Antique Brown Seams - Slight Chipping and Epoxy

[fordpickup]

I just had antique brown counters installed on an island. The seam between the two slabs has small chips, a millimeter or two into both sides of the slabs. The fabricator filled the seam with a matte epoxy and said this chipping was normal due to the properties of antique brown. I can probably live with the slight chipping, but I'm quite disappointed in the mismatch in gloss level between the granite and the epoxy. Is this normal?

[Ken Lago]

Show us a picture of the seam.

[Andy Ross]

Probably normal for most fabricators. Pics would help.

[fordpickup]

Thanks for the quick reply, Here are some images with scale. The seam is usually a 1/16" or less.

1.jpg (33.54KiB)Viewed 1601 times

[fordpickup]

4.jpg (55.44KiB)Viewed 1600 times

[Curtis R. Marburger]

Industry standard seam , especially antique brown

[Dan R.]

There are some choices to help to remedy this issue. All must be used judiciously.

[fordpickup]

There are some choices to help to remedy this issue. All must be used judiciously.

DIY-able, have them come back, or accept and forget about it 6 months from now?

[Curtis R. Marburger]

enjoy the beauty of this stone , one of my top 5 favorites

[ash20ash]

Industry standard seam , especially antique brown

X2

[fordpickup]

Thanks so much, I appreciate helping to level set. I need to call, say thank you, and get on with finishing my kitchen.

[Dan R.]

1. If they knew better, they would have done better. Call back will only add to everyone's frustration.
2. DYI, possible, but probably not worth the possible consequences.
3. Live with it for 6 months then address it, as needed.
4. What year ford truck, hopefully vintage?


Not a bad seam, not a great one either.

[fordpickup]

The one that started me off was a '79 F100. I miss everything about that truck except for the lack of floorboards and its occasional inability to start. I'm sadly in-between trucks with an Explorer as the closest thing for right now.

[Curtis R. Marburger]

I stared granite business with 78 Chevy over 10 years ago , before that i used it as a dump truck . before that it was a Tractor Trailer service truck , that i rescued and did a frame off restoration . I love the simplicity of trucks of that era and the longevity of them.

[Ken Lago]

About the seam, my mother said if you don't have anything nice to say don't say nothing

[clhilde]

I agree with Ken

[Andy Ross]

Ford =

Just thought id throw that out there to stir the pot a little

[Nick]

Ford vehicles < that seam


Seriously, it is a chippy material, and yes it could look better, but it is within reason and you are also hiring custom work. It is not like buying a Sony or Ford F150 that should be the same everytime except it has a passenger door the dealer says is fine and won't warranty Becuase it is in spec despite the fact it shakes like a leaf on a tree when shut. Yup, we just got one of those

Make them do their best to touch it up for you.

[steven nenzel]

IMO, and I may get blasted for this, but I think it is horrible to say the least. Yes, it is chippy material but not that chippy . That would never leave my shop. I doubt that seam would leave the shop of any other member of the SFA.

There was a day where, before my time, when this was the best we could do. With today's tools it is just unacceptable.

I'm not here to try and make another fabricator's life difficult but come on... the front of that seam is pathetic.

[Dan R.]

Knowledge spreads at different rates.
One can only do as well as they know. Not knowing is not a criminal indictment.

It is true that most here would do better, becuse they know better. Unfortunately, knowledge after the fact is of little consequence. The time for education is before the action, not after.

Recommend your fabricator join our community of learning and sharing. Someone taught every single one of us. We learn from each other every day.

[BC Granite and Marble]

Lets be honest, that would not fly with any one on this site, if we say its acceptable then don't complain when this kind of work replaces our work and we wonder why people accept less than par work due to price. If my guys left that seam that would be there last. If they cant make that seam look better (many issues here) then they need to attend some workshops and learn what to do. If I never seen granite before and I was told this is just how it looks I would not even want granite. We have all worked way to hard putting out quality work to take the politically correct way out and say that is ok.

[flav]

Slightly off topic, but I once had a customer come back asking why we didn't 'color-match' the seam. I replied and said we always color match. He replies "then why is it all the same color??"
He then explained to me that he expected the seam color to be colored 3 or 4 different colors based on the color in the granite so as to match. I asked him if he would pay an extra $300-400 per seam for us to do that for him. He declined.

[Curtis R. Marburger]

If it comes down to it have your Stone Cutter email me at CRM5096@gmail.com or call me 717-368-8531 and will do my best to help with this seam .

Curtis

[BC Granite and Marble]

Way to step up Curtis. If needed I hope they take you up on your offer.

[CustomMarbleGranite]

My thoughts exactly AJ.