Slab not big enough for island? Seams?
firstmmo
11 years ago
I am wondering how those of you who have islands too big for one slab have felt about your seam on your island. I am considering an island that is 10.5' x 5' with a 4" square edge and I don't think I will find the slab that I want in that size. Are you happy with your seam? I am worried because my last island was 9' x 5' and I loved that it was one continuous piece. I am considering doing one end with 18"-24" in wood or SS to get rid of the seam.
I just don't want myself looking down the middle of the island and seeing it there.....does it "go away" eventually from your sight?
I have three slabs leftover from another project and can use these but the pattern is so graphic I am not even sure where I would "continue" the slab. The slabs are mostly "consecutive" so the fabricator mentioned us bookmatching two of them so that the seam would look like mirror images of eachother.
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breezygirl
11 years agocardamon
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Granite seam in island - advice?
Comments (10)Thanks for all the feedback! I definitely will go to see the seam. I'm just so curious about what the technique is and if the seam is really virtually invisible - I've never heard of this before. It does sound challenging to create the piece with seam at the shop and transport and install it without breaking. I wonder if it's not so much a "new" technique as something they just don't like to do routinely. The photos and the link were interesting to see, thanks all! I can barely see where the seams are in the posted photos, but hard to judge from a distance. My island is pretty much identical to the one in stonegirl's photos (is that giallo veneziano?), except that ours bows out where the eating counter is. I don't think there's really any way to lower a part of the island at this point (the end pieces are already built) without a major remake, but I have thought of the possibility. Will start thinking in those terms if I don't want a seam, regardless. I hate these kind of decisions too, michellemarie! lilyfreak - I have found a big difference between what various fabricators told me with respect to my situation - don't know if the same would be true for you (maybe the experts on this board will weigh in) but it's worth exploring. For example, I was told by many fabricators that it was "impossible" to transport and install an 11 foot island when I had already been to a place that told me it would be no problem with adequate entry to the house and enough workers to transport. Ran into the same thing when asking about seams. One fabricator told me that it is impossible to get a seam under 1/8 inch. Another told me that he had never seen or heard of a slab over 130 inches. When I mentioned finding these elsewhere, the next day he came up with six from his supplier! I am sure he knew - he just wanted to sell from his own inventory first or didn't want to deal with the more difficult job. I can understand that - I just wish they didn't imply these things were impossible for anyone. On the other hand, I've run across some absolutely terrific and helpful fabricators - they helped me search for slabs, referred me to their suppliers and were always completely honest about what they could and could not do. It's interesting though - I never would have gone past the first place recommended to me if I hadn't started looking into large slabs. I imagine most people don't!...See Morecountertop material without seams for large island
Comments (1)My kitchen (not done yet, so no pics) sounds very similar to yours. My cabs are BM white dove, I have honed AB on the perimeter (with a carrara marble subway backsplash!) and decided to put cherry butcher block on the island to break up all of the black. I fell in love with the way it looked when I saw a couple of showroom kitchens with this configuration, and I love it in my own kitchen! John Boos makes beautiful butcher block island tops in several different woods and does custom sizes (they have some guidelines on their website as to pricing). They do make tops that are big enough for your island. As long as you are not planning to cut food directly on the countertops, which would require an oiled finish, the wood can be varnished and would be fine with a sink in it. If you are planning to stick with all granite, it might be nice to choose another contrasting kind to give your eyes a break from all of the black. What about a lighter granite that has a marble-type look to it? That would provide nice contrast as well. I do not have experience w/the antiqued or leathered finishes, but know other GWers do... good luck!...See MoreHelp-Will one slab enough for my kitchen perimeter?
Comments (25)I can't tell without measuring it but I think Sophie is correct. One slab for the island, one for the prep areas and one for either side of the stove. If you will allow them to kluge together the prep areas with scraps from the stove slab you may be able to get it out of the same slab as the stove but you may never be what happy with how it will look. You should do a little research on templating (sorry, I know you're probably up to your eyeballs in things you really don't want to know about) and you really need to be at the templating....See MoreAn extra seam or an extra slab?
Comments (6)You may need 5 slabs to get a good match at that peninsula seam. That would be a priority, Those pieces aren't as close to the edge as they look. They are all between 58 and 68 inches and the slab is 72". I agree that the seam in the peninsula is super important, but we don't need an extra slab to make a good match. In fact, the way it's laid out, no care has be taken to book match any of the seams. That's why I don't understand why the 4th slab. Looking at my pictures, it won't be difficult to make that seam disappear. . Also, there is no 5th slab at this point. Nicely done seams in stone with little or no movement are inconspicuous. Run your layout past your fabricator and see what he says. I sent it over today. I'll hear from them tomorrow. I saw these slabs but the fabricator hasn't. I went to look at them at his supplier. They are very clean at the edges, no chunks missing, so I think 3 can work. We'll see what they say. I actually never saw the 4th slab so I'm not even sure if I would like it. If three isn't enough, I'll do the island in butcher block....See Morebeekeeperswife
11 years agopps7
11 years agobeekeeperswife
11 years ago
Fori
11 years agofinestra
11 years agoDCJersey
11 years agobeaglesdoitbetter1
11 years agohobokenkitchen
11 years agoThose slabs are stunning!
I don't remember your first kitchen, but I'll be trying to find it after I post this!
I'm not sure if this is an option for you, but we have an island which is too long for single slab and we were afraid of a seam in the island too.
We added a piece of end grain mahogany butcher block to the end of the island and we're loving how it came out. Just another idea to throw out there.
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Granite City Services
11 years ago firstmmo
11 years agoflevy
11 years ago
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