Seam granite countertops the right way or suffer with a cleaning issue and an eyesore. Granite seams are often a point of concern. How many seams are normal? How should they look?
How can you make sure your fabricator is capable of producing a “perfect” seam? Seams in your granite tops are inevitable to get continuous runs of countertop out of material that is limited in length.
Granite countertop seams are an issue of concern for many buyers of granite counters. Marble and granite slabs are generally not wider than 10 or 11 feet. Most are less than 10 feet wide.
If your kitchen countertops are longer than 10 feet, chances are they will have a seam. But seams should not cause you concern. Here’s why . . .
What is a seam?
A seam is the transition line that forms when two granite tops come together. The void between the tops should be filled with epoxy or polyester glue, colored with pigment to match your granite tops.
Some installers use silicone so the countertop pieces can move. I find silicone seams to be impractical and a poor choice.
The skill of your installer and the quality of your fabricator will determine how good your granite countertop seam will look. If you know what a good seam should look like, you can have an impact on what you get.
Perfect Granite Countertop Seams
Granite countertops need to be leveled at the seams. You should feel no difference in the height of the two countertop surfaces. Also, the tops should be no more than 1/16 inch apart. Here’s what to look for in overall granite quality for your countertop installation.
Perfect granite countertop seams are made with perpendicular slab cuts with a small 45 degree miter cut. This makes for a shorter seam and fools the eye making the seam disappear.
Color match
The installers should be talented color-
Every slab of granite is unique with colors that can’t be easily matched using pre-
How many seams are needed?
The number of seams in your granite countertops should always be kept to a minimum. Certain factors will determine how many seams you will have. For example . . . some marble and granite slabs are small.
The smaller the slabs, chances are, the more seams you will have. Some countertop configurations and shapes require more seams in order to get the tops in place.
Placing seams
Besides the size of your slabs, the configuration of your cabinet layout will affect where you seam granite and how many seams you have.
The same great professional grade sealer and daily cleaner that we recommend, with the added benefit of major cost savings to you! You need both products, so how about a discount when you combine them in one purchase.
Unlike silicon sealers, MB-
MB-
Silver Kit – 1 Bottle MB5 & 1 Bottle MB4 $55.71
Gold Kit – 2 Bottles MB5 & 1 Bottle MB4 $68.72
You can’t place seams over dishwashers or over other below-
Seams should not be less than 6 inches from the edge of a sink cutout. This can leave the top weak and subject to breaking during installation. You can put seams in sink cutouts, but this may make the seams more obvious and constantly under use and stress.
Cooktop cutouts are good seam locations. You can save stone while minimizing the size of the seams.
It’s best to place granite countertop seams in areas that aren’t seen much.
See Granite Support Guidelines for considerations on supporting your stone stops and how seams effect this. Also, Granite Sealer for proper sealing of your seam.
Dress Up Your Kitchen With These
You need solid support for stone tops. Here’s a selection of handmade, wrought iron and steel brackets and corbels for granite countertops all made in the US.
Each is designed to support the weight of stone counters, but styled to compliment your kitchen . . . More Countertop Supports
When dealing with contractors of any kind, quality referrals are your best way to avoid the frustration and hassle. And it’s why you should consider a referral source like Angie’s List to help you find any kind of contractor, not just granite fabricators and installers.
Everything from car repair to medical providers. Angie’s List free trial.
Return from Seam Granite to Granite Install Guide