Quartzite Bianca Problem - advice please
sochi
14 years ago
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doonie
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Advice needed from marble countertop wannabe owners…quartzite? help!
Comments (45)Thanks Lily Spider :) My inspiration photos all have marble counters lol!!! butI think I'm back on track again - I love classic and I wanted real stone so I think thats why I went the black granite route (though I guess this seems strange after considering marble!)… I've always liked honed black granite and I need to be somewhat practical re the kids - one of the reasons for the kitchen reno (besides the fact that we moved here a year ago and the current kitchen is awful) is to provide space for the kids to be able to 'eat in kitchen' at the peninsula during the younger years while they are still messy (i.e. dropping food everywhere) and to provide a place for them to color/hang out etc while I'm cooking…I don't want to be on top of them the whole time which is why I ruled out the stones that etched/stained/scratched - I think the black granite is a good compromise for me and usability for them and will work in well with the other components of the kitchen…thanks for getting me back on track Lily Spider (my husband almost had a heart attack when I said I was second guessing lol)...See MoreWhite macaubus quartzite: STAINED!!
Comments (61)Hi all, this is the OP again. Just thought I'd update here again since we are still light-colored quarzite counter owners! (I get email notices when this thread becomes active, which it has this week...). So after the white macaubus staining problems we had 6 years ago when I first started this thread, we happened to move to a new house two years ago -- and we again bought a light quartzite countertop (after MUCH debate b/c I was nervous for the same issue to occur of course). We bought Perla Bianca this time. And we only agreed to do it b/c we used a very professional new fabricator who guaranteed/warranted the new counter (they did not expect there to be any issues). A year later, SAME PROBLEM happened. Staining around the edges. Fabricator was shocked. We were not worried b/c they said all along if they could not get the stains out, they would give us a new counter. (GREAT COMPANY!!) They looked into the issue for us, spoke with distributors, reps, etc., and reassured us that they would get to the bottom of whatever was going on... ***So they said they learned through their research that it is becoming an unfortunate trend to inject the stone with some kind of lightening/bleaching agent since so many people are requesting LIGHT colored quartzite. And that this compromises the stone (makes it more pourous I think he said?). I'm not sure when this happens or who does this -- at the quarry, or once it gets to the distributor? Disclaimer: I'm no expert on this part, just passing along what I was told! ;) So our fabricator was able to work with the distributor (who agreed their batch must have been compromised) and we selected a new slab from a new batch of Perla Bianca. The fabricator then did all kinds of treatments to it when they cut it, and even delayed install here twice to ensure it was 100% dried out before sealing and delivering it, etc. We told them to take as long as they needed, ha. We have now had the NEW counter (so, our third quartzite between the two houses) for another year and are having zero issues with it. No staining at all. The fabricator did say they had one other install last year with the same issues we'd had, but that otherwise they install quartzite all the time with no problems. So... maybe we were just vey unlucky and got two slabs that had been compromised with a lightener? I would just say buyer beware for sure -- and if you are working without a warrantied slab or do not have an ethical and professional fabricator who is willing to work with you if problems arise, I would definitely NOT choose a light quartzite. It's a happy ending here for us, but also a lot of drama and effort and stress along the way. Hope this is helpful!...See MoreQuartzite experts please help
Comments (12)I don’t want to make a wrong impression that I am not willing to pay remaining 40% for this job. The main point is that I want them to provide me with a good/finished product. So far the quality does not meet my expectation and it was not my fault that they made cracks in the stone while processing, delivering, and installing it. Before the installation, I went to the fabricator’s warehouse to inspect the slabs and both slabs looked good except for couple of the areas where I found tiny cracks. I communicated very clearly that I won’t accept those cracks regardless in which part of the countertop it’s applied. I stayed there for several hours to do the layout for the countertop to avoid those cracks. And I made it very clear to the fabricator that I won’t accept any cracks in the stone and I would rather choose a different slab than get the original slabs with the cracks. They reassured me that there won't be any cracks and I dont need to reselect new. When we finished the layout, NONE of the countertop pieces had any cracks on them. And this what I received...See MoreAll Quartzite countertop users, help please!!
Comments (121)Hi Jeannie Schaldach We love, love, love our Cristallo. Everyone who has seen it has fallen in love with it. In our case, it has been bomb-proof so far. We prepare food, cook, and eat on Cristallo surface. We eat every meal on our island, and we have to young kids who are not too careful. The countertop has been indestructible, so far. No stains, scratches or chips. However, our installer has told me, right after the installation is finished, that the stone can be brittle, therefore we have been very careful to make sure that it doesn’t get hit hard or in a funny angle. And we haven't re-sealed ours yet. I was told by the installer that it won't be necessary. Hope this helps. Cheers~...See Moreflseadog
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