If I remember correctly, the pooling problems were from people who used non-authorized dealers. If you do go that route, make sure you can inspect your slab before you purchase. We put in Cambria (from an authorized fabricator) and love it but it is very expensive.

I would highly question any non authorized fabricator of any of the quartz materials. The manufacturers tightly control who is allowed to buy the slabs. Fabricators must undergo training from the manufacturer before they are "authorized" and they are the only ones allowed to purchase from that manufacturer. If there are "unauthorized" slabs around, I'd have to bet that they are knockoffs from China and NOT actual Cambria or Silestone, etc.

From what I read on thefabricatornetwork.com all quartz manufactures have resin pooling issues from time to time.

One of the reasons I chose Cambria Torquay is because there is no Chinese knockoff.

You can see generic Chinese quartz for sale online direct from China.

I have had several stores tell me they will sell my cheaper Chinese made quartz.They have shown me the colors. Nothing like Torquay.

Popular colors like Caesarstone Blizzard and Silestone Bianco River have plenty of knockoffs.

I have not seen Chinese quartz come anywhere near the color complexity of Torquay.

The guy I am using has done my sisters kitchen and several of her friends. Two used quartz and they are very happy 2-5 years later.

Large fabricators are not supposed to sell unfinshed slabs to independents but they do it. At least that is what I have read on thefabricatornetwork.com

hi deeageaux, thanks for the pricing summary and all the issues you need to look for regarding quartz! i never realized that the quartz counters were so expensive. I was thinking of doing caesarstone, but maybe it will not be in budget and need to look for a granite..

hi deeageaux, I came across this old thread of yours and am in the same situation doing a kitchen remodel with cabinets, counters etc. i live here in LA too and would be interested in talking to you to get a reference for the fabricator/remodeler you liked. I don't know how to send a PM through this site, but if you could PM me i would be glad to send you my email. Thanks!

Who she guy. Where is he?

Hey Deeageaux - Can you recommend a quartz wholesale dealer here in LA?

Hi all - I was also looking at cambria for my small 18.39 sq ft kitchen countertops and received two quoted so far in the South Bay LA. The quotes were $4250 and $4900 for just the counter slab and install. No demo or anything else. These were dealers from the Cambria site list. I feel like that my tiny kitchen countertop and probably backsplash replacement will need to be close to 8-10k which seems crazy since the splash is just glass. Anyone know a reasonable Cambria fabricator installer who would demo the original counters? Deeageaux, would you kindly share your references? I don't know how to message you separately. Thank you!

hennyhen:

Cambria has a vertical integration business model. That means they want to control everything from the quartz mine to picking up the check from the lady's completed kitchen and cut everyone else out. Fine enough, but they have a reputation of contracting with fabricators, then cutting off the fabricators when they move into town to do their own fabrication.

Vertical integration works in the customer's best interest in that it allows Cambria strict quality control over their brand. Silestone will sell to nearly everybody with disastrous results.

So interesting what Joseph C says about Cambria cutting out the smaller fabricators. I got a quote for Cambria from a local fabricator, waited a week to see my friends finished installation with the same company, it looked fabulous so went back to fabricator and he said Cambria was no longer going to sell to the small guys. He checked and could just make the cut off and got my slab, if I had waited to place the order a few days I would have been out of luck.

I need some help. My contractor bought 2 slabs of Cambria quartz for my kitchen remodel in the style called Kelvingrove.

The issue is they included new quartz counter-tops and back-splash in my budget, but only accounted for pre-fabricated quartz. They are trying now to tell me and my husband those two slabs cost $6,500. I feel they are trying to rip us off and they won't supply us with a copy of the invoice. Can anyone help us clear this up.

I am a fabricator. Officially only "Cambria Qualified" fabricators are allowed to buy, fabricate, and install the product. Joe is correct about Cambria's vertical integration model. What he didn't mention is that Cambria 's business model also presumes they can charge a premium price based on their vast investment in marketing which portrays their product as "premium". In actuality there are many engineered stone alternatives that are equally beautiful and durable with the major factor determining the customers satisfaction being the quality of the fabricator. (Years ago Cambria had a technology edge in creating colors with limited movement but that edge is gone as other engineered stone OEM's have developed a similar capability.)

Any regular reader of this forum will know Cambria has plenty of dissatisfied customers due to both material and fabrication issues. My advice to my customers has always been to use Cambria and pay the often substantial price premium only when the look of a unique Cambria color is key to their decorating scheme.

Thank you oldryder for your input, I do love the quartz countertops and backsplash its just i feel that what Cambria actually charged my contractor and what he's claiming we owe is vastly different especially since he's balking at giving us a copy of the invoice. However that's our problem , he hasn't gotten his check yet, thanks again