Our Caesarstone (Misty Carrera) has been in a year now and I'm very pleased with it. We've had no maintenance issues and it's easy to clean. I didn't price compare as I had ruled out granite.

Like everything else in our kitchen, we've been all over the map on countertops. I think price depends, like granite, on what you choose and where you get it. We liked the Okite white, since it's a more consistent surface than Caesarstone Blizzard. But, the closest dealer to us (RI) we could find is in NH! And, it's not a stock color, so he has to truck it from the mfr. in Houston, TX. All of this means a quote which was as high as granite for us, about $6K, installed, for 50+ square foot, with the cut-outs we needed. I will say that the Okite (and probably any quartz) performed better than any of the surface samples (including light-colored granites we sealed ourselves) we tested in terms of stain-resistance. But our sample is NOT honed, and many people have said that honed is more maintenance.

I love all my quartz surfaces, most especially my Caesarstone Raven for my kitchen's perimeter counters! I love it so much b/c I can do anything on it. My beautiful Danby VT marble island top has already been etched by a drip of wine that went down a bottle after pouring (wiped up within seconds and it still etched!). I know the marble is going to get a "lived in" look over time and I'm gritting my teeth here in the beginning stages.

Having such durable and easy-care counters right next to the island marble really makes me adore my Ceasarstone! Besides, it is gorgeous. I'm so happy that I didn't go with soapstone, pietra de Cardosa, pietra Bedonia, honed absolute black, etc., all of which I strongly considered for months!

I also am growing to hate our master bath, which is all Carrera Gold marble and etches just by having drops of water stand on it! (Hello, it's a bathroom!)

I used Caesarstone in my kitchen, laundry room, and son's bathroom. I used Silestone in my daughter's bathroom and for our basement rec. room's bar-back. I used Zodiac for the basement bath vanity top. The only reason we used different brands was because of color differences. I love them all and would strongly recommend using them if you can find colors that you like.

Hi Smarge,
I'm looking at the raven also. Do you have any pictures? How is it with fingerprints and looking smudgy? Do you have honed or polished? And what color does it look like mostly? Black, charcoal?

IT's great to hear that you love it so much. Sorry to hear about the marble. I'm sure it looks beautiful though.

Thank you for all the information!

It seems that especially for the dark colors the Caesarstone has excellent alternatives to granite and soapstone. Could almost "pass". The light colors seem decidedly different -- there's no mistaking light Caesarstone for natural stone, but the light colors is where the stain-proof properties are so important.

Smarge, We are in the midst of having honed carrara floors and sink top put into the master bath right now. Your post sent a chill down my spine -- I hope we will like ours. This is really my bathroom -- no one else will use it very much -- so I hope I can keep the marble pristine!

Thanks again for the Caesarstone input. There was a time when I was sure I wanted marble in the kitchen but I am starting to feel more and more like Caesarstone on the perimeter and a nice thick edgegrain butcher block on the island.

I have crema limestone in a bathroom and LOVE it. I would rip out the granite in my kitchen and replace it with Caesarstone if I could afford it.

smarge,

Do you have any pics of your Raven countertops? We're considering it and would love to see it in an actual kitchen.

I would also love to see pictures of Caesarstone in any color! Sue, that is quite an endorsement! What is it about the Caesarstone that you prefer to the granite?

BTW, I should mention that none of my quartz surfaces are honed. My main purpose in buying quartz surfaces was that they are beautiful AND easy care. Adding maintenance due to honing ruled that option out for me.

FWIW, the quartz surfaces are not nearly as shiny as a polished marble or granite would be. The refection of my UC lighting in the kitchen is not as much an issue as I anticipated, and I have no regrets on not having a matte, honed surface.

Here is a pic of my counters if you are interested.

Here's a close-up

sayde - I'm sorry if I gave you chills about your bathroom marble! I've heard that honed marble doesn't have as much an issue with etching (I guess honed is sort of etched all over from the start?). I hope that makes you feel better!

Dont' get me wrong - the marble looks beautiful even when parts are etched. It is on close inspection that you see the stupid water spots and marks. I've tried and can not capture my island's etch mark from the wine bottle with my camera, but it's always easy to find when I try. (I have to learn to stop trying...)

For those considering honed Raven, have you seen a sample of the honed? It is a completely different look, and to me looked boring compared to the variations that show up when it is the polished finish.

Since someone asked for other pictures of Ceasarstone, I'll take pictures of the quartz surfaces I have later on after dinner and kids are in bed.

I'm sorry to monopolize this thread, but I realized I didn't answer some questions.

I don't notice fingerprints or smudges at all. I have the Raven at my kitchen desk and can not get a smudge or fingerprint to show up, even after licking my finger and smearing it around. My only cleaning issues are around the stove after frying something, and it is SUCH easy cleanup! Just a wipe with a wet cloth most of the time and when I need a squirt of Lysol Kitchen cleaner and it seems a bit smeary, all I do is wipe dry with a paper towel and the mess is gone!

I think it would not be this way with honed, although I have no experience with it.

FWIW, several friends who have asked about my countertop material have been surprised when I've told them my Raven countertops are Caesarstone and not a "real" stone! It really looks very good; one of the best I've seen.

we've been very happy with our caesarstone in jerusalem sand (polished). it always looks clean, doesn't really show smudges or fingerprints at all, and is about as close as you can get to 'bullet-proof'.

smarge,

I have a sample of the Raven honed (they were out of the polished at the time). After one look I knew I didn't want it. It's hard to describe, but it just sort of looks dirty even when it's clean. It was a real disappointment. I was excited when I first heard about the honed, but I just didn't like the look.

Thanks for the pics. I think we'll look into the polished raven some more.

just got raven honed installed last week (kitchen not up and working yet so have no idea about how I like it) but let me know if you'd like to see a pic.

Thanks Edlakin and Smarge! Beantown, would love to see a picture of the honed Raven. It s so difficult to make a decision looking at the little samples.

I agree, Beantown -- would love to see a pic!
Smarge and Edlakin-- your kitchens are beautiful.

I have a beige Caesarstone in my girls' bathroom. It is the polished, not the honed. It has held up to fluoride rinse, nail polish, nail polish remover, make-up, and rust (from the bottom of cans). I recommend it highly if you like the look. I don't love some of the "chunky" ones, but I think the fine-textured ones are pretty.

We've had Ceasarstone for about a month. The kitchen has not been fully up and running in that time with much in the way of cooking but I absolutely love how it's working out so far. So easy to clean up, no etching, water marks, etc. We have Concrete color (regular not honed). I considered a few granites - Ceasarstone was slightly more expensive than the granites we considered. A big attraction for me on aesthetics is that even NOT getting a honed finish, the finish is still a lot less shiny than granite.

I have ceaserstone in all my bathrooms(and master tub surround), my laundry room and kitchen (I have an island 9 by 4.5 feet). I love every square inch of it, I have champagne limestone that is honed. I love to cook and spill all sorts of stuff and it cleans great. I have it with cream cabinets and travertine floors (I am hopeless at posting pictures, eveytime I try it does weird things).
It was expensive but doesn't crack, burn or scratch and I don't have to seal it.

I am awaiting installation of Zodiak Giallo Michelangelo next Mon. I too wanted marble but was not about to sweat the marring & clean-up issues. The ZGM has a marble feel - some very slight wavy brown coloration in a pale ground color. i think it would be easy to live with for many years & has an understated elegance.
Maybe I can post some pictures next week for you.

We have the Ceasarstone in Rosemary (polished) and I LOVE it. Recently installed, so I cannot speak to long term use, but so far it looks terrific. I love the color--it is one of the lighter shades--sort of a greyish, greenish, blue shade with subtle speckles. It looks great with many coordinating color and the shade changes depending on the light and what is next to it.

The only thing that has surprised me is how much it heats up in the sun. We have windows that bathe the kitchen in sun all afternoon long, and by 5pm when I get home, the countertops in the sun are hot to the touch. I was painting the other day and was standing on part of the countertop. I literally could not stand my bare feet on the hot countertop and had to set cardboard in between my feet and the counter. That was a surprise!

beantown - I'd love to see a pic of your honed raven. Maybe I just got a weird sample or maybe it just looks different in real life. The sample scared me a bit, but I still like the idea.

tartan - I'd also appreciate a pic of your concrete. It's another color we're considering.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, it does help reduce the stress--at least a little.

I'd like to see pics of the Raven, as well. It's been an ongoing battle between me and my husband about what countertop to use. He likes the honed finish, and I do, too, but I am not necessarily going to wipe up the countertop every day or the minute something falls on it.

I took my sample of Raven honed yesterday and sprayed it with a natural cleaner and left it a while. Then I rinsed it off and put both wine and some oil on it for an hour or two. When I wiped it off, there was a noticeable "splotch" in the finish. While it doesn't look bad on a 4" sample, I can imagine it looks terrible all over 20+ square feet of countertop.

I'm wondering now if the regular finish is the way to go, especially since it doesn't appear to be as shiny as granite or other quartzes.

Hi,
I'm about to order my Caesarstone. I'm getting Blizzard the counter and Raven for the island. Do not want to have any maintenance issues so I am leaning towards the polished even though I prefer matte finishes. Has anyone had issues with oils staining the surface or hot pots/pans leaving burn marks? I think you can put hot pots on Caesarstone but I'm not sure. Would love to see pictures if anyone has them. A little nervous about the contrast between white counters and dark island. The cabinets are Euro style Espresso rift oak.
Thanks
Gia

From Caesarsone's maintenance section

"CaesarStone is more heat resistant than other stone surfaces including most granite, marble and limestone; and is not affected by temperatures lower than 150°C (300°F). However, like all stone material, CaesarStone can be damaged by sudden and rapid temperature changes. Therefore, we suggest that hot pots and pans never be directly placed on the surface. We also recommend a hot pad or trivet be placed on the surface under cooking units such as electric frying pans, crock pots, or roaster ovens."

I believe other quartz surface manufactures have similar warnings about putting hot pots on trivets and not directly on the counter.

Here is a link that might be useful: Caesarstone Maintenance section

I forgot to mention, oils do not stain and clean up quite easily. When I wipe the counter with a wrung-out cloth, the counter sometimes will dry with mild streaks showing, but if you care about perfection they easily buff out with a dry cloth afterward. If you use something like Glass Plus and a paper towel, they easily look like new.

I loved the look of Cesarstone honed misty carrara. It looked like real stone to me. Does anyone have experience with the honed misty carrara. It says the honed will need daily maintenance. I can't imagine it is more than the shiny black granites which show every water mark and fingerprint.

Help. I need to order tomorrow. The polished is not nearly as good looking, in my opinion.

Thanks for any feedback.

I've been considering Cesearstone, which is a surprise to me as I really dislike man-made materials for countertops, however, this is the one product which has colors which I think I could live with and seem to "feel" like they may be "right" for my application.

However, I want to point out that when reading through their website they specifically mention that the honed finish is prone to being more difficult to take care of and, requires more maintenance. There is a disclaimer stating that if you choose this finish, you hold them not responsible for damages to the product due to the more delicate nature of honing the product.

So, buyer beware.

Josie 2010 - did you order the honed misty carerra? We are doing a kitchen and I really love the look of it. We are not at that stage yet, so still considering options. Would love to get your feedback.

ebean - I've lived with my Raven Caesarstone for over 2 years and have zero scratches. I use cutting boards for slicing bread, veggies, etc. If you didn't, you might get scratches, but you'd also do some serious damage to your knife blades, so I don't recommend it.

I've had tiny chips in my sink area from huge, heavy pans slipping while being washed, but they are not noticable, and don't show up in a photo.

I wonder what your contractor was trying to prove? Is he advocating some sort of other counter material that wouldn't be damaged by a knife striking across the edge?

Smarge - Love your kitchen! We're going with raven caesarstone also. Did you use 2 cm or 3 cm width for your countertops? Thanks!