mtpo, have you looked at the Bedrosian Magnifica line?

https://www.bedrosians.com/en/magnifica-porcelain/

I have been taking a close look at them for their large format Magnifica tiles, but they also introduced a 2 cm slab a year or two ago. They have large sample displays in their showrooms and will ship small samples out. If you can get to a showroom they actually give you a nice sized piece of tile as a sample.

@mtpo Dekton is supposed to be one of the "strongest" countertop surfaces, but Consumer Reports in their testing as well as users of the product have noted its tendency to have poor impact resistance, that is, chipping upon impact if being hit with something sharp or cracking if being hit with something heavy. I researched a lot of countertop materials and crossed off Dekton because of those poor reviews. Neolith and porcelain fall into the same categories of being difficult to fabricate, install, and keep looking good. You might expand your search to granite, quartz, or soapstone. In Texas where I live, there is rumor of retail shops opening again in the next few weeks. Your builder needs to give you more time for these decisions given the situation.

Belaria:

The Consumer Reports tests are flawed. They smacked a piece of raw sintered with no underlayment. The sintered installed in your kitchen will have underlayment. If Roberto Colonetti installed it, it is bonded to a Wedi substrate. He picks up a piece of sintered ON THE FLAT in this video, which is heresy in the countertop universe.

Time for a do-over test.

Well, before all these global problems, I also wanted to see actual samples and slabs of Dekton. Local stores didn't have any - new color. So I drove to Constentino Center in Orlando FL. It was a wonderful experience. Very knowledgeable people; many slabs - just everything I could have wanted. They have 50 centers in 16 countries. https://www.cosentino.com/usa/cosentino-center/

@Joseph Corlett, LLC So, cracking can be avoided with no fabricator errors, but with all due respect, are there not still chipping issues? 2 years ago from this thread, quoting you:

"You can't compare the chipping of the two. Estone can be reprofiled to eliminate chips and reduce the chances of future chipping. Sintered can't. . . . I should have said 'engineered stone' which is ground quartz mixed with a polyester resin. Cambria, Silestone, Zodiaq, etc., are all estone. Neolith and Dekton are sintered, contain no resin, and are essentially large slabs of porcelain tile with a picture on the top."

I would have seriously considered Dekton for my remodel were it not for comments like these, not just from Consumer Reports, but also from actual consumers and fabricators.

Always choose colors from real samples. Ultimately its a time and money saver.

Most products will only have positive features listed, with the rest buried in the warranty language, but I like what @Joseph Corlett, LLC is saying.

I don't know whether a Cosentino showroom is open near you but, if not you can book a "virtual visit" on the Cosentino website: https://cosentinogroup.secure.force.com/bookappointment/ The employees at the Dulles, VA showroom were quite helpful and when I visited and had samples to give away.

Wdccruise and Jeffrey, thanks for your suggestions. I called the Miami showroom and they sent me a photo of a REM slab that’s in their warehouse. That was very nice of them. The marbling is beautiful — more subtle than Neolith’s, but with the bad lighting and shadows, I can’t get a good read on the colors. The Miami Dekton rep thought samples were going out quite a while ago, and my fabricator ordered one for me, but so far, I haven’t received it. My fabricator just told me they do Neolith too and I’m in touch with a Corian fabricator, so if I can’t see the Dekton, I‘ll have to just move forward with something else. Of all the selections I am making for this house, the countertop selection is the most difficult. Homeowners either love or absolutely pan their sintered stone countertops in reviews. People who have Corian in their homes uniformly rave about it ... no problems with staining, fading, cracking and no bad seams - but I’m not sure if the Corian is the look I want. In these times, decorating issues seem pretty shallow (yes, Live Wire... I get it) but this is a helpful distraction from real life work... and my OCD won‘t let it go. I really want to come home from work each day, relax in my new kitchen, water my new hydrangeas and new tomato plants, and not fret over having made poor building material selections.

Home Depot and Lowes sell solid surface products and have samples on display (and some to give away). Home Depot sells Corian, Dekton, and others. I have Corian and it has performed very well.

Thanks wdccruise, I called Home Depot. They don’t have REM yet either. It’s interesting that slabs were shipped to some US showrooms before samples. I would have thought it would have been easier to get samples out first.

I have Dekton in my kitchen. I applied it to a small section (buffet area between kitchen and dining) to see how it held up and if I liked it before replacing all other counters. I love it. I have had no issues for the 5 years. Beware of consumer reports as they receive paid endorsements and are biased. Now we are going to update the remaining counters. Just need to decide on where to us Rem and Keranium (island or all or mix). Good luck with your home!

@bkaminski1: "Beware of consumer reports as they receive paid endorsements and are biased."

Please provide evidence the CR receives paid endorsements.

CR does not receive paid endorsements. They are a non-profit, independent research company. As wdcruise said, show us any proof saying otherwise.

@bkaminski1 please advise on your Dekton. Any issues with chipping around the sink or cracks from things falling on it.

Thanks for all the comments. After the long wait, I finally received a sample of the Dekton REM. I was so disappointed with the color. The primary color was far from white — more of a greige that did not look good against white cabinets. It also did not do nearly as well in my stain test as Corian or Neolith (Dekton stained and the other two did not). So, now thinking of taking a chance with Neolith Estatuario— I actually got to see a slab of it in a showroom. The Estatuario looks entirely different from the on-line pics — it’s beautiful! Hope it doesn’t crack!! (Spell check keeps messing up the spelling of Neolith and Estatuario)

@mtpo FYI I have seen a couple of reviews from people who experienced Corian stains. I have never to my recollection seen a review of Neolith staining. I have no direct experience with either. Thanks for sharing your observations.

I have the REM samples and I love the color and the veins have texture. Steve Byrd I have no issues with keranuium dekton pictured under the REM samples chipping but I haven’t let things heavy fall on it as well so not sure about that! ....

For you other CR defenders- Find our who their donors are - enough said on the subject. Don’t bully me.

I decided to have Dekton installed in my kitchen. I really love it so far. the kitchen is still not yet completed other wise.

@Stephen Byrd I like your cabinetry pulls. Are those new? Do you know the supplier? Thanks.

I’m also looking at the REM dekton for our kitchen remodel but I wish it came in 3 cm. 2 cm is the thickest available. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen 2 cm thick countertops. Am I missing something?? Thanks!

You would need a full subtop and mitered edge for use of 2 cm material. The 2 cm materials including natural stone are common in the east and west coast markets of the USA but are also available elsewhere. Any fabricator should be familiar with this process of subtop with mitered edge for 2 cm installations. Neolith is tricky to fabricate, transport, and install without cracking and requires someone who is very experienced and has the right equipment for the job to be done well. Granite and other 3 cm stones are generally easier to process.

@Aglitter Thanks. No I don’t the pulls were here when I bought. @Valerie Short The edge on the Dekton is mitered on the edge. It is 2cm but you can’t tell once complete. Make sure you use an installer recommended by the place you purchase the Dekton. The installer should be certified and trained on the material.

Bkaminski , what color do you have in your kitchen? It looks like the one I selected (Milar?) . Did you do 2cm or built up 1.5 inch? It’s hard to see proportions from your picture. Do you mind sharing more pictures.

@wdccruise, in your earlier comment are you referring to the Consentino warehouse in Sterling, VA? Trying to figure out where to see full Dekton slabs in the DMV area and am wondering if that’s the only location. Thanks!