skip to main content

Other Design Dilemma Kitchens

Quartzite question

last year

last modified: last year

I had Mykanos quartzite installes in kitchens and baths, the island looks like its cracked on corner

they are calling a fissure. also where cutout were made at vantities for sinks 2 breaks (or what they are calling fissures). they also put holes for faucets in at install and 2 (cracks) also calling fissures (but onviously not natural) they have all been filled w some type of glue so they are mostly not felt but certainly seen. any fabricators here that could give opinions? how should i proceed at this point?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
Hmm. I know some natural stone is more likely to have fissures than others, but this seems excessive to me, particularly where they fabricated the edges. Did they warn you ahead of time of the fragility of this material and the possible outcomes?
PRO
User
last year
All natural fissures and the nature of the beast. You would need to change materials in order to not have any fissures.
Related Discussions
Honed quartzite question
Q
Comments (12)
Tl1969, I would read up on quartzite some more in the thread that Halfway posted. If it is really quartzite then there will be no etching. If it is not quartzite, then honed would be better, but it's important for you to learn what you are getting. The referenced thread has instructions for how to tell the difference. Do not leave it to the sales people or fabricators to tell you the difference. Honing a stone does not rob the stone of a protective layer, aside from a sealer that may have been applied. As for natural beauty, that is in the eye of the beholder. I do know that it's a major pain for a fabricator to change the finish on a slab of stone, so they may be reluctant to go that route. Good luck!
...See More
quartzite quality question please help
Q
Comments (6)
I have quartzite too but no divots. I definitely have a lot of veining and many many different colors of gray, greenish-gray, sporadic flecks of a bluish-green and many shades of white. They can replace divots with a crystal composite to fill if it's big, but the smaller ones can easily be filled with some material (epoxy). I know someone who had a kid who dinged their granite regularly with pots and pans (I urged her to take those ways from her toddler!). On my counter, there was a brown spot that looked like a burn mark but was clearly part of the stone on one of my slabs--they dug it out and filled it in with a color that somewhat matches. If you love the slab, work around the spots you don't like as best as you can, but if you can find one without the divots, much better I think. Here's the weird spot in question before it was fixed. From Menlo Farmhouse My quartzite counters and backsplash. From Menlo Farmhouse
...See More
Sea Pearl Quartzite Question!
Q
Comments (8)
Interesting question josephhou, there is no such thing as hard/soft quartzite. The reality is there is quartzite and there is marble. People sell marble as "soft quartzite" and that is wrong on many levels. If I were in your position I would use a few very simple tests to definitively determine if you have quartzite or not. It's easy to do. Then, if you have quartzite, you can polish or hone it as you please. If you do not have quartzite, then you can punt from there. But there's no need to hedge your bets when you can know the exact answer. All the info you need is here: http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2692150/countertop-geology-part-six-lets-talk-about-rocks-some-more Please also direct your KD to this info, because he/she should also know the best way to deal with this question. Hope this helps!
...See More
Taj Mahal Quartzite questions!
Q
Comments (23)
I had/have Taj Mahal in two kitchens and also have it outside as my outdoor kitchen counter and backsplash behind the grill. None of it sealed. The backsplash behind the grill gets grease and soot on it and I just clean it with Lysol kitchen cleaner that is good at removing grease. The only issue with the Taj Mahal piece behind the grill, which was a remnant, is that it has a fair amount of filler, which might not be as durable long term with the exposure to high heat from the grill.
...See More
M Miller
last year
last modified: last year
The one shown in the photo I copy here is not a fissure. That one is a crack. The line is too straight to be a fissure. A fissure follows the contours of the stone’s mineral crystalizations. That one in the photo is also more widely separated than a fissure would be. It also appears from the photo to have a change in plane on either side, but we’d need you to verify that by running your fingernail on it.

A fissure does not change the plane of the stone. In your OP, the first two of your photos look more naturally occurring with more irregular paths, so might be fissures. Again, run your fingernail over them. The one by the drilled hole could be a fissure that became a crack from the driling - hard to know from the photo.

Cracks can be repaired by a skilled fabricator. Fissures do not need to be repaired.

See how this pic shows the fissures running along the boundaries of the minerals?
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
These idiots slap a diamond bit onto a grinder and go to town when drilling faucet holes. They're in a hurry, the plug finally lets go, and the grinder smacks into the stone, cracking it. Yes, "cracking" it, not "fissuring" it.

The island corner crack is a tougher call. If it's solid, I'd hit it with a color matched Sharpie (same with the faucet cracks) and forget about it. The only real fix is to finish the break which is problematic with that damned mesh on the back. With the piece free, you can get plenty of color matched adhesive applied and polished. Looks nice, usually can't be felt, and is stronger than natural.
chispa
last year
In my previous kitchen I had a slightly smaller corner "crack" in my Taj Mahal quartzite, but it was so well repaired that it took me several months to even notice that it was there. I wouldn't be happy with what was done to yours.

Related Stories

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS Kitchen Counters: Quartzite Offers Strength and Beauty

By Jeannie Matteucci

Eye-catching patterns and a natural pedigree make durable quartzite a popular alternative to granite and marble

MOST POPULAR 10 Things to Ask Your Contractor Before You Start Your Project

By Ventana Construction LLC

Ask these questions before signing with a contractor for better communication and fewer surprises along the way

KITCHEN OF THE WEEK Kitchen of the Week: Good Flow for a Well-Detailed Chicago Kitchen

By Jeannie Matteucci

A smart floor plan and a timeless look create an inviting kitchen in a narrow space for a newly married couple

KITCHEN DESIGN Houzz Quiz: What Kitchen Countertop Is Right For You?

By Jennifer Ott Design

The options for kitchen countertops can seem endless. Take our quiz to help you narrow down your selection

KITCHEN DESIGN Using White Marble: Hot Debate Over a Classic Beauty

By Beth Dotolo, ASID, RID, NCIDQ

Do you love perfection or patina? Here's how to see if marble's right for you

KITCHEN DESIGN Houzz Quiz: Which Kitchen Backsplash Material Is Right for You?

By Jennifer Ott Design

With so many options available, see if we can help you narrow down the selection

TRANSITIONAL HOMES Houzz Tour: The Science of Blending Old and New

By Mary Jo Bowling

An interior designer helps clients pull together modern furniture and heirloom pieces in a classic home

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Elegant Updates for a Serious Cook

By Jeannie Matteucci

High-end appliances and finishes, and a more open layout, give a home chef in California everything she needs

KITCHEN DESIGN Soapstone Counters: A Love Story

By Alison Hodgson

Love means accepting — maybe even celebrating — imperfections. See if soapstone’s assets and imperfections will work for you

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS Kitchen Counters: Granite, Still a Go-to Surface Choice

By Ivon Street Studio

Every slab of this natural stone is one of a kind — but there are things to watch for while you're admiring its unique beauty

Sponsored

1 Review

Industry Leading General Contractors in Columbus

More Discussions

Bedrosians Cloe Tile from Amazon

16

I'm trying again after a long time off from citrus

0

Can I have full overlay cabinet with reveal between counter and door?

9

WATER FILTER SYSTEMS: KINETICO VS EHS.water

0

Can cobblestone be painted?

6