granite worktop

I've bought a new property. The builder agreed to replace the kitchen that was there with one of our choice. We wnt for one with a granite worktop. We went to take a look at it on Tuesday. It looks terrible. The granite itself is fine but the kitchen is quite small and they have joined it in 3 places where it seems obvious that there should have been 2 joins. My question is about where the joins are. There seems to be a fairly wide gap(wide enough so that its very obvious). The gap seems to be filled with black silicon(I think). It just dosent look great at all. Is this normal and just a downside with a granite worktop.

No - the normal thing is for a single continuous granite slab to be cut and fitted. For this reason, the granite can't be measured until the kitchen is physically installed and can take a further 4-6 weeks after the kitchen.

thanks. The kitchen is u-shaped. So Would there not have to be 2 joins on the corners. My main gripe is that there is one join too many and that the joins are messy. The builder called me and is trying to persuade me that this is the result that you get with granite. Im furious because of all the rooms in the house that I want to be perfect its the kitchen. but at this stage I'm not too sure what he will do

go to a granite supplier and say you have a U shaped kitchen and see what they suggest. You can then go armed with info they supply back to builder.
Explain to granite suppliers situation and ask 4 quote to rectify.

Regarding the number of joints, it can depend on the position of the sink/oversailing appliances etc as to where the joints can physically be situated... having said that, I can’t think why a ‘U’ shape should have any more than two joints...

Regarding the size of the joint... this is a tricky one. When I used to sell granite tops I always made the customer aware of the difficulties of jointing the product. There can be as much as 4 to 5 millimetres gap in the joint that needs to be filled with a colour coded compound (not just black silicon). A reputable and skilled installer however, may get a joint down to 1 or 2 millimetres or less...

Not sure you'd be able to get a U-shape in one piece but you may have been able to get away with an "I" and an "L" if you see what I mean which would be one joint, as others say it depends where the cutouts for sink and hob are.

Without knowing the specifics it's difficult to say for certain but it's possible that smaller pieces were used to make up the worktop which would be cheaper than a single large piece.

The joints can be made neat and should be butted up as much as possible, if this is tatty then it can be addressed.

The trouble you're going to have is that you asked for a granite worktop and a granite worktop was supplied and fitted. Unless you specifed or were told where the joins would be then you'll have difficulty getting it replaced IMHO.

SSE

PetrolHead said:

Regarding the size of the joint... this is a tricky one. When I used to sell granite tops I always made the customer aware of the difficulties of jointing the product. There can be as much as 4 to 5 millimetres gap in the joint that needs to be filled with a colour coded compound (not just black silicon). A reputable and skilled installer however, may get a joint down to 1 or 2 millimetres or less...

Click to expand...

Jeez - I'd hate to have you selling/installing granite - we had granite installed about 4 years ago - I was in house when it was being installed and couldn't get a sheet of paper into the joint - was definitely < .5 mm.

For a U-Shaped kitchen - there should only be 2 joints max or depending on size of sides of the U you may get away with 1 join.

I have a granite work top and it covers a large area with a few joins and you would have to go and look for them as they are joined so close together I would not accept this work if I was you.

yeah mate it sounds like you got the left overs from other jobs too make up your work top, and gaps should be tiny.