zoobia:

Your installation is clearly in violation of the Caesarstone fabrication and installation instructions.

"• We recommend that all sink installations be fully supported independent of the CaesarStone top. Please be sure to use a professional
sink-setter or support rail system. Plan for front-to-back support strips 2.5”-wide (40mm–100mm) to coincide with cutouts and
periodic support. Support must be provided under all countertop joints.

Note: Under no conditions can mechanical fasteners (screws, nails, etc.) be affixed directly to CaesarStone."

I'd recommend a Hercules Universal Sink Harness from Braxton Bragg or a Sink Strap from Regent Stone Products which meet the above criteria.

If the installation is a direct violation of the instructions from the manufacturer then yes you will have no warranty. In fact even if you were to now have the correct installation system installed you may have already voided the warranty because the holes from the mechanical fasteners are already there and that can be said would be the cause of any issues.

Thanks Joseph corlett LLC and millworkman, any advice how to deal with this kitchen company because they are still saying nothing will be wrong in future and its a very strong stone, small grooves are not going to crack the big slab and also insisting thats the right way to install the sink .I asked caesar stone to send an email about this wrong installation but they refused for any written comment and i don't know why . They are not helping their end customers but only their authurized dealers who are making us fool and getting away with all their bad work.But who cares both of them made money from us .

These stone slabs are very strong. The relief cuts a little rough but you can miter these stone slabs and epoxy them later.

The manufactures all have so many disclaimers it's hard to imagine any of them every paying out on a single replacement claim.

My current job has Ceasar Stone over a Kohler Tub. Kohler requires the slab to be removable and a adhesive used that allows for easy removal later. WTF is that? Insane.

I would bet that Ceasar Stone has no warranty info on mitered corners or what adhesive to use - but if your trying to make sure everyone did it by the book then your most likely in for disappointment.

You should be able to stand on your counters. Drop a cutting board. Sit there. If you are afraid to do any of those things have the fellow come back and repair the underside with more epoxy. That will beef up the clip cut outs.

I suggest you show your fabricator Caesarstone's instructions and withhold final payment until they are in compliance. They probably install sinks with this method with stone and did the same here without regard to the manufacturer.

Failure is probably unlikely, but if it happens I promise you Caesarstone is going to point to their instructions and tell you to go pound sand. They don't want to anger their customer, your fabricator, by second-guessing them.

I would at least use this a leverage to get a written UNCONDITIONAL guarantee from your fabricator.

Typically The sink will be taken to the fab shop and routed via templates at the Fabricators shop ( can be done onsite).

We are almost Always siliconing the sink to a Routed undermount that allowed for proper recess and using lead threaded ferrels epoxy'd into predrilled holes for added clamp support. Im lucky to have some buds at the best Counter MFG and fab shop in MPLS PERIOD!!

Recycled glass countertops Rust Brothers

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2705107/undermount-sink-keeps-separating-from-granite

Some good discussion on this thread. As Joe said, use a HUSH, or get cinclips. I don't recommend adhesion only to hold the sink. A sink full of water and dishes is a fair amount of weight, a support will always win over adhesion.

That installation just doesn't seem right to me, looks like there are large gashes made in the underneath of the slab in the pictures.

Its another day and no answer from caesar stone. They promise on phone somebody will be there to inspect the counter top on Thursday but now no clue from them . when we ask them nobody showed up they send an email saying that they didn't specify when could somebody come. the lady on phone specifically said on Thursday they will send someone to our house .I don't think so caesar stone care about their customers at all. Its so unfortunate for us we bought their product and thought they will stand behind their product and interesting thing we are not even asking them to replace the stone because its not their fault at all but only give us some advice this is wrong and warranty is voided by installing wrong way or not . I have no idea what is a big deal and why they are afraid of saying that but instead of giving us any answer they emailed us and said they already talked to the kitchen company about that but what did they talk about no idea.On the other side we still have to pay about 30% ,before paying the balance we want to make sure with caesar stone . Please advice how to handle this situation with our kitchen company .Just pay them and take a chance that nothing will ever happen to this stone or do I have any other options.or any other way to protect this stone .

As Jhon Wipple said above, have the fellow come back and repair the underside with more epoxy. That will beef up the clip cut outs.

If this will help I can ask them to come back and fill these cuts . but how about the clamps ?

shall they remove it or leave it there and fill these groove with clamps .

thanks everyone !

It is not fabricated per manufacturer's specifications. Period. The manufacturer can play all the games they want with the fabricator and emails, but they can't change what they've already said.

You can epoxy, but I promise you that unless you get an exception to the warranty in writing from Caesarstone, they will hold you to the letter if it fails.

You will never be in as strong a bargaining position as you are now. Sit on the money until you're satisfied.

And if the kitchen company will give their warranty just accept it or reject it and ask them to to take their stone and refund our money (which is not possible )please advice .We are in a big mess really have no idea what should we do . and this thing will be always on our mind it could have done the right way .

Kitchen companies come and go; estone manufacturers, not so much.

Leave the clips in place. Fill the holes with epoxy and call it a day.

I'm 235 pounds. I walk on these stones all the time. Step beside holes drill for plumbing fixtures. Sit on counters. Stand on counters tiling.

The more you work with Ceasar Stone the more you realize just how strong it is.

Thank you !at least I should try to save what I have ,refund or exchange is not an option here.

zoobia: I enjoy helping people here, but you reject all the help you've been given. He who has the gold makes the rules.

I think Zoobia doesn't have the gold anymore, thus why the OP said refund wasn't an option. Court will be hard without the manufacturer intervening on the OP's behalf, so cutting the losses may be the only option.

bry911:

"On the other side we still have to pay about 30% ,before paying the balance we want to make sure with caesar stone . Please advice how to handle this situation with our kitchen company .Just pay them and take a chance that nothing will ever happen to this stone or do I have any other options.or any other way to protect this stone ."

@ zoobia - If it makes you feel better Zoobia. Head down to the shop and ask for a scrap piece to be cut into like shown in your pictures. Then place it on the ground between two 2"x4" wood studs and stand on it. Then jump on it. And maybe hit it with a hammer.

You might sleep easier having done this little test.

This is not a natural stone with weak links. This is a man made product made to be be strong than stone.

You could further strengthen the underside by using scrape tile and some thin-set for the repair below but epoxy will do the trick.

Joseph as you advice I asked the kitchen company for written unconditional gaurantee and they gave it . If something happens to the stone , I have this gaurantee which clearly says they will replace the counter top if any damage occur due to this Installation or if caesarstone won't cover any problem because of this they are responsible for that . I know companies come and go everyday but Caesar stone is also not very helping to their customers . Thanks Again!

I don't think you are a client of Ceasar Stone. You are customer of the fabricator and not the maker of the stone. To think Ceasar Stone would give you a letter like that is a little out to left field.

It would be like asking the maker of some crown holding to warranty the moulding after the carpenter cuts it up and the painter plays with it. I think what you where asking for was un realistic.

I have worked with a lot of Ceasar Stone. Never once have I spoken to anyone at the company. I hire my stone guys. They measure and cut. Install. The customer is me. If the stone was to fail it would be the person who bought the stone that would be the one dealing with Ceasar Stone.

Now if you bought the stone direct from them (which I doubt) and then you hired a crew to fit it, The stone has been altered - how could the maker know how it was handled.

I didn't ask them to give me warranty or replace this stone only asked them if the lifetime warranty is voided now by this installation . You think I asked something unreasonable . It was just a simple question .

Quote from the first post :

'' We called caesar stone and they clearly said thats not the way we
recommened to install the sink but you can ask your fabricator to call
us about the warranty . my question was very simple to them will it
cause future problem with the life time warranty but they said your
fabricator should call us and he is the one who can give you warranty
for the installation .''


It looks like it is the fabricator you should ask about warranty .

Just a reminder : You do have a 3cm Caeserstone , not the 2cm one . Even if the groove is 1cm deep , there is a lot of material left with lots of strength . As suggested , if concerns are about the material splitting , which in this case it is highly unlikely , then you can always fill the grooves as much as possible .

Another reminder : The sink in question is coming with attaching brackets and maybe in the fabricators experience , they decided it is better to use them in combination with a strong man made stone . Nothing wrong with it , especially with sinks which need prying force to bring them close to the stone .

I do not use this system , but I've seen it on many occasions by other fabricators . You should make sure the sink lip is siliconed well to the stone , for preventing future leaks .

In over a decade as a fabricator, I had two warranty calls on Corian, both ruled customer abuse by DuPont, the manufacturer. I had the rep and the manual when I disassembled the cracked cooktop. Everything he read in the book he saw on my installation. This cannot happen on this job.

Found this picture today while looking for something else. This is how we install these sinks when it's left to us.

No clips.

Just some screws, some strong tie and some silicone.