I think I figured out how to upload pictures.

Here is a link that might be useful: photobucket

Okay, I am totally obsessed now. I remeasured. The one counter has a gap of 1/18. The counter behind the sink is from 1/18 to as large as 1/4

I guess you could call the installers and see what they say. Maybe think about tiling the rest of the backsplash that would cover up the gap. Use a color that will complement and not detract from the granite.

We were told this is normal and they expect that you will be putting up tile and that will be grouted in and that all will be taken care of by the "tile man". They told us they simply don't do it. Mine was like that too. I was also very upset but in our case they told us about it and since they don't speak very good English just said "your husband will fix". I knew that was not going to go over well so I got them to caulk around it, they didn't want to but they did.

Ok, so next project I got another granite company to do the laundry room it has no caulking around the backsplash piece either!! It's black pearl so we can simply put some black caulk in there, I'd rather not have to deal with it but it appears this is not unusual. If you are not getting a splash installed it can still be filled with either grout or caulk. It appears the granite people think this is the responsibility of the tile guy or the homeowner in our experience.

Please don't freak out, it will look great when you get your tile in and they fill it in with grout and caulk. I hope you are getting a backsplash? In my laundry room we aren't so not sure what we'll do about that. The splash is up against wallpaper and simply has a gap there. Even though I was surprised at this I have now had two companies do the exact same thing. Good luck! Your granite is beautiful!!

Thanks. I'm disappointed. We didnt plan to tile and we told the installers that. I feel like a fool because we didnt notice the gaps until after the installer left. Some of the gaps look too wide to fill with chalk.

It's a defect all right, but it's from the home builder's carpenters, not the granite guys.

Granite doesn't bend. If you are putting in a granite backsplash, then your wall has to be flat. You can float the low spots of your wall out with joint compound a bit, prime and paint. Or you can install tile to cover the gap.

If you are doing just a flat deck counter with no backsplash, they can get the gap to be smaller by cutting into the wall a bit at the high spots, or a high end granite company can scribe the granite to the wall. Either way, the granite/wall transition isn't designed to be visible. It's designed to be covered with a backsplash of some kind.

@GreenDesigns, the house was built 17 yrs ago. This is not a new build. Ugh. Now i am not sure what to do.

I agree with GreenDesigns. Your walls are not flat. Ours was worse than yours in a couple of places, but we were putting in a tile backsplash, not granite. We floated the walls to make them flat so the tile could be installed correctly.

Your issue is one reason why many people don't go with the 3" granite backsplash that you chose. A tiled backsplash down to the counter can cover up a lot of issues.

Thanks everyone. I wish someone would have told me this. Our laminate counters prior had no gaps at all so I didn't think about it. The counters are beautiful but I haven't been impressed at all on how all of this has gone down. I will call the fabricator tomorrow and see what he says. I have a feeling nothing will be done.

Caulk.

Even if you installed a tile BS, the joint would be caulked.

Drywall is not all that flat actually, but if the granite installers had patterned they could have produced smaller gaps.
It would appear that they left you a correct gap for caulk to be installed.

If the granite was tight to the wall the caulk would be an ugly distracting fillet.

Now it can be a thing line that is flush with the top of the BS.

Brickeye-is there a specific chalk I should look for? Our neighbor came over to check out the counters and of course right away noticed the gap. =( He installed laminate last year. Even though he didnt do granite, he said he had chalk as well. I am disappointed because I think this should have been brought up during the templating.

heads up it is caulk, not chalk. chalk you use on blackboard to write. caulk is a compound you apply to seal joints. just want to be sure you ask for the right product!

It's CAULK, not "chalk" ...

For routine work a siliconized acrylic latex works well.

You most likely want something that matches the wall color.

If it does not match well enough the siliconized acrylic can be painted with the wall paint.

Avoid actual silicone caulk.
It is a PITA to use, dos not have as many colors, cannot be painted, and once it is used it is very hard to use anything else.
You simply cannot clean up the silicone residue it leaves behind.

When we had our bathroom done we put huge 18 x 18 travertine tiles on the walls about three feet up. When I came home I was freaking out because there was about a 1/2 inch space between the wall and the tile. I couldn't believe they were going to fill that in with a bunch of caulk it was too big! Sort of had a mini meltdown thinking I'd have to run out and get a top piece or something to hide the hideous gap. I talked to the project manager and he said they fill it with grout not caulk which they did and it looked amazing. Meltdown over. I honestly think when you get some caulk in there you will not notice it. It hides a multitude of sins. It is looking fabulous so far, all the best to you. I know how you feel....

Thanks everyone. I feel better. For some reason my Mac doesn't like the work Caulk. Keeps wanting to correct it automatically. LOL. I have caulked before. I just wasn't sure which kind to buy. That would have been kind of amusing though going to the store and asking where the chalk was for my counters. he he he he. ;)

Again, thanks everyone. The granite experience wasn't all that great. No return phone calls, cavalier attitude during the whole process from the fabricator, installer...etc etc. So I started to think I got screwed. I think I need a drink. =P

You'll be fine. I prefer latex painter's caulk because it is water soluble. Read up on how to tape off your walls and granite and finish it before your try it. Two pieces of masking tape and a wet finger is pretty much all you need to make a perfect caulk line.
Renee

I just wanted to thank everyone again. We caulked the gaps and it looks great. It doesn't even draw any attention. The gaps just disappeared visually. Thanks for holding my hand during my freak out. =)

WW, I'm glad you are happy now. To spend so much $$ and be disappointed is not an option . . . glad it all worked out and your granite is so beautiful!

So glad it all worked out!! Caulk is sort of a miracle product, lol. Would you be up for posting a finished picture? Would love to see how it all turned out!