Quartz kitchen counter top

8 years ago

We are having a semi custom home built with quartz in the kitchen. We went and looked at it yesterday and they put the seam in the penisola which holds a double sink. It is centered right in the middle of the sink. So the seam comes through where the faucet will be. It is so noticeable plus being by water I would assume that's not good either. Now I wonder if the fabricator comes back to try and seal it because the house isn't finished yet. But I can even feel the seam. The counter length is approx 6 feet in length. I would think it should have been one entire slab. Any comments on how I should approach this with the Forman. So I have my duedeligence done when he comes back to me and says " that's how it looks?".

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aprilneverends

8 years ago

a) Is your quartz light? little movement? If yes-Very hard to do the seam that will be totally unnoticeable. Good thing-you get used to it, and it bothers you less in a week, and even less in two weeks. Of course the seam should be straight and tight as possible, that's on them to improve if it's not.

I was very upset with my seams that were straight and tight but the grout was a tad darker than it should be. They redid the grout, but the seams became a bit wider.

b) I understand middle of the sink and the stove are customary places to put the seams. They are less obtrusive this way.

That's what we thought.

Now we got one seam, as promised, in the middle of the sink. But another one got to be several inches from the stove-visible even more.

We couldn't understand why would they do it at all. Were really angry.

Until they explained to us that because of the (relatively) narrow entrance to the rather small kitchen, and cabinets that were already there(because cabinets always come first of course), they wouldn't be able to take a big slab and turn it around without damaging the cabinets, They could do it on the wall that was opposite from the entrance. They couldn't do it on the side. They had to cut that slab a bit differently.

Of course it would be better if they explained all this before, so we would know where the seams would be. And not after.

So my advise is: ask why you have seam in the first place. Voice your concern about it being close to water and ask how it usually dealt with. Ask everything that bothers you about that seam. Some trades people think that if no questions come from a customer, it means a customer knows. They presume. And customers frequently don't ask, because they presume the trade people know:)

I hope pros chime in as well-I can share just my experience as a customer.

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Comments (16)

User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
It should be one slab, no question. Middle of the sink seams aren't done on peninsulas. My peninsula is 98" with one slab. What is the brand? You can find out what size their slabs are and then find out what went wrong.
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millworkman
8 years ago
Pictures?
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PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
8 years ago
jroberts99:

What are the dimensions of the finished island top, please?
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jroberts99
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thanks for all your responses and advice. I'm going to be at the house tomorrow to measure the counter dimensions. It is a creme color quartz no movement at all. Also there is and was plenty of room to bring a full complete slab in. It's an open concept. I will repost tomorrow. You guys are all awesome.
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jroberts99
Original Author
8 years ago
This is a photo of the show home with granite, as I previously posted mine is creme quartz. No movement. Right between the sink is where the seam is.
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PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
8 years ago
Better a seam at the sink than that pictured nasty elongated thing above that dishwasher.
cpartist
8 years ago
IF the peninsula is angled like that, I can't see where they could do that without a seam.
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User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
The width is what matters with an angled peninsula. That angle may exceed even a jumbo slab. Caesarstone, for instance, has jumbo slabs that are 65" wide.
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PRO
Precision Carpentry
8 years ago
Have to agree with Joseph on this .the pic shows two full width seams that were not done very well.I would much rather have a seam in the middle of the sink which is much less visible .

Do you realize how wide of a slab this would have taken to do in one piece?
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jroberts99
Original Author
8 years ago
Joseph that counter that goes over the dishwasher is actually symmetrical to the other side. I think the picture shows that it jets out more on that side but both sides are exactly the same. I guess I agree with you all, that where the seam sits is the best. Thank you
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User
8 years ago
A counter shaped like that, that large, will always require seam. Seam location is best left up to the experienced fabricator. Is the fabricator for the Quartz the same that fabricated the granite?
User
8 years ago
My fabricator doesn't seam through the sink. My seam is around the corner from my peninsula, 4" from the corner. Maybe they could have seamed yours over the little cabinet between the sink and DW.
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jroberts99
Original Author
8 years ago
Same fabricator doing my quartz .that did the granite in the show home picture. Yes I agree if it came off the wall to the right between the dishwasher in the sink wouldn't bother me so bad nor would it be near water
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PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
8 years ago
This may be a classic yield vs. esthetic argument. Longer seams and lower price vs. shorter seams and more waste. You're going to be staring at those seams a long dang time. Pick wisely.
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User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
One advantage to having it seamed the full depth of the counter is they can use a seam setter to electronically pull the slabs together and give you a very tight seam. I don't know if you've seen my seam that I've posted a few times, but it's a hair's width. I can barely feel mine and can't see it unless I'm standing nearby. With a solid quartz like yours, the particles are like fine sand, so the cut should be very smooth.
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