I agree that the streakiness is a factor of the residue coming from the cleaners, water, etc. I never had a problem with it until someone else started cleaning it. I had to ask waht she was using becuase I could see the lines the second I walked into the ktichen. Whenever I went back over it with just a wet washrag it was fine. I doubt there would have even been a problem if she would have wiped the counter with a papertowel after the cleaner so it wouldn't have been left to evaporate. I guess I should add that I have Silestone.

Hi all. Celine~ Thank you so much for the info. Things really come full circle on the Kitchen Forum! I would love to see pics of Cemento/Concrete and will email you. Appreciate it. As for the questions about why I'm not using soapstone and marble again~ I have loved the warmth of wood topped islands I've seen, especially walnut. I knew going into this remodel that I wanted a walnut island top. My calacatta marble was so gorgeous and felt great. However, it has doubled in price and to be totally honest, I'm not sure if I want to deal with the etching this time around. It didn't even bother me in the last kitchen-but I'm thinking of my babies growing into children and being busy and active in the kitchen and I just don't want to have to think about the counters. Also, we're planning 3 windows over the sink & I'm afraid the light might shine directly on the inevitable etching around the sink should I use marble. I would never advise against it. I just don't know if I want to sign up for the patina for the next few decades.... Soapstone is awesome. I just want a softer grey color and I wasn't too successful at the unoiled approach. Mine looked to me like soapstone that needed to be oiled. I am just drawn to the even, smooth surface and quiet grey of the CStone in concrete. For now. Who knows? Maybe I just want to try out some different things that I didn't use the first go round. I just better get it right because barring anything crazy, this is our forever home. Thanks all for your input. I'm open to any other thoughts. Katie

As far as I know there are two things that affect the color of light quartz. One is a possible variation in raw materials. There is actual rock in there so there might be some variation. The other comes from the resin it's bound with. Resins tend to darken with time, and especially light exposure, most especially sunlight (UV?). That's why they don't recommend the light quartzes for outdoor use. You can ask for any kind of service you need to feel comfortable with your purchase. Some people will say no, some will charge a nuisance fee, and some will smile and say "sure!" Generally, you get the least service with the lowest price, but not always. Generally, the nicer and more understanding you are that what you're asking for is a nuisance, the more likely that people will cheerfully accommodate you. In other words, if you say, "I know it's a bit of a bother, but I'd really have to see the slabs before they come in so I can reassure myself that they do indeed look like my beautiful sample," you might meet a more cooperative response than if you say something accusatory like, "My samples don't look like the ones in the store and people are ripping out their new counters because of it, so it's not going in my house before I approve it." Both mean the same thing. :) BTW, lighting is vital Incandescent light, halogens and sunlight are very yellow. The fluorescents they typically have in stores tend to be on the blue side as well as at a higher color temperature. Fluorescent light is also much more diffuse, whereas incandescent is sharp. This could be the source of the difference you're seeing if you haven't put your samples right up to the stores'. Since this concerns you, definitely do see your slabs before they're cut, but also be aware of the light difference, and if possible see them outside or under a skylight. Natural light is what the human eye is meant to see in, so it's optimal for making this kind of assessment.

Care and Maintenance Honed, Concrete and Rough surfaces may require additional daily and weekly care. Due to the nature of the surface design, it is recommended that common household spills like liquid droplets and rings are dried immediately. As with any matte product, owners of Concrete, Honed and Rough finishes may experience seeing an increase in smudges from everyday living. Weekly, the surface should be cleaned with Soft Scrub Liquid Gel with Bleach and thoroughly dried. We encourage you to order a sample of our products that you are considering. When you receive your sample, try treating it to a few different scenarios that you may face in your kitchen; spill something on it, touch it with greasy fingers, clean it. This will help you understand how the surface responds to your daily life and how comfortable you feel with it. Complete Caesarstone Surface Care and Maintenance is available here and to view our Collections and order a sample, please visit our Collections page. https://www.caesarstoneus.com/customer-care/finishes/