Marble countertops are the perfect choice if you’re looking to add sophistication and luxury to your kitchen.
As long as you keep them sealed and avoid acidic substances, your marble countertops will serve you for years—all the while bringing a dramatic flair to your kitchen.
Considering Logistics
Even when you install the best marble countertops, you have to take logistics into account. By logistics, we mean seams. If you have a large countertop or one that’s oddly shaped, your fabricator might have to cut the slab into multiple pieces, and multiple pieces mean seams.
Seams don’t have to be negative. There are a few ways to incorporate marble seams into your design plans so they make the smallest visual impact possible.
Consider Your Kitchen Size
If you’re only covering a small area (like a kitchen island), you might be able to get the job done without cutting the countertop. No cuts means no seams—just one singular, flowing slab. If your kitchen lends itself to using one slab alone, talk to your fabricator about making that happen.
Use Templating to Your Advantage
If you’re working with Washington Marble Works, rest assured that tempting the kitchen is something we’ll do for you—and we’ll let you know how many slabs (and seams) you’ll need.
If you have a standard-shaped kitchen, it’s likely that you can find sensible places to put the seams, like at the corner of an L-shaped countertop. If your kitchen is oddly-shaped, it might take some brainstorming from you and your fabricator.
Steer Clear of the Sink
Many customers want to hide the seam along the edge of the sink, but most of the time that doesn’t work. Since the sink is in an unsupported area, it’s inherently weaker than the rest of the countertop—when you add a break to the slab in that space, it could compromise the integrity of the entire structure.
The Place That Draws the Least Attention
The point of placing your seam strategically is so it won’t draw attention. That means placing them where the countertop would divide naturally. If your countertop is broken up by appliances like the range, fridge, and stove, finding a place for the seams is easy. But if you have one long, unbroken stretch, it might take some creative thinking.
Always make sure to place your seams in areas that are adequately supported, like where two cabinet side-walls meet. Placing them at this juncture can sometimes be too visible, though, so some people prefer to place seams in corners, where less activity occurs and the eye is less likely to rest.
Another great way to hide seams is by making sure the patterns on your slabs match as closely as possible. Ask your fabricator if they can mix pigments to make the epoxy invisible, and you’ll trick the eye into thinking you’ve got a seamless material on your hands.
Incorporating Marble Seams
The best marble countertops are those with invisible seams. This can be made possible by precise measurements, careful slab choice, calculated placement, and experienced fabricators like those of us at Washington Marble Works.
Don’t waste any more time googling “marble countertops near me.” Instead, stop by our showroom or give us a call at (253) 891-1823 to see what we’ve got in store.
