black marble/granite mix-up

16 years ago

Ack- the 2x2 polished black granite tiles I ordered for the shower floor turned out to be black marble instead. Found this out after they were installed and I saw lots of scratches on the floor from the contractor's tools (small bathroom with lots of work to do, and he would store his things there every night, usually on top of a thick drop-clothe). When we took a closer look at the tiles, we saw how easily scratched the tiles are. The tile store investigated and found out that their vendor did indeed give them marble and not granite, and didn't tell them. Removing the marble and replacing it with granite is going to take lots of work. The granite tiles are slightly thicker than the marble tiles. This is a problem for two reasons: 1) as a design element, there is a 12" wide stripe of glass tile running through the middle of the floor; GC spent quite some time making sure that the glass tiles and the 2x2 tiles were the same height, and 2) the walls are onyx, which my GC said might crack when he's removing the marble tiles. My position is that the tile store needs to make me right, even if that means ripping up the whole floor, and paying for additional onyx and glass tiles (which was really expensive and which I didn't purchase from them). The tile store was initially willing to pay to redo the 2x2 tiles, but I'm sensing resistance now that they've seen a picture of the shower and understand the extent of work and materials that will be needed. Anybody else ever had a mistake like this, and what was the outcome? On a practical note, could I switch to 2x2 black porcelain tiles (if there is such a thing)? They'd be thinner than the current marble tiles, which my GC said would make the job much easier. My decorator thinks that the porcelain would also scratch easily, but I thought that porcelain was supposed to be really durable. Any thoughts appreciated.

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Comments (7)

organic_donna
16 years ago
Can they polish out the scratches? Or how about honing the marble. The porcelain should be really durable. Do you have any pictures of the tiles so far?
Donna
annindc
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for asking, Donna. (By the way, I love your bathroom - I hope you're feeling more positive about it.) The scratches can be polished (I believe), which would solve the most immediate problem. But if I left the marble, will I regret it every few years when I need to repolish, at my expense? Granted, the shower should only see bare feet from now on, so maybe I'm worrying for nothing. On the other hand, the marble is SO soft - if you run a key across it with only light pressure, you get a scratch. Contrast this with the black granite, which I can't scratch even when going at it with a screwdriver. Honing is a good practical solution, but it isn't the look I'm going for. I'll post photos tonight.
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qdognj
16 years ago
Is the marble "slick"? That would be my 1st concern. If you don't hate the marble, perhaps you could be reimbursed for the cost of replacing them, and use that $$$ for future polishing of marble...
bill_vincent
16 years ago
The porcelain would be your best bet, and whoever told you that it would scratch easily-- that'sonly if it's glazed, and even then, it depends on the PEI rating of the glaze. I you use black unglazed porcelain, you could run a mack truck over it with ice chains and it won't do a damn thing to it. one way or the other, The store can be as resistant as they wish. They screwed up, and if you've got a receipt stating granite, then you've even got documentation that they screwed up. Especially in this economy, if they DON'T make it right, that's the kind of thing that could put someone out of business real quick.

One of the guys who taught me the trade years ago used to tell me all the time-- If you do right by people, guaranteed, they're going to tell their friends. If you screw them over, they're going to tell EVERYBODY!!

Trust me-- it works.
organic_donna
16 years ago
Here are a couple solutions...tell them you will let them try and polish out the scratches and you will determine if the results are satisfactory. If you like the results make them put in writing that they will return anytime you ask them to repolish the marble. The second solution is have them grind the 2x2 granite tiles down to the same height as the marble. I know it would be a big job but it can be done. I know because my fabricator said he could grind down my vanity top.
Donna
annindc
Original Author
16 years ago
Finally figured out how to imbed a photo in my posting, and the frozen weather has given me the time to do it today.

Many thanks for everyone's suggestions.

qdognj - despite the fact that the 2x2 tiles are polished, there's no traction problem because of the grout. I was a little worried about this when the decorator suggested it, but it's fine. And I like your idea if I decide to leave it in place.

Bill, I appreciate the feedback about porcelain, and your rightous indignation. I live in DC, where lawyers are a dime a dozen (including my husband, who started mouthing words like "fraud"). Given that, it did surprise me that there seemed to be some resistance when clearly they were in the wrong. It now looks like the store will do the right thing, whatever that turns out to be. They think they can provide 2x2 granite tiles of the correct height - and if they can't, I'll be sure to talk to them about grinding them down (thanks, Donna).
organic_donna
16 years ago
It looks really nice so far.
Donna

black marble/granite mix-up

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black marble/granite mix-up

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