Failed, popped, open or cracked seams in granite countertops, why does this happen?

Failed, Popped, open or cracked seams in granite countertops.

Why does this happen? After the recent earth quake a number of seams failed and the phone rang more than usual. During the typical month we get calls from consumers asking us to redo seams for a variety of reasons, most our not from jobs that we have installed, nonetheless we get the calls from customers looking for solutions and help.

Sometimes seams need to be redone because the customer never liked it in the first place. Sometimes it is because the seam opened up. The first thing the customer says is that the granite was not installed properly. This seems logical, until you think about what is holding up the countertop and how stable a material stone is.

I think it is safe to say that granite is the most stable of building materials on planet earth. Your typical granite countertop is between 50 and 80 million years old and has not changed, flexed, warped, expanded or contracted whatsoever during the entire course of time.

The granite did not shift, lift or separate on its own. The underlying cabinets or floor that the cabinets sit upon, or the earth beneath the house (in the case of the earthquake) moved, settled, shifted or had bounce in it to begin with.

My house is 80 years old and built like a battleship. The joists are 2 full inches thick and 12 inches tall. When I run through the house the bells inside my grandfather clock tell me that the house moves when I run though it. Yet, I can detect no bounce whatsoever in the floors. The bells say otherwise.

Newer homes are sometimes so bouncy that we do not recommend putting granite in them. Houses settle, doors stick, foundations crack. Wood dries out, floor warps and floors sag, it’s called gravity and it will take it’s toll. Cabinets sit on floors and counters sit on cabinets. Any movement of the foundation, joists, floors or cabinets may cause the seams to open up. This does not mean that the counters are defective or were not properly installed. It means an underlying problem is showing itself.

If a countertop seam fails the day after it is installed, perhaps the countertop itself was not shimmed properly.