Ah - the overly thick granite backsplash problem! You really have to wonder why contractors and granite people are not more explicit in pointing out that standard granite thickness is *very* thick for a backsplash, and unless you design for that thickness, you really do lose a lot of clearance on a standard install. Granite tile is thinner and works much better in terms of clearance - but doesn't look the same. Since it's granite you're using and not tile, you could do something funky and notch out the framing behind the drywall/cement board and reduce the thickness that way. At the same time, you could remud the wall and get it straighter (as suggested above). If you've got standard drywall behind the backsplash, you could use cement backer board that's thinner than standard drywall and gain yourself maybe a quarter inch there. But a quarter inch less in the drywall/backer board and a quarter inch less on the studs will give you a half inch deep backsplash - much more normal looking and that half inch makes a big difference in cleaning/operating a faucet. Believe me, I know. I'm actually going to use a very thin substrate for our backsplash if it comes to it - I'm learning a lot about using the space inside of walls in creative ways. Planing off the studs even more than one-fourth an inch is easy and solves the whole problem - although, if you've got a licensed contractor, they may refuse to do it themselves. There are times to DIY and this may be one of them (or hire a handyman who isn't licensed as a construction contractor). Your bathroom isn't going to fall down if you shave say 3/8 of an inch off the studs or use thinner backer board behind granite - it's granite. BTW, they should have fixed that wavey wall in some way before they installed it - our granite guy absolutely refused to install until the wall was reduced in waviness, which we accomplished with sanding and filling (it wasn't more than 3/8 of an inch total in most places, though). Moving the blacksplash back a little means that it doesn't rest completely on the countertop, so you might want to epoxy it or something like that. You could also have that backsplash piece reworked to be thinner - any good granite shop can do it, I don't know how much it costs. About your drawer: they who broke it need to replace the hardware - I can't quite picture your situation but it sounds like it's a tight fit. Still, perhaps they can remove some other fixture temporarily to fix it? It is so infuriating to know how things are supposed to be done and not be able to get someone to do them the way you want. I'm interviewing plumbers right now, and communication is very important. I *know* I don't want a wide deck on my whirlpool tub and I *know* I don't want a step - nor do I want granite in my bathroom - but two plumbers came and started saying, well, I'll put this here to leave room for this or that, just in case you want a stair into your tub (!) or you want to use granite (both then gave me cards for a granite guy they knew - but I'm using glass tile that is *way* thinner than granite tile - and in a very small space where a half an inch will actually matter, at least to me). Good luck with solving it - don't lose hope. It will feel so good when it's finally done - even if you have to force your contractor to rip things out and basically start over. It is hard to be firm with people in this situation and not lose one's temper altogether - but that's what this forum is here for - keep venting!

Too Clunky! Sclee I can see why you tossed and turned worrying about this. You know in your heart it is too clunky. The worst part is that this manager or owner is not being helpful. His company made a mistake! Period. If this is how they measure granite installations then he has had this problem before and will continue to have this problem with future clients. He is NOT a stone artist. Measure twice cut once. And cut to perfection. Use sharp tools and be precise. Measure every nook and cranny! If they can not fix this they need to give you a fair discount. And then you can hire some other Stone company to make this better. Trust me there are better stone companies out there. Granite installers/fabricators that have talent and truly care about their work. Shame on this company. I hope he does read these posts because he needs to straighten out his company. Quality work deserves excellent pay. This is not quality. I send you ((((((((((((((Cyber hugs))))))))))))))))))))) I wish I had a solution. If it were me I would have them take the stone out. Start over with new granite slabs and a new company. I know, I know you love the stone but do you really love the gaps. If it is not going to work you will forever be upset with the outcome. And you will find another beautiful stone. Perhaps this slab can be converted to a window sill or end tables or bathroom vanity, night stand, bathtub sill, desk, entry way. As for your DH. He is under stress too. Husbands like to solve problems and when they can't they become a little edgy, difficult, stubborn, or they turn it on to you saying you are "overreacting". Oh dear I am talking about my DH. ;> Thinking of you and sending well wishes to the granite. ~boxer

When we needed a small piece of black granite for our hearth, my husband found it in a prefab slab. Our fabricator had no problem with fabricating with that in addition to cutting the remnants from our kitchen slabs for the fireplace surround. There wasn't any issue with the quality of the granite or the polish. Our kids recently remodeled the kitchen in a house they bought. They had a tight budget. The kitchen had two straight runs and an island. They found a nice slab of galaxy blue granite for the island. For the two straight runs on the perimeter, they found a mostly white with black markings at the prefab place which was kind of the inverse of the island slab. I'm glad they didn't use the prefab place to fabricate the prefab counters. They wanted to but when they were ready for fab the wait was going to be too long so the fabricator for the island slab did them as well. I'm glad it turned out that way as I didn't have confidence in the prefab place doing a good job on the fab and install. There weren't any quality issues with the prefab slabs.

cawfee, I've seen large tables made of 2cm granite, without any plywood. (!) They've never cracked. I've seen many renovators who overkill things, just to be sure. Most do. In fact, they all do. Otherwise things would crack or move later. How many simultaneous dancing 200-pounders do you want to support on your countertop, this is the question. I've seen kitchens that were more solid than the walls and the house. How many future earthquakes and foundation cracks will your house live through before your countertop also cracks, this is the question. At some point you have to let go of the wish to overkill, and call it good enough. This is up to you. Sooner is usually the best time. Otherwise you go crazy trying to do ever better. So, "... Obviously, this needs supports ..." is true, to an extent, but what to do next is up to you , and up to your sense of overkill -- Part 2. "... seen mention of 2x1 rectangular steel pipe as supports (12-16 inches apart)..." Search on the term box girder to reassure yourself about "... rectangular steel pipe..." It's the strongest. For its size. But, this following statement isn't knowledge: "... I know I need to support at least 12 inches of the overhang (13-14 to be safe)..." It's a judgement call or a hunch, like most other rules of thumb. You choose "... plywood sit on top of these metal pipes or are the pipes routed into the plywood..." You choose because it doesn't matter. "... screwed down to the cabinets or is the weight of the slab sufficient to hold them in place..." golly, is the weight of the slab a lot of weight? do you want to drill a hole and screw it down just for greater overkill? -- Here it appears you want to save 0.75": " ... lower profile of the 2x1 over the 1 3/4 ..." I'm not sure what you are referring to. I read a lot. I remember a lot. If I don't know what you are referring to, I'll bet that the other readers also don't. I'll bet that most pro installers don't. I think you need to be more diligent about your descriptions. For your slab, nobody knows " ... how much deflection can granite handle ..." Therefore, nobody knows "... What wall thickness ..." But, in my estimation, there is nothing wrong with getting heavyweight wall thickness tube ("square pipe") since overkill is the objective. But, not much is lost if you get lightweight wall thickness tube. All you lose is a bit of the excess overkill. In Engineering, it's called a margin of safety. But it's the same thing. If you are willing to crack a few slabs under very tightly controlled conditions you will know factually how much weight cracks them (and how much microdeflection they will take). It's just a stone from a quarry. It's not a processed material from a factory made and "scientifically studied" material with "known" properties. Don't ask for answers that won't be good numbers. Anyone can invent a numerical answer for you if keep insisting on having numerical answers. How much overkill is enough? Hard to tell, not seeing anything from my keyboard here. Do you know anything about the flex in your floor? This is a big thing. This is the one thing that I recommend you to go look into before proceeding.