Countertops aren’t just material and sheen across a plane, they’re also all about how they are placed, installed, and locked together. But depending on your countertop material, your seam situation could get complicated. You want to place them just right to avoid unsightly seams and border areas.
When it comes to granite, a professional installer will make it look good and make it match.
Trying to install granite countertops on your own, especially when it comes to matching the seams or making them obscure, could be difficult.
Although it may seem like a simple part of the project, it can easily become a headache for aesthetic and even function reasons. You don’t want poorly done seams or ones that were misplaced in the installation process, it could throw everything off. The look and feel of your kitchen or bathroom begin with the overall look of your countertops. To make sure you get the most out of your investment you want to make sure you avoid making mistakes that could be shooting you in the foot down the road.
Below is some information about countertop seams, the best way to place them, and being aware when the installers come.
What is a countertop seam?
As you might imagine, a seam in a countertop is a border between two pieces. It’s the transition line when two granite countertop slabs meet. Even the tightest fit still creates a void that needs to be filled in with some sort of epoxy or glue which will then be colored to match the countertop color scheme. How strong the hold on the seam is and how well filled in the void is important to maintaining good granite countertops.
How many seams do you normally need?
As a rule, you want as few seams as possible in your granite countertops because every seam point will be a potential point of weakness or damage. But sometimes you can’t avoid having seams, especially when it comes to granite which tends to have smaller slabs and thus require more seams to join the pieces together. The shape of your slabs will also determine the number of seams on any one countertop. The larger the slabs, the fewer seams.
Where to place your seams
The location of countertop seams is going to be determined by the configuration of your cabinet layout but there are some things you can’t do with granite seams. They can’t be placed over dishwashers or any other below counter appliances because the granite needs real support at the seam point. Seams should also always be 6 inches out from the sink cutout.
You also want to avoid seams in areas of your counters that get a lot of use, such as preparing food or serving areas. You don’t want food to get caught or sharp objects such as knives or serving ware to catch.
Related Questions
Can I color match my granite counter seams?
Your installer should be a good color matcher. While you don’t want to go crazy, any granite color should be able to be matched at the seam, but we have found the darker colors seem to work better, no pun intended! But every slab is unique, so be flexible and plan ahead with your installer.
There are some areas that are ideal for a seam such as the back of a slide in oven range or the back of an undermount sink. Both areas are typically a cutout and can house a seam making it undetectable.
What is the ideal countertop seam?
The “perfect” counter seam is the one you don’t know is there. It should only be visible as a thin line across the plane of the countertop and the void should be no more than 1/16 of an inch.
Flawless Countertop Installation Services Throughout Austin
Properly installed granite countertops create a picture-perfect kitchen beginning with invisible countertop seams and the professionals at Texas Granite Group in Austin have got you covered. With more than 20 years of experience, our installers have the expertise to layout the seams so that they are virtually invisible creating an overall premium look and feel.
We provide countertop remodeling services throughout the Austin area specializing in granite, marble, porcelain and quartz countertops. Visit our showroom and speak to a design professional about the kitchen or bathroom countertops of your dreams, Free!