There will always be some minor differences in all granite slabs, usually not noticeable and they will all look similar but slight variations because granite is a work of nature, not a machine.

We had Impala Black granite installed in January. Every slab and sample we saw looked exactly the same to me. Though when choosing our slab we did reject a couple because they had a few too many large white chunks in it.

Jodi-

Janran:

Because Granite is a natural product made by God,
(and God has a huge sense of humor - that's why he
puts "shade variation" into every bit of stone "He" hath made)

My opinion is that We Fabricators have to watch out for this stuff,
and make darned sure......
that our customers know about things like shade variation,
inclusions, spots, pitting, fissures and texture - BEFORE
we start cutting up any slabs that will be used for any
project

In short - yes there are many different variations within a
species of Granite - like Impala Black. I have seen lots
of this over the last 23 years that I have been a Fabricator,
and Black Impala goes from almost a pure black, to a black
with motteled greys, browns and even a little tan in it.

Unless I am misunderstanding your situation, I am
under the impression that you have not
had the opportunity to select and approve the slab(s) that
will be used for your project... is this the case?

If it is.....It kinda sucks that your contractor
possibly has you "in a box"
so to speak on the slab approval issue,
but I think you still have a few "outs" on this
situation.......

First - look at the contract language in your agreement for
the portion of the work that deals with the Granite - are
you excluded from the selection process of the actual slab
or slabs that will be used to fabricate YOUR project? Did
you sign away your right to inspect and approve the actual
slab for your project? IF there is nothing that discusses
your rights to approve the slab - THIS would be THE FIRST
thing I'd be wanting to do if the color is that important
to you - BE THERE at the Fabricator's shop to have final
approval rights for the slab to be used for YOUR project.

Remember this Janran - this stone is going into YOUR home,
and YOU - NOT THE FABRICATOR or CONTRACTOR -
will be waking up
every morning and going out in YOUR kitchen for
coffee and breakfast -
so you'd better be in love with the
stone - as you'll be "married" to it for as long as you
own your home!!!!!

I am a Fabricator, and yes, it's a pain sometimes for us
to do slab layouts and approvals for a customer - especially here
in Phoenix Arizona - in July.........
at 1:00PM in the afternoon..........
when it's like 5000 degrees
outside and people are bursting into flames on the
sidewalks.... REALLY??? NO-NOT REALLY, but it's a DRY HEAT!!!

Yeah right... a little levity to keep everything in perspective ;-)

Anyways, a slab layout may not be the most convenient thing for me to do
as a Fabricator, HOWEVER - I feel personally - that EVERY
customer has a right to approve the stone that is going into
their own home - I'd sure wnat a say in it if it were
MY home....

I NEVER select the slabs for my customer - I always give
THEM the option to go select their slabs themselves - and
I will ususally accompany them to be there at the slab
distributor in order to answer any questions they have,
and make sure that eveything is "jake".....

UNLESS you waived it - (again check your contract),
IMHO - You have a right to have the final
say in the selection of "the perfect Impala Black slab"
that will be used in YOUR home - use that right wisely
and insist that your Fabricator let you approve the slab -
YOU should have actually gotten a chance to pick out the slab
that "made you hear the Angels sing..." weeks ago at the
slab distrinutor's facility.

If you are not sure, shoot me an e-mail - the link is below
at my website - I'll could a look at your contract if you need help
determining where you stand on the slab approval thingy (if you desire my assiastance - gratis - of course...)

hope this all works out for you

let us know on your contract language - OK

kevin

Here is a link that might be useful: AZ School of Rock

Thanks for the responses.

Kevin - I looked at the contract. And it just said price includes..."Granite Group 2"...."If you choose to, you cn view the stone after the template has been completed at one of our granite yards..."

I realized the day after I signed the contract, that I shouldn't have. But they wouldn't let me out of it. I think I'm stuck with this and will hope for the best.

I can't believe I didn't take more time to think about this beforing agreeing to the granite. I spent more time researching a $20 soap dispenser!

Since you purchased the stone through your KD, did he/she provide you with a sample piece of stone, that met your approval?

If so, hold on to that sample. I agree with Kevin in that IB can vary dramatically, but if your sample piece is basically grey, then your countertop material should be basically grey (of course there may be some striation/variation).

What I'm saying is your KD should have shown & provided you with a sample of your actual slab(s), if not, I would think you have cause to reject the material.