threeapples- I was trying to match existing granite in my kitchen, but the only match was 2cm, which was thinner than the existing countertops. When I told my fabricator that I was concerned about the seam in the middle from a built-up edge, he said: "No problem, we'll cut all the pieces at a 45 degree angle and the seams will be along the edges where you can't see them." Take a look at these photos and see what you think: He even showed me samples where he had done this with highly figured marble, and he just matched the cut pieces at the seam line so it looked like the pattern wrapped over the edge and down the sides as if it were a solid 4cm slab. If you can find a fabricator who has the skill to do this properly, it's amazing, and they can give you whatever perceived thickness you want without obvious seams.

I only wanted Verde Fuoco, and the 3cm slabs were too pink. We have an eased laminated edge. There really isn't a reason for concern: If you want no laminated edge you can have it; if you want a thicker look you can have it. Lily's kitchen is brilliant and she hated the look initially, but realizes that there is no reason to sweat it. BTW I'm a west coaster and found plenty of 3 and 2 cm slabs. Maybe on the east coast there isn't any 2cm rock, but I didn't find it typical at all that there was only 2cm. In fact I found a lot of 3 cm rock (Portland and Seattle). My rock is a little hard to find, so the slab I wanted happened to be in 2cm. no problem (but you need a plywood underlayment).

I have no idea why it's one way in some parts of the country and the other way elsewhere. I don't think it's an earthquake thing, Jakabedy. If it was, I think I'd have heard that while we were shopping around. I'm in the northern part of San Diego County. There are half a dozen granite yards within 5 miles of here and another half dozen or so about 30 min. down the freeway. Of all of those, with the exception of the place where we bought, the norm was 2 cm. And no, Lisa, these weren't cheap Chinese prefabs. There was a place we looked at that had prefabs and maybe they came from China, I don't know. One place was exclusively Brazilian, but most places had stone from India, Africa, South America, and probably some from China. Depends on the stone - some is even North American. I believe the yards carrying 2 cm had the occasional 3 cm slab, presumably because they wanted that variety and that's how it was available. The place we bought from carries only 3 cm because they prefer it. This place both sells and installs vs. handing over to fabricators. So we have 3 cm and we like it, but really, it's just a viable alternative, not a decision where there is a right and wrong. If Seattle has lots of 3 cm, how about British Columbia? Is there a preponderance of one or the other up there? We could actually map this out if people would say where they are and what they see in their area.

The reason we kept the part of the wall it was OK it's because right before demolition we noticed that the crumbled part Changed color when wet so it was absorbing water and that piece of wall did not. Conclusion - that part had been sealed, the rest probably not. We gave it more miracle sealer 511 and water rolls right off it. Now we know to keep doing it.