LOVE the very first alternative slab you posted. My vote goes to that!

Hmmmm that one is Super White, but she said it was granite. She did say the price per sq ft would prob be a lot more, but to me it ends up not being that big of deal overall.

I will go to Lowe’s and find out if I can get a full refund. I’ll call their customer service line if I need to.

Forget Lowes if you can get a refund. Too many times they use the cheapest subs who won't give you a professional job. Then good luck getting them to make it right.

Super White is actually a Dolomite and often mislabeled as a Quartzite. Super white will have more characteristics of a marble than a true Quartzite.

Not all Super Whites are dolomitic marble. Some are likely to be calcitic marble, and others may be quartzite, which would indeed wear like granite.

I had paid for quartz at HD but never measured and changed my mind. Got a full refund, no problem. You'll probably have to pay for the measure, but be refunded everything else.

The first picture of the tagged slab is awesome! If nothing has been cut yet it shouldn't be a big deal to "exchange". Gotta get what you love!

I love "love". It's what keeps us restoration people in business. Love of low price. Love of look over performance. Love away, please.

The first slab you tagged at the slab yard is absolutely gorgeous! What is it?

The first one I tagged for an alternative is super white.

Please check out the countertop geology threads here on how to test whether a slab is marble or quartzite. Stone yards do not always label accurately. Super white is often dolomite marble and, if it is, it can etch. Some people are fine with etching (I was) but everyone should know what they are getting for their money.

i agree with cpartist., go to a reputable stone yard... i would not trust HD/Lowe's with something so expensive as templating, cutting and installing granite counters. they are subbing that out and u don't know who/what you are getting. if wrong in some way, good luck getting that corrected.

worth it to me headache/stress wise to maybe pay a little more and get the job done correctly.

i went to my templating and picked/saw exactly what i was getting,, no surprises!

Big box stores can you save $ on items in the store, but when it is special ordered or sub-contracted out; the savings go right out the door.

Suggest to shop around your local stone fabricators, you'll probably save $ & get a local customer rep to keep track of the project.

Bonus, buying local supports the local businesses, too.

Update: I spent some time talking with Lowe’s customer service, who told me I had to go to the store to “exchange” my countertops. I spent over an hour there, and the sales person was on the phone with the fabricator, the production department, and the distributor. One of the people she spoke with was amazed I wasn’t able to view the slabs and pick one out. Also discovered there is a restocking fee of 50%! I am not paying that.

The store manager was on vacation, so the conclusion of what my final options are inconclusive.

We are trying to arrange with the distributor for me to pick out my slab though. It’s OHM, there’s a location in Louisville about 4 hours away, or in Nashville 2 hours away. They have pictures of their slabs online too.

what a mess!

They have pictures of their slabs online too.

I would not recommend picking one this way. In person only, please. Hope everything works out for you. Keep us posted!

Oh yes, Beth! I was thinking more pick out a few to view online, then go there in person.

This all sounds like a lot of work. I want the manager/ Lowe’s customer service to just refund me 100% and just go back to the Cambria Quartz.

I would let them know you were not told about the restocking fee. That should have been made known up front. I think that might change more than a few minds. (of course, maybe that's why they don't tell you!)

Why would you be subject to a restocking fee? What are they restocking when nothing has been delivered yet? I would talk just to Lowes manager & explain the slab did not match the sample and is therefore unacceptable. Full refund.

"Big box stores can you save $ on items in the store, but when it is special ordered or sub-contracted out; the savings go right out the door.

Suggest to shop around your local stone fabricators, you'll probably save $ & get a local customer rep to keep track of the project.

Bonus, buying local supports the local businesses, too."

Express Wholesale Cabinets:

The big box stores are the lowest priced because they have the leverage to be. They negotiate with DuPont and LG for the best possible material prices because they buy so much. The contracts to fabricate all that discounted material is also very lucrative to fabricators. Your local fabricator can't begin to purchase anything as cheaply as they can. I know this from personal experience.

I've worked for fabricators with big box contracts and I've got friends who are fabricators with big box contracts. There is no second-rate work being performed.

A fabricator may have to take a whole state or a part thereof, but a big box fabricator is predominantly a local fabricator.

Your comments may be the reflection of a small local competitor to a big box. They are understandable, but lacking much factual basis.

I got a call back from Lowe’s. The distributor they use is actually in Nashville, 2 hours away from me. So they’re emailing me pictures of the slabs of what I initially ordered. I will go there next week. They also said if I see a different slab I like I can exchange it. And the store manager said they’re covering the restock fee.

There is one other granite place locally, but their work is subpar. The fabricator Lowe’s uses here has high quality work I’ve seen. It was the main reason I ended up going this route, just never imagined this disaster with my slab.

Here is the facts from what we have witnessed with our clients.

We specialize in cabinets. We do not sell counter tops here.

Our clients are able to shop around for their countertop.

We hear about their experience from start to finish constantly. We have seen many countertop price estimates from big box, local fabricators, contractors, builders, etc.

The fact is the big boxes are not always the best price for the end buyer. Do not assume the best price is at a big box store.

Our clients are saving a lot more $ by taking the time to shop around with big box stores & local fabricators. Some go with the big box, but surprisingly, more clients end up buying from the local fabricators due to better pricing & better selection.

So to sum it up, It pays to be patient & look around.

We also suggest buying countertop from an established, reputable company.

Just spent what seemed like forever wandering around the OHM warehouse looking at slab after slab! Of corse some of the options I liked online were no longer available, I thought they were holding them for me to look at.

I ended up keeping the new slab of White Ice, and will be very picky with how the fabricator lays the template. There is still a lot of darker tan spots, but there are some large chunks of the white which match what I had originally wanted.

I am going to sleep on it until I tell Lowe’s my final decision. For now, I’m ready for a glass of wine!

The more I look at these pictures though the more I read tan and ivory!

Enjoy your wine. Good idea to sleep on this important decision. Imo, don't settle. Find something your excited about. It's 1 of the main features in a kitchen.

Pictures aren't exact. Also, it will look different in your kitchen, with your light, installed horizontally.

What did you decide to do? Are you sure you dont want to do quartz? Whatever you do, go with what you really want. The price difference wont mean much to you in 10 years, only how the counters look will matter.

Rockybird, I still need to call Lowe’s back! I want to tell them I’m still not happy, and disappointed that they went me to pick a new slab and they only had one, which still looks tan, not white.

I want them to give me a full refund and cover any fees, and then go with the Cambria quartz.

Do it!!! And go with the quartz!! :)

Good news! I was able to get a full refund from Lowes, no restocking fee or anything.

I was going to order the Cambria quartz today but we had a little snow storm! Will go take care of this first thing Monday morning!

Good news, good job!! Keep us posted. :)

Awesome! Cant wait to see the Cambria!!!

That's great news Sarah! Now you can find one you are excited about.

It is challenging to choose a slab that is up vertical in lighting that is different then horizontal in your home. Stone counters are expensive. Perhaps you can hire a freelance designer to assist? Less expensive than having buyers remorse. I am shopping both at Lowe’s and a reliable independent. In the end it does not matter what others think as you will be the one paying for it and living with it. My advise is if you don’t love the slab or are not 100% with your choice, keep looking.

My template is in! Install to come soon!

How exciting! Can't wait to see pics. :)

Isn't so awesome when you get what you want & didn't settle for something else. Love it!

It is! I was so happy to see this! Can’t wait for it to be installed!

What Beautiful Counters! I’m happy it has turned out so well for you. You might want to keep the bs simple so the counters can shine...

You want to be more in this neighborhood:

less in this one:

Beautiful! :)

Normally I would agree with eam on keeping it simple (and I don't think you could go wrong if you did), but I love [this kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/irvine-white-kitchen-with-built-in-desk-kitchen-orange-county-phvw-vp~55740129)! And I'm not even a white kitchen fan. I think the back splash choice makes things warmer and not so sterile looking. Anyway, just a suggestion.

Thanks for sharing your counters with us, and do come back with the rest!

Sarah, thanks for the quartz reveal as I wondered and hoped you would be pleased. You made a wise choice and was worth the wait. In regards to backsplash, I would buy a couple of samples from big box stores and play around to see which ones you like best. Personally, I would want the quartz to be the star. Keep us posted on backsplash.

Eam44 were between white with grey grout and the light grey backsplash. Agreed that we want it simple since the countertop is the star of our kitchen!

Beautiful!!! Congrats! I am so glad you bought it! I agree on a simple nonbusy backsplash! I cant wait to see pics as you progress!

We put Cambria Summerhill in our kitchen remodel with this white backsplash and platinum grout. It’s only been a month and we like the counter and tile a lot. Love the sparkle in the quartz and it doesn’t look too busy, very pretty. I fell in love with Fantasy Brown marble but decided to go with quartz for easy maintenance. Here’s a pix:

Looks great skipper!

We put in a SS sink, too. I wanted a silgranit this time but my husband preferred the SS and it wasn’t a deal breaker for me. Then I found the ledge sink and I love it with all the accessories. It’s 33” but I would have gone bigger if I had the room because then I could leave more of the accessories in place while still having room to use the sink.

I love it! My Kraus sink has some accessories like that I want to order. I wonder if they still work without the ledge reveal?

They might work. I think I've seen pixs of people using the accessories without a ledge. It's great to chop and rinse right at the sink. I hope you will post photos of your backsplash when you're done.