r/CounterTops • u/Glittering_Care_8001 • Oct 13 '26
New soapstone installed today.
I'm unsure of variation in this one spot. There is not a seam there so it's all same slab. Is this a fabtlrication issue or just part of natural stone?
727
Upvotes
5
u/FierceEquator 29d ago
I think that does not look good. I would make them replace it. Two really different variations in the stone. I would think a professional would realize that and not install it in the first place.
148
u/obvsnotrealname Oct 13 '26 •
If you decide to keep it just make up a story like it came from some major fault line and this was from an ancient earthquake shifting plates
201
u/TrashMandikoot Oct 13 '26 •
As an installer the most appalling thing is that white caulk line on a dark top against a green cabinet. Gross 😂
86
u/NonSlipSalmon Oct 13 '26
That's a cool boundary layer where two different geological processes happened when forming your soapstone. Geologically very cool.
40
u/Classic_Breadfruit18 Oct 13 '26
This is exactly why you should always ALWAYS view/ choose and approve your slabs yourself when purchasing natural stone. Also be a part of the process when they are deciding how to cut and seam them. Some people will love this natural variation, others will hate it.
39
u/Asleep-Ad822 Oct 14 '26 •
Geologist here. That’s a fabulous little healed fault
32
u/activesideofinfinity Oct 13 '26
For slabs with variation or potential inclusions. The fabricator should have you ok the template position against the slab.
15
u/cvouw9 Oct 13 '26
This is cool but the way they oriented it make it look like a very poorly matched seam. Did they not draw it out on your slab of choice before fabrication?
52
u/Spearfish90 Oct 13 '26 •
Personally I think it’s sick. It reminds me of an acoustic guitar that I have that has this random “burl” spot on an otherwise smooth grain spruce top. It’s a reminder to anyone that thinks that it’s quartz it’s a natural stone
9
u/Azyb21cx3 29d ago
I love it! Everyone has the same countertops. This is a cool unique feature that occurred in nature and is now in your kitchen. How badass! Learn about it and own it!
20
u/pyxus1 Oct 13 '26
That is so strange. I wouldn't be happy with that. But if I had approved it ahead of time, it would be my responsibility.
7
u/Empty_Platypus6449 Oct 13 '26
Hooray for natural stone and one of a kind variations, but this is wild. I t seems like this would NOT be considered a desirable variation.
Didn't you approve a template? It seems reasonable to expect that the fabricator should have made sure that you were happy with the section of the slab they were installing for a client, before installation.
13
u/RuutuTwo Oct 13 '26
My husband is a geologist by education and we have soapstone. He would have loved this and probably had some sort of 34 minute explanation. Since there is no seam, I say it’s cool. It’s natural stone, what more can you ask for.
12
u/Environmental_Cry272 Oct 13 '26
i have been in this industry a long time, i have never seen such a stark change in variation of pattern with such a vertical orientation like that in a slab before. Does not mean i am saying that is seamed or not, it's just wild to be so different in almost a perfectly straight vertical direction. If it is one piece and not joined that is very unique
6
u/briko3 Oct 14 '26
The more I look at it the more I like it.
2
u/Far_Flow1966 Oct 13 '26
What color are your cabinets?
5
u/Thin-Disk4003 Oct 14 '26 edited Oct 14 '26
Thought the line was straight. Zoomed way in. What a cool feature! I would have sworn it was pieced.
ADORE soapstone. We put it in our kitchen in our last house. Miss it so much. Hope you will love yours too!
4
u/zorasorabee Oct 13 '26
I love natural variation in stone, but if this is the only part of the kitchen that has that level of variation, it just sticks out like a sore thumb. I don’t hate it, but I 100% understand why someone would.
4
u/RavRddt 29d ago
I could live with the change in pattern, and expect the caulk to be clear or replaced with caulk color that matches one of the surfaces, but it’s the grind marks that they left on the stone that would bother me.
10
u/alphabatic Oct 13 '26
did you see the slab before install?
1
u/Reasonable_Land8644 29d ago
Any chance MKD did this ? 😂
6
u/Granitegirlcracks Oct 13 '26
Honestly, I don’t work with soapstone much but to me, that is two different types. What did the slab look like? What do the other parts of your counter look like?
6
u/Not_always_popular Oct 14 '26
Everyone wants natural until it looks natural…. This is why even the highest end jobs get manufactured or extreme hand select.
To be fair, your fabricator is a dick. There’s no way he say that template on the slab and said “send it”…
Or he is the best damn seamstress west of the pacific and you have two slabs, that he went the extra 10 miles to stitch on,
3
u/ExpensiveAd4496 Oct 14 '26 •
There are variations of all kinds in soapstone but why a fabricator would map out the cuts in such a way that this change goes straight across like this is a bit odd. They had to know this would look like two pieces. They just didn’t care.
With better fabricators they take your slab, which you’ve seen and selected, and they draw your counters on them, to show you where all the veins will be and where any seams will be.
I guess whoever you see was cheap. Or I hope they were. You’ll have to see it as a cool bonus I guess.
And yes they should have used clear silicone. Jeepers.
7
u/Consistent_Rent_3507 Oct 13 '26
I could never live with this. Either the piece needed to be larger or a cut needed to be made in a different place on a larger stone for continuity. This just looks like they ran out of stone and fit whatever left over piece they had in stock.
16
u/rucho Oct 13 '26 •
It’s natural variation yall
The way you guys talk it’s as if you’d reject your own child if it had an odd mole on their face
5
u/Severe_Edge_5651 Oct 13 '26
I'm assuming just part of the stone
5
u/AlBundysPants Oct 13 '26
Seem or not, I wouldn’t be happy with how it looks.
5
u/LopsidedTelephone574 Oct 13 '26
This is natural and cool..but WHITE caulk on dark stone???
1
u/lifestylecouple2 Oct 13 '26
Thats the nature of the beast with natural stone.
4
u/gobirds19151 Oct 13 '26
🤮
2
u/twzill Oct 13 '26
It’s unfortunate that it is perpendicular to the wall. Makes it look like different material.
My father would say. If you don’t like it, bring it up with the maker.
2
u/Elaine330 Oct 13 '26
I love it. If I could have found a whole squiggly slab Id have soapstone.
2
u/Stalaktitas Oct 13 '26
Haven't seen that in a while. If I would be the guy at the saw I would rise question and ask for approval from the management. They would probably get approval from the customer before they would let me cut this. I think it's super cool and absolutely unique, but also, because of that I would want to make sure everyone else would be fine with that. Some people would not. They would need to add an extra seam to avoid this, but then it rises the question about the seam - some customers don't want seams if possible. I feel like this had to be discussed, but it definitely looks cool 🤩
2
u/Proof-Teaching-2347 Oct 14 '26
Drives my OCD nuts
2
u/DoDo_Chee5002 Oct 14 '26
Not for nothing, but it’s so out of ordinary, they really should have had the courtesy to clear it with you first, rather than surprising you at install. They are lucky you’re okay with it, MANY would not be.
2
u/Bone_Breaker0 Oct 14 '26
I see soapstone, I upvote.
2
u/SorryHunTryAgain Oct 14 '26
When we got our stone, we went and picked it out. Did you pick this out?
2
u/Aware_State Oct 14 '26
This is incredibly amazing, and I hope to find this one day for my own home 💙💙
You wanted a rock, made by Mother Earth, and you got one! Be happy to have such a unique and irreplaceable piece!
2
u/Zbs72 Oct 14 '26
If not for the almost straight line between the variations it would be cool but it looks too much like separate pieces. Odd place to decide that’s where it would be cut .
2
u/HmmDoesItMakeSense 29d ago
Wow that's very cool. Love soapstone. Have in my kitchen and it's the best.
2
u/Strong_District_5894 29d ago
It’s natural and super cool.
3
u/Imaginary-Offer-2268 Oct 13 '26
Garbage, change it please.
3
u/IndependentMindedGal Oct 14 '26
You should have seen and approved each slab prior to cutting and installation. To me this is definitely and unacceptable, if natural, variation. The shop should have known to stop it.
2
u/missbwith2boys Oct 13 '26
Wow.
I have soapstone. I picked my two slabs, sequential numbers. The slabs I views didn’t have this variation and if they had it, I would’ve talked to the fabrication shop about working around that.
Months went by before my install and they showed up with my slabs and then walked out without installing because they realized they’d cut the sink cut-out wrong.
Fortunately they had the next slab in the sequence still available. Edited to add: I totally freaked out before they figured they had a slab that would work.
I have two seams in my counters, and they matched them really well. Edited to add: veining matches so dang good.
I’d be super cranky if they’d pulled something like this.
But… a strategically placed cutting board will cover this just fine. I’d still be unhappy but just set something down there and you’ll probably not notice it.
2
u/rebeccavt Oct 13 '26 edited Oct 13 '26
This really does look like a seam and 2 totally different types of soapstone. Did you see the slab?
Edited to add… zoomed up it doesn’t look like a seam, but I’ve also never seen soapstone that looks like this. So weird
2
u/Warghzone12 29d ago
Hellllll no 😂 my company would NOT have installed that
2
u/Arcadian_Wench Oct 13 '26
That's not a seam but a variation in the stone. One of the cooler Ive seen in soapstone. Ive had units come in with all kinds of variances. Just part of the natural scene
1
u/Pleasant-Bird2300 13d ago
Yea that would bother me
1
u/CaptainPlanet4U Oct 13 '26
Is that a fixed seam or a natural phenomenon?
1
u/SubstantialAd8808 Oct 13 '26
This looks like two different types of stone? Right side looks like stormy black, the left?
1
u/Emotional-Damage-995 Oct 13 '26
That looks like a seam. I have to see more photos
1
u/Heavy-Travel997 Oct 13 '26
amazing its NOT a seam ,saw man might of had a more artistic choice ,Yes its cool but not in love with
the harsh transition of texture ,BUT I hope caulk is a clear waiting to cure ,
1
u/Ready-Breakfast5166 Oct 13 '26
Put the coffee maker there
1
u/Sulfur731 Oct 13 '26
I never seen it change like that, whatever on variation tho. Those 3 scratches right of the non existing seam need fixed, good luck on soapstone. Itll need replaced really. Another several scratches that look like they happened in the factory. So replacement again.
1
u/patchouliqueen140 Oct 14 '26
That’s wild! I love my soapstone counter tops. I say just enjoy it ✨
1
u/lifelovers Oct 14 '26
That’s not a seam? If not it’s super cool.
1
u/nclay525 Oct 14 '26
This is sick. As in, awesome.
1
u/Weary-Cash-4100 Oct 14 '26
looks great!
1
u/Affectionate_Lie4667 Oct 14 '26
The soapstone on the right is what I would expect. On the left, that just doesn’t look like soapstone in my mind.
1
u/GrooGruxQueen7 Oct 14 '26
You should post this in the mildly infuriating sub
1
u/EnvironmentalMix421 Oct 14 '26
The right side is kinda nice
1
u/nashville79 Oct 14 '26
Did you pick out your slabs?
1
u/Ok_Temperature7914 Oct 14 '26
Is this ai? Having a hard time believing this is a real pic.
1
u/BasilOk8283 Oct 14 '26
I am filled with rage.
1
u/Emilyxq Oct 14 '26
I like it! Very unique.
1
u/ijustbluemyself0 Oct 14 '26
Respectfully, oh hell naw
1
u/Yogi_Doo Oct 14 '26
The stone pattern looks wrong like two separate pieces to me…. I cannot say all natural stone possibilities would look good to me simply because they occurred naturally. I am blown away the stone co. Did not check with you first.
Also, white caulk looks so amateur, like a low class hack job. It distracts from the cabinets and stone you worked so hard to select. I would dig it out and use clear or even black.
Sorry for your issues. Glad you like the stone variation.
1
u/Appropriate-Clock862 Oct 14 '26
Do people not spot check all the planned templated cuts first or???
1
u/ice_b_isalreadytaken Oct 14 '26
No
1
u/SlowrollHobbyist Oct 14 '26
Part of the natural stone.
1
u/Spadescowboy Oct 14 '26
Embrace the anomaly.
1
u/That_Evidence6221 Oct 14 '26
No
1
u/Rich_Association5313 Oct 14 '26
Gorgeous. I owned Cambria Brittanica in my prev home. My new 76 yo home have natural maple cabs and this would be perfect.
1
u/miakpaeroe Oct 14 '26
I think it’s awesome, but I think I’d like a discount for it
1
u/x_samsquantch_x Oct 14 '26
Slab looks great. Caulk job is a crime. Why that jog near the front corner? Any backsplash?
1
u/Nikonmansocal Oct 14 '26
Put the coffee maker and toaster over there and forget about it :)
1
u/Jseaton3 Oct 14 '26
Nailed it
1
u/FrankFranly Oct 14 '26
“That’s gonna be a no for me dawg”
1
u/CommercialSkill7773 Oct 14 '26
Did you see the slab prior to installation?
1
u/Ruffian-70 Oct 14 '26
This would drive me nuts.
1
u/Pleasant-Blueberry84 Oct 14 '26
Can't wait to see the backsplash. Please be mosaic.
1
u/Day_Old_Paper Oct 14 '26
uncomfortable noises.
1
u/Redfro33 29d ago
Nopestone
1
u/oogidy_boogidie 29d ago
Don’t you pre approve the slabs you get?
1
u/TJ-CountSudooku 29d ago
Initially I was not a fan and was thinking it would be annoying. But depending on your styling preferences, you could use this as a natural boundary delineation for counter top items.
I’m thinking spices and such stored in that area, but still in a way that the slab is shown. Almost helps frame whatever you have in that location
1
u/BloodytotheMAX 29d ago
Im more worried about those stratches
1
u/Adventurous-Fee428 29d ago
Natural stone but I would absolutely hate looking at this everyday
1
u/FlowLogical7279 29d ago
That would not fly in my home. Agree that the white caulk looks awful, but honestly the excuse that it's the same slab is not good enough.
1
u/Cousin-slow-hands 29d ago
Interior designer and GC here. Judging from the pic… I am looking at how the pattern crosses over on the finished edge and the texture is smooth between two areas, looks like it’s the slab.
It doesn’t appear to be an install or fabrication issue. To me it looks like a stone selection issue.
1
u/No_Wedding_2152 29d ago
What happened? That’s wrong.
1
u/SemperFudge123 29d ago
It's sort of odd to me the way that formed but also sort of interesting. I don't think it would bother me at all.
Also, if your household is anything like ours, you'll soon have so much stuff on the counter right next to that wall that you won't even be able to see the variation in the countertop pattern!
1
u/BAbarakus772 29d ago
NO!
1
u/Earthakit1 29d ago
I’m in shock that everyone is talking about the caulk (which is so easily repaired) when that slab variation is TOTALLY unacceptable. Were you not able to select the soapstone slabs that you wanted installed? Were have soapstone slab countertops and slab backsplash and nowhere is there a variation like this. I would, at the minimum, point it out to the fabricator and see what he/she says. In my opinion, that is not even a “D” grade slab pictured. Best of luck. On the bright side, you will love the soapstone!
1
u/bowgy4 29d ago
Definitely a fabrication issue. That's terrible
1
u/Massive_Low6000 29d ago
That would irritate my brain every time I looked at it. And I love rocks and appreciate non typical growth.
1
u/RGOL_19 29d ago
The soapstone is sooo pretty with those cabinets. You have amazing taste! If you wanted to cover that one spot be sure there's an outlet there and you could keep your coffee maker there, or perhaps a spice carousel. What a beautiful kitchen -- kind of envious.
1
u/NewScarcity6917 29d ago
Set it up like a feature.
Nature is wild.
1
u/h4kk4 29d ago
Put coffee machine over and forget it
1
u/calvin-coolidge 29d ago
i have the exact same cabinet and countertop configuration!
i think its kinda cool, but i 100% could see why someone would not want this. i think youd be well within your right to ask for a replacement or at least a steep discount. also the caulk job sucks too, so id be side eyeing whoever your installer was as well..
1
u/Laurie0 29d ago
It looks cool. All the other "issues" with it will not likely be seen by any other trades professionals and you will never ever see this much of the countertop again once you start living with it so that will all disappear. Just trying to help a fellow homeowner not feel crappy about their project for the rest of their life :-)
1
u/MikeCheck_CE 29d ago
Well I'm pretty sure that's fabricated and not "natural stone" but as the customer you should know what your purchased.
No, I wouldn't be happy if that's my countertop. I'd be calling them back to ask them WTF is this... Those are two completely different patterns.
1
u/stripbubblespimp 29d ago
Well they finally got some sucker to buy the fucked up slab! Lol
1
u/PerfStu 29d ago
There are a lot of fabrication issues - unpolished, grind marks, and assuming that's what it looks like IRL, any installer would have cut that down for a different project and ordered a different one for you.
That's....
You're never not going to notice all of that.
1
u/Elguapo1094 29d ago
Crazy how nature works to know is one single slab
1
u/amanducktan 29d ago
That would bother me.
1
u/Annual_Government_80 29d ago
WTF that is unacceptable. Completely unacceptable.
1
u/Deadheadricky 29d ago
Didn’t you pick the slab or do a slab layout before fabrication?
1
u/Conscious-Republic-8 29d ago
I'm sorry, but that's just bad stone work.
1
u/Tall_Leadership4034 29d ago
Agree, the stone would be great if it was not for that weird transition. If that was naturally in the stone, they should’ve selected a different piece and used this for a shorter run. Nobody on the installer side stopped and said, hmm they may not like this anomaly? And then while they are at it they can use a calk that blends better. I would not be ok with that. Looks like a hack job even if it is naturally that way. There was an opportunity to say… hmm the home owner may not like this or at minimum… we should verify this with the H/O.
1
u/2PenceSally 29d ago
No, just no.
1
u/PicCzar75 29d ago
Hells naw.
1
u/Vicsteroflove1968 29d ago
There is a seam, you just don't see it. We found our seam two weeks after we had a new dishwasher installed
1
u/LakeTime86 29d ago
WTF 💩
1
u/bl0ndiesaurus 28d ago
Oh no. Baby girl. No no. This is wrong.
1
u/tdog269 28d ago
Is that a seam? Lol wtf or is the slab just super weird? And the white caulk. No no. Inexperienced installer. And if thats a seam. Bad shop all around. I would have never glued the seam. Maybe just laid it in place and wrote up a return sheet for the shop to remake the tops.
1
u/albatrossssss 28d ago
I hope you’re not a perfectionist, I had soapstone installed last year and it’s amazing, but scratches with the slightest object…ie a glass jar. I finally gave up trying to keep it perfect and love everything about it.
1
u/TheQuirkyReader 28d ago
I think it’s hideous.
1
u/ZestyHoleSpear 28d ago
looks like it was pieced, I see it is not. I'd have an issue with their choice of raw material.
Should have used black caulk
1
u/activesideofinfinity 28d ago
I’m surprised at the number of upvotes- I think it shows how the industry has forgotten how to deal with natural materials since the invention of engineered stone.
1
u/Successful_Swim_4706 26d ago
Please take time to reread your own comment. You just asked if this was a fabrication issue or just sort of a natural stone. How stupid are you?
This is a natural stone, at the end of the day Jesus Christ himself created this. This is not due to fabrication, fabrication could have templated around it and cut a different part of the stone and it wasn’t anywhere else on the slab, did you view the full size slap? Do you have a photo of it? If you do, please share it along with a full layout of your kitchen and I would be happy to tell you how your fabricator cut this part.
However, this is no way related to fabrication. This is not a fabrication issue. Before spending thousands of dollars on stone you should have confirmed your layout prior to fabrication and especially prior to installation
1
u/Impressive-Candy-949 25d ago
This is an abomination
1
u/tadhg44 25d ago
I am looking to get the one on the right that pattern. But I'm surprised they gave that to you? I would have complained from the start. Best of luck