I’m going to dive right in here folks, nobody LIKES seams. Nobody. Anyone one who says they like seams is, well…., a LIAR. Let’s start internally. Templating a top is much easier to do without any seams. The layout goes much smoother when no one has to worry about matching the color of two pieces seamed together; Fabrication is a breeze when tops don’t have to be put together so the front edges can be gauged to ensure a perfect union between stones.
And last of all Installation can take as much as 80% less time to install a seamless kitchen as opposed to one with seams. So now that we all agree it’s much easier for Stoneworks to go forward in a seamless world lets talk about home owners. In my experience I have yet to meet a homeowner that said I must have a seam or I just won’t be satisfied. Nor have I met a homeowner ecstatic that the main focal point in their beautifully designed kitchen would be set off with a seam right down the middle. So you may wonder why? If everyone agrees that seams are nobodies’ friend then why do granite fabricators use them? Well that’s easy, so we don’t install a broken countertop. Everyone agrees that seaming granite is a tricky process. Try fixing a broken top!
O.K all kidding aside, the bottom line is this. Seams are an unfortunate necessity in the granite business. You may find a young granite company, maybe a Corian fabricator trying to get into granite that will attempt these seamless feats of heroism. They will learn very quickly. Its wonderful when they say, sure we can do that with no seam. It’s a totally different story when the installation is attempted. A top is generally seamed for three reasons; the top is longer than the slab, the top cannot physically make it to its final destination, or the risk of breaking is too great. The top longer than the slab is an easy one. A top that can’t make it to its final destination can be for a number of different reasons. The most common occurs in finished high rises, Stairwells and/or elevators are too small. Or even houses with narrow hallways. Sometimes it’s a design issue like an L-shaped top that is surrounded by walls. It’s the last one that really gets the blood boiling, risk of breaking. The main complaint is “you guys are professionals, you should be able to install this top the way I want it”. This is very true and it is because that we are professionals that we add the seams in. Imagine this you come to Stoneworks and pick out an amazingly beautiful piece of natural stone. We show up to template and you don’t like the seam. We say alright and against our better judgment fabricate the top in one piece. Five days later here we come for the install, 5 or six guys struggle their way though your house an attempt to put the oversized top in place. Every one is huffing and puffing, the walls get nicked up and then it happens. CRACK….BOOM. The top has broken and maybe worse someone gets hurt of something gets damaged. There is no more stone left to replace the top. We don’t come out looking very professional and you are not a raving fan. These are the experiences a reputable granite company has lived and learned through. Stoneworks is that company. We understand than nobody likes seams, we don’t like them. But in the end some peace must be made with the unwanted stepchild of our industry. With age we realize that seams are here to help us, they mean us no harm and can be quite surprisingly pleasant. Another myth about seams is that they all look bad, not true. While granted some look better than others I have seen some that are hard to see even with professional eyes. So before you decide that seams are unacceptable think about why they are there .I promise Stoneworks will only add a seam to your job if it is our professional opinion that it is necessary.