Are you concerned that the pattern will be broken by the seam or that the seam will be noticeable to your fingers when you work over that space? If it's that the seam will catch your cookie or bread dough, that shouldn't be a worry at all as long as your installers know their trade. A well done seam will be smooth as smooth. If you're worried about pattern match, that's something else. Have you chosen a quartz where that's a potential problem?

Some fabricators (and consumers) like the seam at the sink, others don't. From reading here and speaking to our fabricators (who don't like it there), I don't think there is a right or wrong here. If you really would rather have the break at the sink, I don't think they'll refuse if you give them a call. It can be done either way.

I can't comment on the feasibility of seams near sinks. But, I think it would be worth proposing to the fabricator your alternative options. It won't cost a thing to have the conversation and you'll be living with it for a long time, so you should have it located where you want it as long as it is feasible.

I, too, would not like having a seam in my primary work space. I also think that you should consider where the seam is in the total run. Having an off center seam may stand out more then something that splits the counter into roughly equal Pieces of counter.

It's probably also worth looking online for images of seams for the specific material you have selected. This will give you an idea of what the seam will look like which will help with placement. My current counters are similar to corian and dark grey. I have a strange seam that is not a straight line. However, the seam is so discreet, I never think about it. I didn't even notice it until after having lived in my home for more than a year and it was only a couple of months ago that I noticed the seam was not a straight line.

I just did a layout for my island and it should be installed Tuesday. I'm thinking happy thoughts for you!

Thanks for the feedback, suzanne. I'm not particularly worried about the pattern matching up. There are no intricate swirls to break or pristine single color to mar:

I've never had a stone counter before, so I'm just unsure how it will look / feel under hand. Or if there 'rules' for getting the look right.

Trust your fabricator on this one please. With properly machined edges, proper adhesive match and Gorilla Grips, the seam will be inconspicuous. Very as a matter of fact.

I would rather have the seam on the right side of sink rather than on the left. The left of sink is your primary prep space , right?

Thanks rjksf, Joseph, and anitamo. It's good to hear that the seam shouldn't be a big deal, if done right. So maybe I shouldn't worry too much about it.

What I wish I'd been able to ask, but didn't as I was not there, is whether there's an option that would be just as sound. If not, well, practicality trumps aesthetics. And it could be that even in the aesthetics department, it makes more sense to keep the seam away from the sink area. There's more "going on" visually and physically in the sink area.

Thanks for entertaining my question. I understand counters probably the least of all topics, and they're the single largest purchase in the project (and the "stretch" item for us). I'm probably nail biting over it more than I should be.

While I think you should trust your fabricator, we've definitely seen posts of heartache where someone did just that and had an undesirable result. "inconspicuous" is definitely a subjective term.

I don't think you are overthinking it OP, and do think it is worth asking if there is another option for the seam that is just as sound. Or have a look at examples of what kind of seams the fabricator turns out.

I have a busy quartz pattern and a long run of cabinet top. My contractor suggested a seam at the middle of the sink. While I was skeptical about it, I asked the two fabricators that I was considering along with our friends at GW. The fabricators both said it was a good solution. Many folks here at GW chimed in an reassured me that middle of the sink was pretty standard option.

That's where I chose to place the seam, in the middle of the sink. While I had never done it before in numerous counter tops, I'm really happy with it. I have a very busy pattern and this was the best place to hide the visual part of the seam. Call the fabricator again and talk to them about a sink seam.

Homechef, I think I have seen your old thread - I read about the seam-at-sink idea on GW in a few threads. This was why DH brought the idea up in conversation.

This particular fabricator elects not to do some things I know some fabricators will do (based on GW, anyway). For example, they only do negative sink reveals. The comment DH received for why: customers tend to scrub the silicone more on positive reveals. This results in the silicone coming off. (Which, I suspect, means the fabricator is more likely to receive a follow-up call?)

One of the things the fabricator won't do is place seam at the sink midpoint. DH said something about support being insufficient - but I'm not sure if DH was surmising, or if this was the stated reason. If it is, I don't know if that is his position with all cabinets, or just Ikea cabinets (which rely on a metal rail at cabinet front and back to support countertops).

The only seam in my quartz runs through the middle of the sink. When it was first proposed to me, I pitched a minor fit. I'm so glad I listened to reason and let them do it. The amount of actual seam is minimal and I don't notice it and if I do it doesn't bother me at all.

While your sink is front and center, in reality, you stand up next to it and focus on the sink, not the narrow strip in front of it. It is not a prep area. I think it's silly to pick another place that runs the entire depth of the counter.

Historian, I have frameless boxes from Scherr's. While not the same, they are closely similar to the IKEA design. It sounds like your fabricator has one way of doing things. I like contractors who are willing to consider all of the options.

In the previous kitchen I had a granite counter that was along the same run. The seam was over the dishwasher. The two slabs were just enough off that when I ran a plate or bowl over the area it would bump at the seam. Pissed me off every time. That's why I made that seam a priority in my selection of fabricators.

Good luck.

My fabricator gave us the option of either, and I told him I'd rather not have to worry about cleaning seams (front and rear) located at a heavily used sink (yup -- that'd be me with my toothbrush!). We opted for a longer seam ~ 18" to the left of the sink -- non-prep area. Glad I did it as the seam is noticeable and not smooth along the length -- I'm sure it's within industry standard, and I'll have them come out and see if they can't fill to level, but I'm very glad I'm not having to deal with this at the sink.

Have you checked to see if your quartz is available in a jumbo slab size? Most of them now offer jumbo. It adds to the lead time but can well be worth the wait!

Sounds like you need a new fabricator.

He likely wants to do negative reveal because it does not show error as much as positive reveal. You should have seen the horrible job my first fabricator did on my zero reveal sink that I rejected. Please call him to discuss. It's your counter and it should be as you like. Many here have center sink seams.

Middle of sink for seam would be my choice, much smaller seam to see.

And I agree negative reveal only is a cover up for a fabricator not skilled enough to do a proper positive reveal...

Get new fabricator

I've tied my hands a little bit, as I bought the counters through Ikea, and Ikea uses one local company. So by the time we met with the fabricators, we were already in bed, so-to-speak.

I did decide to float my question: The fabricators do not want to put a seam by the sink. The explanation: "The placement of the seams as it is right now is your best option. It is not an option to place the seam at the edge of the sink cabinet. Constant water in the seam will cause it to degrade over time."

Knowing next to nothing about counters, I can't evaluate this or the silicone explanation. I am idly curious to what degree it is true. A lot of people have sound installations with seams near water.

Whatever the case is, from what I am hearing, it sounds like this company does not like doing particular things, and those things include seams near sinks and positive reveals.

This matters a lot of the current plan really bothers me, but not so much if it's sound. I suppose that there is sense to having the first 97" of the run, including the sink area, all one piece, with the seams only appearing further "back" in the room. Watch me worry about this, and then wind up putting a big cutting board back back there, over top it anyway. :p

" I can't evaluate this or the silicone explanation. I am idly curious to what degree it is true."

Of course you can evaluate the silicone explanation. If you can satisfactorily explain how one could topically rub the silicone from between the sink flange and the countertop bottom without removing the sink, I'll buy you the countertops of your choice.

Well, I have suspicions. I just mean that I'm painfully aware of what I don't know. The fact makes me cautious.

I'm not sure what the the silicone explanation was claiming. It's an odd argument: The problem is that people try to keep their sinks clean.

The other claim -- water around the seam increases risk -- is more
interesting. I really don't know the answer to this; I only know there
are many people that have seams at or near sinks, without event, and that these guys fall into that camp of people who shy from the idea.

Once I avoided a seam for a client by suggesting she change to a farm/apron sink. She got the Kohler apron sink that retrofits in to a standard sink base by removing the fakey drawer front.

That could be an option for you if you reworked your sink base and ordered two shorter doors.

They will do a seam at a apron-front sink

I believe the Kohler sink is called Whitehaven and comes in a short height and a taller height.

You just need to weigh your priorities and pros/cons.

Historian....any updates?

For those who are curious how the story ends: Counters are in! They were added two days ago, and faucets / plumbing connections went in yesterday.

We stayed with the fabricators with whom Ikea set us up.

I think things worked out fairly well. It's really hard to see other people's seams online and I've never had a stone counter before, so I don't know how ours compares. I think we're probably more or less industry standard, and least so far as width goes.

I can definitely see the seam (although its visiblity is affected a lot by light shifting). But it's not too bothersome. It feels smooth, which is good since I like touching the counter. :)

Overall, we love how things look with the counters in. We're happy with the quartz "look".

Looks good to me!

They did a great job with that seam!

Look fantastic! I can barely see the seem in the close ups and not at all in the photo from further away. It is always such a relief to see a job well done.

That's how you want a seam to look.

Glad to hear it looks good to those a little more 'in the know'!