We are total DIYer;s and are just finishing our final two slabs in a huge kitchen. They are beautiful, durable, inexensive (if you do them yourself) and look like nobody elses!!! We knew nothing when we started and now consider ourselves pretty experienced. I'm so glad we did his but I don't think I would want to do it again-it is alot of work if you want it right but very gratifying. The best thing you can do is take Cheng's book out from the library and read it cover to cover. Then get allthe equipment you will need-rent or purchase a cement mixer, buy a variable speed wet grinder and all the diamond pads (Tool City is cheap). We found a used pencil vibrator but a sawzle (without the blade) or an orbita sander works well. DON'T cast in place-build the moulds with melamine and pour on a LEVEL surface (we built a plywood platform). Do use rebar and mesh, Quickcrete (flowcrete here in Canada), integral pigment purchased locally at a cement supplier (much cheaper, use acrylic rather than water when you "slurry" and if you want a harder than nails penetrating sealer there is a new product in the states that we used and it's fabulous. Hve I turned you off yet LOL!! Seriously though it is worth the effort and once you've raed Chengs book and watched his video you will see that it's not that complicated. You must be patient and be a bi of a perfectionist if you want a professional finish but it is certainly doable. I haven't updated for a long time but there is a thread I started called "bought the cement mixer" over at ikeafans. Ther's lots of pics, ideas, recommendations. Good luck-go for it.

That seam is unacceptable. Have them remove the island and if they don't have access to a CNC machine to dress those edges, they need to dress them by hand with a Seam Phantom. Major methacrylate adhesive manufacturers (Glue Warehouse, Integra) have color matched adhesive recommendations that have been tested, unlike color-blind Bubba with his polyester mix. Everything I'm stating is industry standard. Tell your builder I said so.

It's better if you find a smaller fabricator with proper licenses and insurance. Don't go with big box stores but also make sure not to do business with contractors or freelancer shops who cut quartz in their driveway, yard or a garage. Check the reviews, ask to see some of the work they already did, and that should be enough to make you certain that you're doing the job with the real professionals. And now you can say that you can be certain how a seam should not look like.

Yep. I think they screwed up a cut and were fighting with it to make it work instead of telling me it was bad and fabricating a new piece. I noticed the seam widens and it does bother me. But it is a lot less noticeable and feels smooth now. The company is going to give me a discount, so that helps. The part with the gap against the wall will have tile. But there is another area that won't have tile and where it sits against the wall is choppy like it was cut manually. I'm asking them if they can make it look better.