No, this isn't "normal."

Here is the standard for gaps according to the Marble Institute of America site discussing the installation of natural stone surfaces in a kitchen:

"Visible joints between stone and other materials (e.g., cabinetry, gypsum wall board) shall be 1/8", with a tolerance of [plus or minus]1/16" ([plus or minus]1.5 mm), and filled with a soft, elastic material."

Which comes down to 3/16" max., so your gaps are 1/16" past max. If the unacceptable gaps are truly just a little here and there, then I would probably go with the filler, but I would want them to do it with appropriate materials and color matching.

Not all counter installations have gaps, so don't let them give you that "are you nuts, lady?" boloney. Yes, 99% of walls are a little wavy, but it's the fabricator's/installer's job to compensate for the waviness. Here's mine:

Thank you so much for that great info - I've attached a link of picture to show the gap in question. Hope you can see it...if not, I'll try again

Here is a link that might be useful: gap pic

You need to mark your album "public" so we can see.

Sorry bout that - wanted my pic to show up like yours but seems I've linked to album.....still learning :)

I can't see your picture, but 1/4" is a pretty big gap. I let my granite contractor know that it would probably be awhile before I had a backsplash, so the installers scribed the wall in a few places so make sure there would be no gaps. Your contractor needs to fix this for you.

Hi, I too had a gap in one corner. Making a long story short the fabricator cut a piece of granite to the contractors specifications, it was 1/4-1/2 by 10 inches. The contractor made a sling looking contraption out of aluminum and the two granite pieces were glued together. Had the piece cut not worked I would have expected the fabricator to be responsible, my beveled tile could not be installed because the space was to big.

Normally I would leave this wall alone when doing the backsplash, but it might be a way to "fix" the gap. There are many ways to do the tile on the side wall. Would this be an option for you?
Post a picture of that side of the kitchen.

once again, sorry this is so big...it's the far wall of the kitchen near where I have a stepstool. The gap is also along the back wall & behind the sink on opposite wall but those spaces will be covered by the tile backsplash.

I'm not very good at "disputing" things. At the very least I think they should have sent out their own person to check it out & caulk it themselves if it's the best they can do. My gc thinks they should probably replace the whole piece...but I'm not getting him involved because I chose these people, it's not who he usually uses. I "saved" $2,000 on the price from his guy but am learning I may have gotten what I paid for. Still, at over 4k the least they could do is caulk it - not tell me to have my husband do it. I knew you'd all be pros at what is "acceptable" and "SuzanneSL" really helped me with the marble institute info - before reading that I didn't feel I had a leg to stand on.

Thanks everyone!!!!!!! I've lurked here for weeks & am grateful to have a place to turn with my question

And for the record, can't believe I'm posting these pics with messy counters & my wee-midgee white microwave (still haven't picked a new one)!!hee-hee