Whether with granite, quartz, or marble, there is no better way to enhance your kitchen’s elegance and durable luxury than with unique, natural stone countertops. With a variety of colors and patterns to choose from, stone countertops give you natural beauty while allowing you to show off your unique style.
Choosing stone countertops such as granite for your kitchen comes with its own set of challenges, one of which being what to do with seams.
There is an art to proper seam placement in stone countertops such as granite.
You want to ensure your granite or quartz is properly installed with durability and stability, but you don’t want seams to be eyesores to you or your guests, so what do you do?
The trick with installing stone countertops and keeping seams to a minimum is by providing accurate countertop measurements to fabricators and installers, placing seams in natural breaks and supported areas in the counter, and choosing stone colors and patterns that naturally hide them.
Here are some considerations and tips to seam placement.
Seam Placement Constraints
There are multiple constraints that restrict where you can place seams and determine the number of seams you must accommodate for, including slab weight and dimensions. A typical stone slab can weigh anywhere from 12 to 21 lbs per square foot and be about 10 feet in length.
When choosing large slabs without any breaks, you run the risk of dropping or damaging the stone during installation by maneuvering through tight doorways and around furniture as well as the weight being too heavy for your countertops to handle throughout the years.
Also, the dimensions of your kitchen and island can be of concern. Wall kitchens and islands come in a variety of sizes, and while some may be able to accommodate a one-slab application, many are either too short, too long, or have a U- or other-shaped form.
Below are some tips to help you navigate these constraints and give you the kitchen of your dreams with a proper-seam-placement transition.
Tips to Seam Placement in Stone Countertops
• Give Accurate Measurements
The first step in seam placement begins before you even head to the store to pick out your choice of slab. It begins with accurate measurements of each countertop length and width as well as documenting each curve and corner. You then take this information to professional countertop installers who will help you pick out the perfect size slab that will keep seams to a minimum. You can even invite a professional to come to your house to do the measuring for you, so you know you are getting the best sized slabs for your kitchen.
• Avoid Sinks and Dishwashers
It is natural to want to place a seam at the edge of your sink to hide it from view, but this is not a recommended practice. Areas around sinks and dishwashers are weak points that don’t offer much stability for the edge of slabs. They are also constantly subjected to water which can weaken the seam throughout the years. It is best to avoid sinks and under-the-counter appliances and instead place seams in areas that are more supported.
• Place Seams in Stable Areas
The best placement for seams is in areas that offer added stability, such as the area between two cabinets, in corners, and along wall edges. These areas have wood framing from the cabinets underneath which gives the added bonus of being able to support the two connected edges of stone. You can also place seams in natural breaking points in the countertop, such as around stoves and refrigerators to give you the stability you need while masking the seam.
• Choose Dark and Highly Patterned Colors
With darker stone colors like black, navy, burgundy, or other, seams are better able to be hidden, even when they are in obvious locations. Highly patterned slabs are also able to easily camouflage seams as they blend right in with the pattern. This is easier with quartz due to the natural veining in it. Qualified and professionally trained installation teams are also great at matching slab patterns to make seams nearly invisible, so do your research and get referrals to the right installers to match your needs.
• Get Creative
If you have long islands or wall countertops, you can also solve your seam issues by getting creative. One popular choice we have seen lately is to add a slab of wood either at the end of an island or between two seams. This gives your kitchen an extra pop of character as well as serves as a practical countertop cutting board.
Recap
Some seams can be eyesores, but would you rather be able to see the seam or have a countertop that fails and breaks? Ideally, we would like the best of both worlds, and with professional countertop installation from Texas Granite Group you can have the best. Our Austin area countertop store has been installing granite, quartz and marble countertops with impeccable seams for years.
When you work with us, you’ll receive durable, long-lasting, and beautiful countertops to transform your kitchen and the way you live in it! So, stop by and speak with one of our countertop designers, Free.