I have seen a few, but very few, comments such as these over the years here. So it does happen.

For the record, I have black galaxy Zodiaq by Dupont for 3 years now and none of that.

I dropped a vintage casserole pulling it out of a high cabinet once and it shattered on the counter. Nothing.

I use cast iron pans and have put them hot once or twice on the counter. Nothing.

I cut up my lunch salad on the counter in the morning. Like radishes. Nothing.

Is it a Du Pont product? Is so I would call them.

I had Silestone in my last kitchen for 10 years and not one scratch! In fact, before we had it installed, I tried scratching a sample with everything I could think of...razorblade, screwdriver, tools. I mean I really laid into it trying to scratch it, and nothing happened. When I first read your post, my initial reaction was that you didn't get real quartz. Are you sure it's quartz and not a solid surface product??

I haven't experienced this as of yet, and I cut on my quartz cheese board (I know, it will dull my knives). But here's what my warranty/customer info says:

"Cambria is durable and more resistant to surface damage than other stone. However, all stone can be damaged by force and no stone is chip-proof. Objects hitting edges particularly at sinks or dishwashers may cause chips. Though a minor knife slip will dull the knife and not harm Cambria, no stone surface is scratch-proof. Surface markings are more visible on monotone colors than multi-colored surfaces."

I don't think that means it scratches "easily" as you indicated... surely not by a plate being run across. You might be noticing it more because of the monochromatic colour... if it had flecks it might not be seen as easily. It's too bad, I would agree about trying the manufacturer again.

Nothing seems to scratch my Chroma quartz, it still perfect after ten months.

Are you sure you have quartz and not some other solid surface material like an acrylic resin based counter? Because what you are describing is more typical of a Corian type counter, not a quartz composite counter. What brand did you purchase?

Wow! Thanks for all the information. I love how much you guys care. I've called again and asked for the manufacturer information as it's not on our paperwork... I know we should have made sure we had this before the work was done.

I was told by the company rep that the warranty would not include scratches however.

I feel like if we paid for quartz (and our paperwork clearly says quartz), there ought to be something I can do about receiving something which is clearly an inferior product - even if it's a bad lot or something like that.

What do you guys think?

I'll update you with any more info I get. I just put another call into the company.

Thank you so much

We put quartz in the first kitchen we did and lived with it for a couple of years before we moved -- no scratches. Our current kitchen has been finished for a year and a half, Cambria quartz, no scratches.

You clearly have an inferior product. Keep after the manufacturer or whomever you can get to listen. Take it to the Better Business Bureau if they won't listen. That's just not right.

--Amy

I have had silestone for 2 years now and there is not a scratch on it. The nook area has been used as the construction/tool dumping ground, project landing space and cordless drill recharging area. There is not a scratch on it, and by all rights, there should be!

Definitely check with your manufacturer.

We've only had our DuPont Zodiaq for 4 months, but there's not a scratch on it -- nor a chip near the sink, where I often bang my calphalon-type pots and pans. In fact, I had a battery explode over the counter, and learned that battery acid would wipe up with soap and water!

(Related hint to middle aged women -- do not put "rechargeable" batteries into the recharger without wearing your reading glasses -- you might be unpleasantly surprised to learn that they were standard alkalines.)

I agree that you may have gotten an inferior product. What was the brand name you had installed?

None of the quartz brands warranties cover scratching. In theory there are only a few things that can scratch it, diamond for example, and other quartz. Quartz I believe is like the 4 hardest stone available. Glass and ceramics should not scratch it. I used to give demos on silestone when it first came out, where I would give you various tools (corkscrew was the favorite)and have you try and scratch it. No one ever succeeded. What brand do you have?

It can happen that people don't know.
A co-worker told me that they got "quartz" in their new kitchen.
Naturally I asked which one? He says, "Swanstone."

I said, Oh, I never heard of that one.

Later I looked it up and it's a corian-type product.

Never told the guy that wasn't quartz.
Why rain on his parade?

How about Pental Quartz? I put it into the master bath as a countertop and a tub surround of a rental property. There are several scratches. Any idea how to buff them out?

cathymuslin:

Getting the scratches out is the easy part. Getting the area where the scratches were removed to match the rest of the factory finish is very difficult. Certainly not a DIY project; I'm lucky to pull it off.

I'd be very hesitant to put quartz into a rental, and if I did so, I'd educate myself and the renters about how to care for quartz. Many may have only had tile in their past so they scrub it with Comet. Your quartz will be a scratched-up mess after a few renters. The entire piece needs to be buffed. Ask your fabricator about it. I know Caesarstone offers them training on buffing their quartz.

I just got new quartz counter and noticed where my husband opens a wine bottle it feels scratched. I didn't think it would scratch. Can I use a liquid wax to hand buff it out?

What brand is it? We've been opening wine for six years on ours without scratching.

"Can I use a liquid wax to hand buff it out?"

You won't really be buffing them out, but if it makes them look better, you won't be doing any harm.