Any experts on Quartz worktops? Need to check if what fitter is telling us is correct

FrankFalcon

Hi all

We are having a new kitchen fitted and today, part of the worktop has arrived.  Instantly, something doesn't look right.  Please can you guys have a look at the attached images.  You can see that there are several joins in the worktop.  We told the fitter and to be fair he told us he is only the fitter and has no idea of the manufacturing process etc.  He told us he was just here to deliver the worktops and also join them up (with resin), but to me (and I'm no expert) it looks like it has too many joins.  We asked the fitter and he said that nowhere in the UK can you source granite at 3750mm, which is the length of the window wall (Green line).  Is this correct? Is this true?  Look at the piece marked 'X'.  Again, I'm no expert, but it just doesn't look right having that square piece in the middle of nowhere.  The company who came out do seem very professional but I genuinely don't know what to believe.  Please have a look at where I have drawn a yellow line.  Can't this be in one piece?  Look at where I have put Red arrows on the images.  These are joins in the worktops.
Any advice guys?

FreeBear

FrankFalcon said: We asked the fitter and he said that nowhere in the UK can you source granite at 3750mm, which is the length of the window wall (Green line).  Is this correct?

A quick look on the internet suggests that the largest size is between 2.8m and 3.2m, although I did find one claiming 3.5m. All very expensive mind.. Even with laminate, I think you'd struggle to get 3.75m in one piece (I think the largest is ~3.6m).

With careful selection and meticulous gluing, you should be able to get a near seamless joint - Although that will be very dependent on the "grain" and pattern.

swingaloo

Personally I would have had the run from the sink to the wall in one piece and then the join on the side wall. It does look a bit pieced together, was there no conversation about were thee joins would be before the fitter started>

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

FrankFalcon said:

Please have a look at where I have drawn a yellow line. Can't this be in one piece?

Perhaps it's possible but looks like it would leave a fair bit of wastage plus I'd imagine it would be difficult to transport without risk of being damaged. 

I think the sink should have been in two similar sized pieces rather than 1 large and 1 small but can you see joints once they ae filled?

gwynlas

This should have been discussed and explained  at the template stage when measurements taken. I would suggest that if you had been told that a longer run with fewer joints would be more expensive you might have chosen it. The majority of granite worktops have joins and it is the role of  cutters and of the fitter to make these as  unobtrusive as possible by matching striation

markin

You would have to look hard to know its even there, if the joint is done well.

LightFlare

I 100% wouldnt be happy with how it currently looks -- I dont know what the solution would be though

I especially don't like the look of the "odd piece"

DullGreyGuy

It certainly could have been done differently but potentially it could have substantially increased the costs. There are big slabs available (not as long as you need) but you then are often talking about covering the cost of hiring a longer vehicle plus these things are heavy and so may need more men to carry it or specialist lifting equipment hired. 

When we designed our kitchen there was a lot of discussion on where joints will be and if it'd be better one way of another. Some minor changes could add several hundred to the quote because it meant they need a bigger slab with a large amount of wastage. 

silvercar

I've just had quartz worktops fitted. Longest piece was about 3.2m. 

twopenny

I think if it has to be done that is likely to be the best place.
You don't want it under the window where the sunlight may show the join.
You don't want it close to the sink where it will get high usage from items stacked for washing.
So it's out of the high usage area and super illuminated area and in the shadow.

Postik

twopenny said:

I think if it has to be done that is likely to be the best place.
You don't want it under the window where the sunlight may show the join.
You don't want it close to the sink where it will get high usage from items stacked for washing.
So it's out of the high usage area and super illuminated area and in the shadow.

I don't know anything about granite worktops but I would agree with that.

I can also imagine to do the yellow section with one single piece would need a lot of wastage because instead of two rectangular bits you would need a giant square then cut into an L shape.

However given the amount of money these worktops cost I would expect to be told where and how the joints work and I'd want to get my beak into the thought process of this before ordering.  Assuming you can't get longer/bigger pieces (or assuming it adds astronomically to the cost) the joints look like they're in sensible places to me.