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Design Dilemma Kitchens

Cambria Quartz issue (or is it?)

last year

Quick recap for those who don’t want to read: is the white spot acceptable in brand new Cambria counters?

Long story: I had my kitchen counters installed yesterday, well, partially installed. There was a strange spot in the inner corner of a piece. It was very ugly and did not match any of the pattern/veining elsewhere. We had the installers remove it and as they flipped it upside down you could see from the bottom that it apparently was a repaired spot. I have no idea why Cambria would send a brand new countertop to us that had already been broken and repaired.

While they were installing the rest of the counter, I noticed a weird white spot. As I looked closer I could see a few smaller little white spots on same island piece . I hated to complain as I already made a fuss over the weird spot on the inner corner edge.

But as I’m looking at it more today it’s starting to bother me more. It’s large- it looks like a thumbprint smudge. It also reflects the light differently, it has different sheen. I’m honestly disappointed with Cambria. They are supposed to be the best, they are more expensive, and they’re made in the USA.

I bought a cheap quartz counter at Menards years ago and didn’t have any weird spots and then I spent $10,000 on these counters and I’m having all sorts of issues. But do you think this white spot is normal or acceptable? I’m including the repaired edge that we have already sent back.

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Comments (7)

Verbo
last year
Resin pooling is acceptable and not at all a warranty issue.
remodelstop
Original Author
last year
A view from higher up… it’s very obvious and draws attention :(
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Fabricator here. Wouldn't be happy with this AT all. I would request for the owner of the company to personally make an appointment to view this job and see if it's up to "the company standard." My guess is it will not be once they're confronted. Like someone above said, Cambria is very choosy with their fabricators. We recently had a job where a customer wasn't pleased with the material, and Cambria personally sent a rep along with our install team to figure out the problem until the client was satisfied. Keep pushing until they get it right. The seams can be made MUCH tighter and lighter than that. It's sloppy work and you deserve much better, especially considering how pricey this material is. Honestly between all of the issues you've described, I would be expecting a redo on the fabricator's part.
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Verbo
last year
“Color blotches are intended to enhance the natural beauty of many of Cambria’s designs. These variations and characteristics do not affect performance and do not qualify for product replacement.”

https://www.cambriausa.com/product-expectation/
chispa
last year
last modified: last year
Cambria didn't fabricate your counters, the fabricator did.

Cambria manufactured the slab.

Why did the fabricator bring that counter to your house with that funky corner? That is on them and not on Cambria. Hard to tell if Cambria or the fabricator caused that section with the different sheen.

My only experience with Cambria is using White Cliff, a solid white, in my previous master bathroom (2014) and in the master bathroom and powder room of the house we just built. No issues with that Cambria color.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
That 2nd picture may be a resin pool, but someone has abraded that spot with a lack of water and too much speed on the polisher and they've burned the resin. They may be able to eliminate their mistake with a Quartz Renew kit, but the underlying issue will probably remain.

The radius in the corner appears to be too small; you're out of warranty. The only way to fix that is to rip the edges off, reprofile, and polish.
remodelstop
Original Author
last year
@Verbo that broad of a policy essentially gives free reign on the appearance. Any sized colored spot whether pink, black, or neon orange could be explained away as an “enhancement”. So while perhaps Cambria is free of “wrongdoing” legally- undoubtedly there is a point where consumers agree some size or color is NOT acceptable. I’m not saying this particular spot is that far off the spectrum but the policy allows for ANY absurd colors and blobs with that wording.

@chispa, the resin pools would not be resulting from the fabricators, that I am aware of. In addition, we had to work with installers/fabricators far from our town because supposedly Cambria is "picky" about those they allow to work on their products. They only work "with the best". Who knows?

@Joseph Corlett, LLC how could the radius possibly cause me to be outside of warranty? I didn’t choose it nor cut it. It was what the authorized seller/designer decided on. Plus they have already removed it and said it will be replaced with different piece.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
Remodelstop: Cambria writes the fabrication and installation specifications. When a warranty claim arises, they verify if the specs were followed, not who followed them or not.

We’re I you, I’d show the fabricator the specs and tell him to get into compliance if he expects to get paid. I’m not optimistic. Burning a deck and missing a radius are rookie mistakes. Cambria should be a little more selective as to whom they sell slabs.

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