of resin fill, but it is color matched or clear so not very noticeable. On a seam, the epoxy was hand mixed to the adjacent stone color and was changed as the stone colors changed. Ideally, your stone pieces should have been mirror images of each other, but better color matched epoxy will make the seam practically disappear. Whether your fabricator is capable of a good seam is a different matter.

Thanks for the feedback and photos of better quality seams. All seem to think it is a poor seem, but if others don't please speak up. Boxerpups, thanks for pointing me to the two links and general insight of what to expect from fabricators. Sometimes I just can't seem to do the right searching to get relevant older posts (or have time to scan through the tons of returns to my search.) One of them clearly has some different perspectives on seams, which is helpful.

At this point I am trying to clarify - do people think this can/should be remedied with redoing the epoxy (better match) or is it back to the drawing board (i.e. warehouse to find and layout a new slab) due to the chipped edges?

I have no idea on the seem part - if it's bad or good. However, I would NOT be okay with epoxy or anything added to the stone.

The seam is CA-CA!!!! It needs to be re-done by someone OTHER than
Ray Charles or Steve Wonder (IMHO)

This is a seam that was done by a rank amateur with NO experience using an
Accu-Seam, Seam Phantom and Gorilla Grips.

Sadly - this seam could have been done WAAAAAAAY better - but it CAN be fixed..

hth

kevin

Here is a link that might be useful: Accu-Seam

Kevin - when you say "it can be fixed", based on reading up on the products you listed I am assuming they remove the epoxy, clean it up, rework the edges with the seam phantom and they use the gorilla grips to help connect and minimize the seam. Am I right? I suspect this is negligible, but what about any gap that is created with the wall (I have a basksplash so it probably doesn't matter)? If I cannot get my fabricator to do it, do you think another fabricator would be willing? Around what would work like that cost?

Thanks, thanks, thanks... I have been so torn on how to handle this and all the advice has been so helpful. I am optimistic about a positive resolution with the fabricator now that I can come to the table with some knowledge versus just saying "I don't like this seam."

Yes - You are right - The pieces need to be pulled, the seams re-dressed using
either an Accu-Seam or a Seam Phantom, tops re-set and leveld using a Gorilla
Grip or Omnicubed Seam puller.

As far as cost - this will depend on who is doing the fix, and what they charge. I charge anywhere from $250 to $1000 depending on the amount
of time that it will take to do the seam correctly....

You will most likely be looking at having another Fabricator do this - as the
original guys that did the original install are not capable of doing a finer "finish seam".

hth

kevin

Ditto, Kevin.

Your original fabricator is probably not capable of a better seam. I doubt I would allow him to try. This is where it will get touchy for you as he will want to get paid his balance. Be strong.

Vrjames & Kevin - Thanks for all the insight. We are in talks with the current fabricator, but understand I should plan to find someone else to fix it. The only way I will work with the current is if he can tell me, satisfactorily, what he will do to fix the seam (now that I know what he should do), what I should expect it to look like, and what he will do if it doesn't look I expect. It is frustrating because it is a reputable company in the Boston area. I am going to post asking for recommended fabricators in the Boston area, but if you know any let me know. Thanks again.

You are in BOSTON!!!! That is excellent news.

Okay you need to call these guy ASAP.
BFR Granite they are in New Hampshire but they are the best
in all of New England. They will make the seams like
mine. They do repair work on commercial and residential.
And they are reasonably priced. They have
been doing this for 35 years or longer. They are known
from the Boston Design center to the Canandian Granite
Industries. I urge you to at least send them an e-mail
for a quote via e-mail Ask Jessie who can fix it
in your area. They are worth every penny.

Jesse Repolt,
jrepolt@bfrandassociates.com
Counter Top Department, Residential & Commercial projects

http://www.bfrandassociates.com/CONTACTUS2.html

Got it boxerpups. Just sent the email. Now if I could only figure out my backsplash I would be all set :) Thank you so much!

Gosh,
I hope they can help you out. It can't hurt to send an
e-mail. Did you check out these Boston area folks for
tiling. Or is this a DIY?

If not I have heard (no personal experience with the
below) these tile installers are excellent.

Mel McLoughlin Carpentry & Tiling
http://www.emeraldoption.com/
Boston, MA 02228
(617) 459-7848

http://www.idealtileboston.com/
Ideal Tile
(617) 559-0303
244 Needham St, #10, Newton, MA 02464

Good luck Sparklekitty,
~boxerpups

Thanks for the tiler recommendations. I am a little gun shy at this point and appreciate the direction.

But first I need to pick out the tile (hardware, lights) which is my current problem. You have seen the discussion below & I am just hoping for more ideas.

Here is a link that might be useful: Posting on Quartzite island with link to backsplash help

Just had mine done last night very upset they were late coming trying to get in and out and I asked the installer I said this supposed to be dark he said oh it is dark I said that was supposed to be darker seam

@jdkelly16, better off starting your own thread than tacking on to a 12 year old post. It will help you get better advice.

Drag a color matched Sharpie down that seam please; it will nearly disappear.