countertop then up backsplash…. match?

last year

need some help to settle a debate…

friend is using a quartize slab of 3cm, small counter 72” in length. Counter is basic and then runs up wall about 38”. the quartzite has dramatic veining. fabricators template indicated counter and backsplash would be one cut from one piece.

friends expectation is the same counter and backsplash will not match exactly but will be close, off by no more than 3cm. fabricator says that is unrealistic and they will try match biggest vein anything more than crazy, and that ”sometimes when they cut things go wrong and they need to cut another inch or more”

this a $500k renovation… everything so far top of the line, contracter is super, very well recommended and all workmanship stunning.

rest of other two bookmatched slabs are being used for island with waterfall. above comment has eroded her confidence in that will match.

question is:

is it reasonable to leave a margin of error of an inch of more on a very expensive slabs of quartzite.

is it reasonable for the counter and the backsplash to match up within 3cm

is there a way people do it so it matches better counter to backsplash

on book matched slabs, is reasonable to expect waterfall to match.

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Comments (4)

GN Builders
last year
I just completed a high-end kitchen remodeling, not a 500k job but a 150k job, give or take. The fabricator book-matched the countertop with the backsplash and waterfall perfectly.

Not sure what vein pattern your slabs had, but when joining two or more slabs, it must be done in a way that they mirror each other. On larger jobs, when using multiple slabs, the vein pattern must continue from one piece to another, and the pattern must continue across multiple slabs so they can be matched.

Good luck
PRO
Minardi
last year
You have the 3cm of the covered counter to have the pattern be off. And without buying at least 4 slabs for the counter and backsplash, the expectations should be tempered as to what is physically possible with bookmatched natural stone. You can get "flow" without a "match" with limited material. If "match" is highly important, that requires more material on the front end.

Quartz is both easier and harder to match the vein flow than natural stone. Stone with a large unified background, with directional veining, is easier. Quartz with more veining, and either bolder or more subtle, is harder. And quarts WILL SCORCH when used as the splash behind a cooking zone. All the pros know this, even if they want to ignore it and pretend they don't so they can act surprised and blame it on the stone fabricator.
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Lyn Nielson
last year
lower your expectations. It's not going to match exactly.

What is the alternative? If you want the backsplash the same material, let the professionals do their job. No doubt, it isn't their first rodeo.
chispa
last year
You need to find a fabricator that has pride in his work and also has artistic/design abilities to produce perfectly lined up "works of art". Most fabricators have neither of those!

The fabricator we used in CA, referred by a designer friend. He created curves and layers out of flat 2 cm stone slabs ...