Did you look at a full slab, or only that little sample before signing off on it?

Just the 12x12 sample. The backsplash is similar to the sample, but the main portion is not.

I agree that the counter top has much thicker gray lines, that they are all vertical in one area, not random as in the sample, and that this gives it a look that is very different than the sample. I know that some of the samples I have had on hand of some materials have looked nothing like the finished surface at all. With these patterns you must look at the larger piece to be sure you are getting what you think you are getting. Small areas of the sample can give a very wrong impression of what the finished piece of surface material will look like.

I'm sorry that you are feeling disappointment with it. I would have a bit of buyer's remorse too. The sample is airy and light and while your countertop is still nice, it doesn't reflect the sample.

First of all, Cambria is expensive and it's supposed to be "top of line" man made stuff so the sample SHOULD match what you actually get.

I was just quoted Cambria by a designer for my bath vanity - $1650!!! I asked about remnant pieces and the designer laughed and told me there are no remnants because all the pieces are man made and match blah blah blah so they just keep using the pieces - clearly a line of bull. Your countertop is proof not all slabs match. Never the less, I found a remnant piece of Hanstone quartz and saved $600.

You have every right to be upset whether you saw the big slab or not. If it were granite I would say that's your fault for not seeing the slab because granite varies but since quartz is man made you shouldn't have to see the slabs - they should match the samples.

To be honest I still think your countertop is very nice. I understand your concern. You could mention to the company that the sample varies and you're not totally happy and see what they say. The gray areas are much more present in your vanity than they are in the sample. You have a valid argument in my opinion.

Don't feel bad for freaking out either. You pay a premium and expect exactly what you picked out (per the sample piece) - there's nothing wrong with that.

I obsessed over my countertop too. It was between swan cotton and aurora snow. I went to bed thinking about it and then finally made a decision. Of course, as soon as I decided I questioned myself... I'm driving myself nuts to the point where the bathroom remodel is no longer fun.

If the countertop bothers you enough where you're not happy then I would ask the company who sold it to you why the backsplash and actual countertop vary so much. The backsplash clearly matches the sample. You countertop should match too.

Again, I still think it's a beautiful countertop, maybe with time it won't bother you (?)

Let us know the outcome.

A friend of mine bought a quartz product for her kitchen counters. She chose a speckled grey/beige, she got a speckled pink/beige. Sent it back and had them re-do it.

They need to re-do your counter so that it matches the sample.

I've seen images that look like your sample and I've seen images that look like you countertop. I think it's a highly variable material.

I have quartz but man do I hate Cambria. No quality control, and they KTA with their warranty. I talked to my kitchen and bath designer about resin pooling recently and he told me that Cambria did replace a countertop for them. I don't know how bad it was, and I've seen worse than yours in the Kitchens forum. But imo, that is not Torquay. I thought Cambria only let the best of the best fabricate their product, but apparently not, judging by the mismatch of your counter and backsplash.

I always advocate viewing your quartz slabs. We went to our local Cambria showroom in the Portland area. If we wanted to view our slab, we'd have to drive four hours to Seattle. That's ridiculous. I couldn't take the chance, so we won't be using Cambria.

I would fight them. I don't know how they get away with this while claiming their quartz is superior to all others.

I would be upset too. Totally understandable, as they have a different look and feel. It's really too bad these sales people don't get on the ball and advise their customers about products better. It would save everyone a lot of time, money and happiness.

Problems with Cambria have come up around here a number of times. Apparently you can't see or select slabs.

I hope you get a resolution or maybe adjust to the pattern. It is a lot of money to not even get what you purchased! The manufacturing, sample and no-preview of slab issues are their problem.

Who were you working with for the purchase? For a small counter like that, I wonder if they used a remnant, rejected from another project for the same reason.

Talked to our gc. He said the cambria people won't allow customers to come look at the slabs, and from time to time they have issues like this. He took photos and will be talking to them, but he isn't hopeful, based on their previous responses to customer complaints.

When it comes time to do my kitchen, I will certainly consider this a lesson learned, and if they will not allow me to see the slabs, then I will not be able to purchase their product.

The Waterstone Collection which includes Torquay is a highly variable look, that mimics the variability of natural stone. Just like natural stone, you should view the slabs from which your project will be cut. It's an hour and a half drive from our location, but there is zero problem about being able to view the individual slabs from my regional Lexus distributor/fabricator. He'd even send pics of the slabs if a customer had concerns.

It's all about who you pick for fabrication! My fabricator/distributor has a zero unresolved complaint history. Not kidding. Zero. And that's because the correct expectations are set on the front end, he uses the latest technology to fabricate, and doesn't hire bubbas.

Talked to our gc. He said the cambria people won't allow customers to come look at the slabs, and from time to time they have issues like this. He took photos and will be talking to them, but he isn't hopeful, based on their previous responses to customer complaints.

Sammi, who made the decision to get Cambria? Was it something you told your GC you wanted or did he present it as an option? It sounds like he is aware that people can sometimes have issues like the one you're having. I would not be happy if he knew this and didn't tell me upfront. That is, if he was the one who suggested Cambria in the first place.

How did you pay? If you used a credit card you could dispute the charge (regardless of whatever contract you signed).

I put my quartz countertop on a credit card. If no one was willing to help or make things right then I would contact my credit card company in a heart beat if there were issues.

Hopefully they will redo the countertop (and update their sample so this doesn't happen to others) or give you some type of discount. If you're truly unhappy though, a discount probably wouldn't matter.

I chose to use cambria, and I really don't fault my gc at all. Its totally a quality control issue with cambria.

"If you're truly unhappy though, a discount probably wouldn't matter."

I've thought about that... and its true. I don't want a discount, I want the vanity top that I thought I was getting. But if that isn't a reasonable option, I will maintain perspective and not let it ruin my happiness over my new bathroom.

For what it's worth, I think it looks very nice.

But I also agree it looks a bit different than the sample, so it does look different than what you thought you were getting.

I don't blame you for trying to pursue it - but if it's any consolation, at least it looks nice as is. There have been some pictures on here of the resin pooling problem, and that's something that is really hard to say "looks nice."

I love quartz and considered it when I was in the market for kitchen counters. I ultimately moved on for this sole reason. I too was told I couldn't look at the slabs, and there was just no way I would take that kind of chance.

I think it looks pretty also. I looked up Torquay in the Cambria Gallery and to me it looks like some of the examples they are showing look like yours.

This is the part of the warranty that covers resin pooling:

Color blotches are intended and designed into many designs to enhance the natural beauty. Samples are small select cuts from a slab; they do not exhibit all the characteristics of a design and therefore are not fully representative of what will be installed. Product will not be replaced due to these variations.

Blotches=resin pooling. Blotches should not equal the entire design of a slab. Does your counter "exhibit any of the characteristics of the design", which in Torquay's sample is spidery, swirling lines? Or are those thick gray lines on a pure white background?

When I purchased quartz three years ago and compared warranties, Cambria specified the allowable resin pooling to be the size of a quarter or less. They didn't have Waterstone then, and since then they've removed that stipulation. It seems anything goes now. I wanted New Quay for my vanity but I know they can't control the process to produce a consistent product. AAMOF, the design center happened to have two samples of New Quay and they didn't even look like the same pattern.

The company that distributes and fabricates Cambria in the PNW and Canada is Floform. They are in seven northwest states and six Canadian provinces--huge company. They also fabricate granite. You most certainly can look at your slab--if you want to drive to their distribution centers. Otherwise they email you a photo of your slab templated. Not good enough for me.

Cambria offered to replace the splash, so it would be a better match with the countertop. Of course, the splash is the part I like best. I decided to consider it a design feature.

I'm growing accustomed to the blotchy nature of the pattern and overall the project has turned out great.

This post was edited by sammi2 on Thu, Feb 5, 15 at 21:49

I like what you received better than the sample. It's more natural looking.

I think it's beautiful too. My hunch is you'll soon forget about this. You've ended up with a pretty bathroom.

I'll say it again - I love quartz, and I particularly loved this pattern. I wanted to commit. But the fact they won't work with you to even send pics of the slabs made me move on.

I ended up choosing a very swirly granite. I probably would have preferred quartz. But with the granite, I got to approve the template. So the granite won.

Anyway, I love your bathroom and it really does look great. Congrats!

Yes, seeing the final result, it looks lovely! :)

Your bathroom is very pretty and the quartz is really nice.

I just visited a kitchen And bath place and saw this. Made me think of your post.

That is beautiful! And much more in line with what I was expecting.

I must admit, though... the last time I put the sample up on the countertop, my immediate thought was 'Oh my, that's much too spidery.' The version that I got has certainly grown on me in a week's time.