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Marble fiasco?

6 years ago

Hi all. I’m still up to my ears in renovations. Anyhoo they installed my marble on my closet island today and what a miscommunication! I hate it. We went over the fab process via email( huge mistake). I didn’t understand all the lingo but I did send my inspiration pic and his cad drawings looked like what I wanted. He emailed last week telling me the mitered clip corner wld not be possible that small but a butt joint would. I thought he was talking about just butt jointing the corners. I had no idea he was talking about the whole slab! I even asked if once it’s cut and glued back will it match perfectly like my inspiration pic and he said yes.

Comments (38)

  • 6 years ago

    I absolutely hate the double edge like that. It looks I went to Michael’s crafts and did it myself.

  • 6 years ago

    It may not be a literal fiasco, but I can certainly understand why you hate it. I would too, and no matter where the blame rightfully belongs, I'm just really sorry you're feeling heartsick. I understand what that's like.

  • 6 years ago

    if you could build up a 4" thick edge around a 2" thick slab that looked EXACTLY like it was a 4" slab - you'd have needed a 4" slab to begin with. That's kinda just geometry.


    The ONLY way to achieve your inspiration picture exactly - is with a FULL slab in the edge thickness.

  • 6 years ago

    Is there a question in there somewhere?

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Tell them you do not like it and ask how much it will cost you to get what you want.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    That's a do-over and your fabricator knows it. Not even close. He should be embarrassed for even delivering such a thing.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    "The ONLY way to achieve your inspiration picture exactly - is with a FULL slab in the edge thickness."


    A properly mitered edge can be any thickness and look fine. No full thickness slab needed.

  • 6 years ago

    just_janni, I don't think you understand how mitered edges are fabricated.

  • 6 years ago

    @millworks I approved his two cad drawings I posted above. I thought those separate cut pieces were going to be mitered to edges and that he was just talking about butt jointing the corners. That’s probably not possible but I’m not a fabricator. Don’t you think his cad drawings should have shown this horrible double glued edge? If it had I would’ve totally understood what the heck was going on and put a stop to that!

  • 6 years ago

    @Joseph Corlett, LLC ikr! Not to mention he knows my taste and that kind of fabrication is so cheap looking. My GC suggested they just remove the bottom edge and call it a day. I won’t get exactly what I wanted but since I love the marble so much I’ll be fine. Because now it’s impossible to miter the exact pattern match like my inspiration pic. FYI I only paid half deposit.

  • 6 years ago

    @millworkman I approved the one I have circled. You see what he describes. But again I thought he was just talking about the corners. You see how the slab in in his drawing looks just like my inspiration photo right? With same marble pattern flowing down edges. Don’t you think he should’ve shown the glued double edge in his drawing for the average layperson? Paid half deposit only thank god.

  • 6 years ago

    One I circled is what was approved

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Whoa. If you approved it, whether you understood it or not, it's yours.


    Were I your fabricator, you would have had no choice. He should have saved you from yourself.

  • 6 years ago

    I understand being disappointed. I understand the difficulty in communicating about details in a world where we are all locked up and can't do things in person like we normally would.


    You'll get used to it eventually. It may bug you, but you'll get used to it.


    And, in the bigger picture of what is going on in the world today, this is minor, minor, minor. I hate to sound harsh, but it is in a closet after all and a truly grand closet at that. I've done a lot of traveling in developing countries, and there could be an entire family living in a room the size of your closet. Try social distancing in living conditions like those; that is why the poor are being so unduly impacted with this disease. All of us, me included, need to just be grateful we can even think about trivialities like remodeling. And, yes, I need to keep reminding myself about what is truly important in life when I start to obsess about something related to remodeling.

  • 6 years ago

    @Joseph why wasn’t that ugly seam shown in his cad drawings? Is that too hard to show in a drawing?

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    This is on you if you signed off on the drawing. IMO not the worst thing I have seen and come on it is in a closet IMO the worst part is the clipped corners I have no idea why they are in either the inspo or your closet. I think what you got is exactly what you ordered .

  • 6 years ago

    Well I’ve asked him to send over his fabricators to saw off that bottom piece, polish up and put it back on. They are not taking it back to the warehouse because it will be months before I see it again. I waited 4 months for my freaking bathroom tile from this company!

  • 6 years ago

    chispa I understand precisely how mitered corners work.


    I mitered corner will never 100% replicate a full slab. On a rectangular slab - it can get CLOSE, but the vertical seam at each corner will not be continuous because they have material that is missing between each face. The pattern is like the view of an open box with the flaps out.


    Clipping the corners provides one more place where the slab won't look continuous and the the fabricator has to try to miter a really small piece on 3 sides with 2 different angles.


    The break in continuity of the pattern is most noticeable in stone with a lot of movement.


    A rectangular mitered layout probably would have been acceptable to the eye (maybe). the clipped corners drove needed the stack / lamination / butt joint. Maybe a complete stone wizard could have pulled off mitering with the clipped corner - but that's a highly skilled ask - if it's even possible with the stone - I am not sure.


    And we're back to this requiring a full slab to really get the inspiration pic.

  • 6 years ago

    @Joseph Corlett, LLC I have a question for you. I was told that it was impossible to get the smaller clipped corners with a miter cut. My inspiration pic has much larger corners. Is that true?

  • 6 years ago

    @just_janni So was it something that was impossible to do for me?

  • 6 years ago

    This boils down to poor communication all around. Yes the fabricator could have been more ‘visual’ with their 3D image as that’s what you seem to be focused on. The plan view clearly shows the separate pieces and how the pattern will not align. Should they have held your hand more and pointed it out? Could you have more thoroughly studied the information provided?

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    The diagram they provided you could not have been clearer. You signed off on it. It’s very far from a “fiasco”.



  • 6 years ago

    You can come CLOSE to your inspiration pic - but there are tradeoffs between using mitered edges, clipped corners, laminated edges / butt joints vs a full depth slab - and it would have been nice if your fabricator took the time to REALLY explain the limitations and differences instead of relying on the layout drawings and your ability to think in 3D, etc.


    All this being said - I blew up your picture - and I think the island looks lovely. Does it 100% look like a full 3"-4" slab? no. BUT...... right now you are focused solely on this small piece of your overall project and the "miss" between reality and your vision FEELS huge. What you are forgetting is that this is but a small portion of your overall project, and once you fill up this space with clothes, and shoes and more lighting, and all the other "pretty" things - your eye (and everyone else's, by the way) will take in the whole picture and it will be gorgeous.


    Please don't be disappointed - and try to step back and see the forest for the trees.

  • 6 years ago

    ^This.

  • 6 years ago

    I think what Bobby Ann is upset about is not the mitered corner, but the two layers on the side. The illustration shown above of the top and sides does not show two pieces in each side, only one.


  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    It IS only the 1 added laminated piece to increase the thickness appearance of the slab. Where are you getting the idea that it’s 2 pieces attached?

  • 6 years ago

    Bobby Ann, 2 years ago I moved into my house after lots of much more major "fiascos". Things like my floor being not level by over 1" in 17'. Window's placed too low. Doorknobs placed too low which related to the windows being placed too low. Stairs being built incorrectly the first time. The pool being built too close to the house even though it was correctly drawn in the plans (and lots more).

    And then there were all the cosmetic issues. Believe me when I say that this is a small thing. As already stated, it's on the edge of a counter and it's in a closet. It's not your main island in your kitchen. You are focusing in on one thing instead of waiting for the full picture to reveal itself. I'm into minutia. I'm an artist and my students call me eagle eyes cause I have a bad habit of noticing everything. Trust me when I say that once everything is hanging and any decorative items are also in the closet, you will not notice the edge at all. It will become part of the background, a supporting player.

  • 6 years ago

    Ok I’m back. I went to see it in person today and it’s gorgeous! I grabbed the phone from my painter who actually took the photo for me and threw it in the toilet. I told him get rid of that flip phone. Haha.
    I know it’s not exactly what I wanted but they did a beautiful job with the joint actually. It’s polished so smooth and only really noticeable on the edges without movement. I called them and apologized and asked if they could camouflage the seam a little more on the lighter edge. And just_ janni you are absolutely right! Once I have everything else in there it will look beautiful. These pictures I took with my phone and it actually looks better in person.

  • 6 years ago

    Hey! Don't knock the flip phone; it's not the phone's fault that you don't get the whole picture from a picture ... pictures may be worth a 1000 words, but actually seeing it is always better.

    Glad to hear that you're loving it in person. (And wow, thats a lot of space and storage ... lucky you!)

  • 6 years ago

    @BlueberryBundtcake ikr! I’m so excited to have my sheshed. I’m getting a French door with a pink crystal knob and a DEADBOLT. My GC asked why the deadbolt? Geez, men! I found this mirrored makeup vanity on Wayfair that matches perfect! I need a chandelier but I can’t decide. If the room is 15x17 with 14’ foot ceilings what size chandelier should I get? 32” diameter I was thinking?

  • 6 years ago

    Hey, if that flip phone was a Samsung it will probably still work after being dunked! Recently found our 15 year old Samsung flip phone, which hadn't been touched in 6 years and it fired right up, still had plenty of charge!


    Glad you are happy with the counter!

  • 6 years ago

    @chispa haha. I actually kept my old Samsung for my granddaughter to use on our WiFi so she doesn’t bug me to use my iPad.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Bobby Ann,

    Here is a scaled drawing I found online that might help you with the light. This is for 12 ft, so adjust as needed.



  • 6 years ago

    @chispa I’m thinking definitely 32” minimum!

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I am so glad you are feeling better about it. I was going to write that you have a beautiful slab, and a beautiful closet! I agree with you that the drawing was misleading since it showed a continuous pattern on the edges instead of what you got. I agree that corner that is half dark is annoyingly mismatched........BUT it is still a BEAUTIFUL closet and slab even if left exactly as is. Enjoy your closet! Having a spot you do not like let's you focus on that and not look for other issues. :)

  • 4 years ago

    I can’t believe I thought my marble island was a fiasco. I think I was just overwhelmed by the whole renovation process and it turned me into a Renozilla. My closet came out gorgeous and I love the marble. The seam is really smooth and good color match. I get tons of compliments. The last pic is the den when we bought the house that I converted to my closet. I closed off the entrance from living room and moved it across from master and added a French door with crystal door knob and deadbolt. 😈

  • 4 years ago

    It turned out beautifully and I'm so glad you were able to see the beauty of it.