Q: Will my countertop have a seam?

A: We try extremely hard to avoid seams if possible, but the reality is that the majority of countertops will have a seam no matter how hard we try. If designing a large island, please keep in mind the length and width of your surface selection. Slab lengths can vary from 65”-75” normally.

Q: How is the seam placement determined on my stone countertops?

A: Seams are determined by Southeast Stone depending on countertop layout, support needed, and material usage/yield.

 

Q: I have seen some seams which are not perfectly smooth, why is this?

A: The term "Lippage" as used in the stone industry, is the planar offset of the finished surfaces of two adjacent stone pieces. Due to the relatively tight seams used in countertop installations, even minor amounts of Lippage are noticeable. Lippage may be unavoidable due to permanent warp in the slab stock. There should be no detectable Lippage at the front or rear edges of the countertop. Maximum Lippage at the center of the countertop is 1/32" or 0.8mm. Countertops will not be replaced due to Lippage within acceptable industry standards.

 

Q: My neighbor has granite and there are very small chips along the seam. Is this normal?

A: Chipping will occur, particularly in the igneous stone varieties, as a result of sawing operations. The exiting portion of the diamond blade used to cut granite will create many small chips. A small chamfer, called an "arris", of approximately 1/16" x 1/16" can be used to eliminate most of these small chips. The use of an arris will make the seam appear wider than its actual dimension when filled. Large chips may be repaired with epoxy or polyester resin if the completed repair is consistent in color and texture with the surrounding area. Southeast Stone does not use arises, unless requested, when installing granite countertops. Seams are assembled and the small chips are filled with polyester resin.