I hope you weren't hoping for a seam to be invisible. I think that's a rather good match.

That is a great seam! If you wanted close to invisible, you should have chosen a solid color or small particulate Corian.

Why the double bowl sink?

That's a very nice seam. If you'd like the front seam eliminated, have an apron front sink retrofitted after you close please.

That’s a great seam. I agree, do an apron sink if it bothers you.

There is nothing wrong with that seam. If you thought seams would be invisible then you chose the wrong countertops. Also are you sure that is granite?

I would be happy if my seam looked half as good as that

From the photo, this appears to be an excellent seam in location, color, size and grain match. What exactly is your issue with it?

What is the name of the countertop material? It doesn't look like granite. Maybe quartzite? Be sure you are 100% clear about the materials in your new home so you can understand the maintenance requirements.

+1 to @Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc.'s comment. I too was thinking that does not look like granite. In any case, that seam is really good. If you were expecting invisibility, that is impossible. Too bad though about the 50-50 sink.

Edited to add: Looking again, that stone could be Piracema White granite or Viscon White granite, either of which might have the white areas in the pic that look like marble or quartzite. If so, very pretty granite!

The stone is called Mont Blanc. I have been hyper focused so I wanted to get others opinion. I think we will immediately replace sink because it’s just a builders grade…he didn’t give me the option to select sink..thank you!

Let's hope that you do not have the edge staining that others have been dealing with with this stone. If that seam bothers you then edge staining will drive you insane. Read this:

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/6206588/quartzite-countertop-staining#n=13

butterkup1022:

If the distance from your cabinet front, not the drawer. to the rear of your cutout is much more than 20", you'll have to have a stock apron front sink customized or a custom sink fabricated.

Mont Blanc is quartzite, not granite. It is a beautiful stone but has different requirements for cleaning, etc.

I know this is going against the majority opinion but I don't think that is a good seam. It should be far less visible.

Norwood:

You are unfamiliar with residential production countertop standards.

You won’t notice it once faucet is in and yu don’t look at that when using the sink. I leave a towel between me and the sink since I’m so short. I think it’s fine

You can't change the sink now, they cutout for the particular sink, sorry to tell you, you're kinda screwed there. Quartzite is prone to chipping, even through beautiful, I'd never ever select it after what I've seen customers do to theirs.

@Ryan Houge - please read @Joseph Corlett, LLC’s comments in this thread. He changes out sinks all the time, and has posted photos of them many times on this forum, and i dtructed how it can be done. Also, not all quartzites are prone to chipping. There are different varieties of quartzites that have different properties. It doesn't sound like you have deep knowledge of these topics.

@RoyHobbs it's more variation than it is "properties", it's not like they have a way for measuring one slab being more hardy than another, it's a risk taken. All I'm saying is I've seen more quartzite chipped than any other material, well there's marble, but that's just crazy for counters anyways so doesn't count. I suppose quartzite can be cut in field, but I'd imagine very costly and unsure of finished result, especially with that seam right there. Probably cheaper to take that route than get new counters though.

As my fabricator told me about my Taj Mahal (also a quartzite): “Know that this tone chips very easily, but it can also be easily repaired.” Ours did, indeed, chip in a tiny spot as they installed it…..the 2 pieces that meet behind my apron front sink were cut about 1-2 mm too long. The little chipped off piece was immediately glued back in, and while I know it’s there, no one else would likely notice it.

The placement of the seam at the middle of the sink is terrible.

@Jennifer I think so too, initially it was supposed to be one solid piece, so I definitely wasn’t expecting a seam. I’m not sure I have much recourse because the builder doesn’t see anything wrong with it..

Butterkup- does it state in your contract that it was supposed to be one piece? If so, then go back to your builder with this information. I don’t like the seam, but I’ve seen worse. However, if I paid for one piece and got two, I’d be on whoever’s in charge to replace this.

Reducing seam visibility is an art. Ask your installer how he would remedy this. My installer used various colors to fool the eye and obscure the straight line. He removed the filler in my neighbor’s quartzite counter and refilled it using his technique. She is a happy camper. A very long time ago, I used colored sharpies that matched my stone to obscure the seam. I had to touch it up every year or so. It worked, but it wasn’t at the sink.

Some quartzite slabs are infused with resins for stability and shine. This doesn’t necessarily make them better, but allows what had been an inferior slabs to be usable. Weird ghosting happens on these resin impregnated slabs if acidic spills are not cleaned up right away. Also, cleaners with hydrofluoric acid make matters worse.

@Connecticut Yankeeeee is right, it doesn’t matter whether or not the builder sees anything wrong; it’s what’s in the contract (preferably) or a verbal representation of materials.

"You can't change the sink now, they cutout for the particular sink, sorry to tell you, you're kinda screwed there."

You certainly can. I changed over a million dollars worth of sinks in 2021 all without removing a single stone slab.

Me again… My neighbor kept complaining how her sink sounded/felt chintzy for the quality of their house. My husband had just finished restoring his muscle car and had some Siless VIBRO 80 mil sound deadening insulation left over; which I applied it to the underside of her sink bowls. Same neighbor - a happier camper with quieter and perceived to be heftier sinks.

I think the seam is visually pretty good but the location is not. Seams at sinks create a weak point - it’s better to have your seam elsewhere.

"I think the seam is visually pretty good but the location is not. Seams at sinks create a weak point - it’s better to have your seam elsewhere."

When you strap, not clip or block, a sink in place, you've just turned the sink into a 9" deep truss which supports the countertop, seam or not. I can jump up and down in a seamed straped sink without failure to the sink or seam.

Update: Here is the countertop with faucet. I think I am going to contact the installer to see about having another sink installed at a minimum.

Good idea. Get a single bowl apron front please. Your fabricator isn't going to think he can charge you enough to make it worth his while. Disabuse him of this notion please.

Measure the distance from your cabinet front, not the drawer, to the front edge. Now measure the distance from the rear of the cutout to the front edge. Measure the sink base cabinet, (33", 36", 42", etc.). Post these and I'll tell you which sinks you may choose from.

Gorgeous quartzite countertops and your builder puts in a cheap sink with no options. What a shame. The rest of the kitchen looks beautiful. If it were me, I would live with the sink for a while. In changing it, you risk damage to the countertop which could mean a long search for a comparable slab and a lot of extra time and money. Given the sink is in the island, you may appreciate the double bowl so you have a space hidden away to put drying dishes.

I agree with Kristin Petro: you’re building a house, using nice materials, and the builder doesn’t allow you to pick your own sink? Not cool, in my book. We bought a house 19 years ago; it was started as a spec house by a local custom builder, we bought it just before Sheetrock. While the kitchen cabs and granite had already been ordered, we were allowed to choose pretty much everything else, could even purchase things on our own and drop off for the foreman on site.

@Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc. that is another factor that I am annoyed with...the builder grade sink and I did not have input. At a minimum, I would've installed a granite composite sink, something which was more visually appealing.

@ci_lantro I have seen the question regarding the double sink several times. Why is there such negativity regarding a double sink...its no big deal, I have just seen the same reply from multiple people. Thanks

@Joseph Corlett, LLC thank you so much for your expertise!

How many sinks someone has, or what configuration, is up to their preferences! I have known several people who got the large, 1-bowl sink, and now regret it…I went with a 36” double myself….apron front.

Butterkup - sinks are personal preference. I’ve had several different types. I like a large single bowl myself. There’s no right or wrong.

@Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc.I was thinking of getting it done sooner than later by the same company that installed the stone. Maybe they would be willing to change it out at a reasonable cost.

Well Verbo, you made me almost spit my coffee again! You remind me so much of someone I dearly miss. ; )

Yeah, doesn’t it blow your mind how a builder would install expensive quartzite counters and yet use the cheapest sink they can find in stock.

I wanted to warn you though if you end up changing out the sink. If you are looking at the blanco silgranite please do research on this site. I have horrible permanant stains on both of mine. I think Joe recommends the Elkay granite composite sinks though.

Rebunky, I just moved into a house with beige blanco sink. I found online a remedy for the stains. Quickly, a two step process of soaking in water with added bleach and then cleaning with bar keepers cleanser.

@rebunky I absolutely agree-a million dollar countertop with a two cent sink….go figure…if my sink is any indication, my builder is a prick.

"In changing it, you risk damage to the countertop which could mean a long search for a comparable slab and a lot of extra time and money."

Once in a great while there may be a small crack at the rear of a sink near a backsplash; those are fixed inconspicuously. I will guarantee in writing that if a top cracks during a sink change, if I can't make a repair inconspicuously enough that the home inspector for your buyer can't find it, I'll replace the top. All of them if I have to.

This is truely a non-issue.