I understand your concern but I need to see this from further back maybe take a pic from where you sit . Post it in a comment. here

There is supposed to be an expansion gap, that gets caulked, so both pieces can move independently.You insisting on ”fixing” something that didn’t need fixing is all on you.

"I immediately noticed a visible gap between the bottom of the countertop and the top of the quartz backsplash."

This sentence doesn't make sense.

Do you mean bottom of the upper cabinet and the top of the quartz backsplash?

Yes, thanks chispa for the clarification. I appreciate your feedback and signaling my error. . After installation the gap was up to 1/4 inch visible from sitting at the island and varying slope in other areas. They came back a few weeks later and added the slivers.….stating that this was normal.

You ran the quartz up the entire back splash, which did or did NOT have a laser template?

There would never be the need for an "expansion" gap 3/8" ) and that looks like the hack job answer it is. Caulk of 3/8 inch is equally ridiculous.

Go stand back, take pictures of the whole kitchen, and yes include a couple from your seated position.

Are you certain your counter tops are level front edge to wall backside edge? Put a level on and check that as well.

Of note? The underside of cabinetry is always visible when SEATED. The only way to avoid is trim framing at front edge,,......and we have no idea the look of the whole kitchen. Full context needed: ) Add it in a comment box , below.

The circled area would bother me more than the area above the arrow!

New quartz on older cabinets will always have some issues to work around.

A slab backsplash has to be cut a bit short or it is close to impossible to shoehorn it in there, specially when keeping older components in the kitchen.

You could have hidden the gap (or any caulk) with a thin color matched finished panel on the underside of the upper cabinets.

The unfinished underneath side of the cabinet is equally, or more so, offensive to look at. If you are not going to have a flat finished panel there, the underneath side should at least be finished the same color as the cabinet.

Thanks everyone for chiming in. Here are a few more pictures . Thank you for taking the time to examine my pictures and commenting. It’s a dark rainy morning here, so it looks different on a sunny day. However, I am including pictures so that I can get further feedback or advice on what to do next. We are considering putting some lighting under the cabinets, but that won’t cover all spaces. I do understand that one can see the underside of the cabinets and this is to be expected. This is my 3rd house with an install, but I’ve always done granite with a different backsplash. The gap that was originally there measure up to 1/4 inch in some places.

Any recommendations or conversations you think I can have with the installer would be much appreciated.

I knew there would be a very small space between the cabinets and back splash (1/16 or 1/8), but I didn’t think it would be bigger and then need slivers to adjust height.

All I see in your pictures from the island is a wood trim, cabinet piece that seems out of place. The quartz doesn’t catch my eye but the cabinet seems not done,

If you recently painted the cabinets, I'd do a short light rail at the bottom of the cabinets - which will also help hide the unfinished cabinet case.

"I knew there would be a very small space between the cabinets and back splash (1/16 or 1/8), but I didn’t think it would be bigger and then need slivers to adjust height.

IN A PERFECT WORLD

It's an 1/8". But a lot of "not perfect" is in a kitchen where you painted cabinetry white? Where there are mostly door base lower cabinets versus drawers, and the microwave is over the range? Where the fridge doesn't have a cabinet housing.....and we still don't see the kitchen in entirely. Have a trim carpenter run some 1/2" molding underneath cabinets back side. Paint the undersides white to match, and move on: )

Then stop staring at it as nobody else will be staring at it, either.

Jan, no need to tear apart other aspects of the kitchen. Perhaps this is what they could afford. This feels mean. Just give the solution for the issue at hand.

I am not being "mean" ^^, it's a factual concept.

Relative to the $$$$ expense of all new lovely quartz counters, a full up backsplash, the small sliver merits only a cover up, and no more staring/seeking perfection.

That is a quick trip to nutty land: )

"Perfect" world is defined as more drawer convenience, real venting and hood for the range versus a micro, etc. There are "ninety billion" people who live/cook/dine extremely well with this exact same kitchen and fully enjoy the meals and gathering within.

Keep doing you Jan. It wasn’t needed. The line about trim and paint was enough.

Maybe some lighting, a small fix under the counter, and a few decorative pieces like cookie jars will help draw attention away from the seam. Still, I can’t help feeling disappointed — I expected a more polished final result.

We moved out from our former home early so another family could settle in before the school year, and we stayed in a hotel during the renovation. As a teacher, once school started, I had to make many decisions quickly and often sight unseen. The paint color pick is on me, and I plan to change it, but what’s most frustrating is thinking I’d have a clean backsplash without an extra seam, only to later be told it was mismeasured, that adding silvers was “standard,” and that I’d need to pay the company again.

I know there are bigger fish to fry, but I was really hoping for a finished product that felt complete and well done. I do appreciate the suggestions, and I’m just trying to reconcile with something that turned out differently than expected.

I know Im not in the space and only looking at pictures but it’s honestly not as bad as you think in my opinion. Do the small fixes to improve under cabinet area and I suspect in time it will be okay. I feel you on how hard it is when we spend money and feel disappointed.

"I’d need to pay the company again."

You don't pay. You tell them..."if indeed the sliver fix is SO STANDARD?, and you ALSO agree it was a "mis measure at the get go?

What in the he double matchsticks am I paying FOR?!"

Seeing the kitchen in entirety are these facts?

You began an instant reno of kitchen (we don't know what the former looked like ), in late August 2025? It's now early November......and you weren't living there during reno. What else did the reno entail? Painting cupboards? Did you think about lighting the island that was.or wasn't there at move in? You did floors? Anything else?

Then you had to work, grade homework do lesson plans from off site etc... If all you are seeing here is seam sliver? Probably all good!

Everyone has their reasons for a rush to improve a kitchen asap, even before they unpack a salt shaker. It just as often could delay six months, a year.... for a really great result, and maybe more like the kitchen of your dreams. I'll leave it at that: )

You just need the light rail, under cabinet lighting, and the crown molding, that should have been part of the original plan.And those should have been the laminate counters that they replaced. It makes zero sense for fancy counters on old tired cabinets to be double the cost of the entire rest of the kitchen put together.

And Monique goes in for the kill. Nice. No not nice 🙄