Hunt Studio Design:

As a warranty agent for several manufacturers, it has been my job to assess wether damage is fabricator error, manufacturer error, or customer abuse. You don't say where these chips are or how they were created. Please do. Thanks.

I have the same issue - I began noticing chips in my counter after about 18 months but we cannot remember dropping anything. We have not broken any dishes, etc, since we have moved into this house. I had laminate for 7 years in my old before upgrading to granite which we had for 3 years before we moved. Both of them, even the laminate, held up significantly better than this. Is there anything to be done?

IMO, all these 'engineered' counter top materials are inferior. They are basically ground up stone products, with an adhesive binder.

Granite is a natural product with a high Rockwell hardness, and doesn't need sealing, you can put a hot pot on it, etc.

Hell, Formica is more durable.

geoffery_b:

Many granites will stain without sealing and the Marble Institute of America requires the use of trivets on all stone tops. "Natural" stone is impregnated with plastic resin at the factory. Chipped engineered stone and granite can be repaired, Formica cannot.

Same story as everyone is telling. Installed caesarstone countertops on concrete gray not even half a year ago, there are already 6/7 chips around the sink and one smack on the middle of the countertop. Not sure how some came about and some small items, such as a plate that I knocked into the countertop. The countertops are behaving as if they're made out of soapstone. 3k later and pissed!!!

So sorry another person is dealing with this. I posted my experience in hopes that people will choose something other than this product. Anyway, this summer/fall I called the company that installed my countertops because I noticed yet another gouge in them this. I started out asking about the material, not telling them I owned a house they worked on. He extolled the virtues of Caesarstone. I asked about chipping, and he was adamant that it didn't happen, was stronger than any other, etc. SOOO, I then told him my countertops. After reminding him of all he had just said, I questioned whether I had bad product, bad installation, etc. He backtracked and changed his tune about the chipping. After much back and forth, they sent someone out to fill in the holes (mine were not chips on edges, weirdly enough - just pits) at no cost. The man that came out did say that most often the chips are around the sink area. I would wonder if yours was just poorly finished, though, bc that seems excessive!! I have 2 kids and a husband who never put their stuff in the dishwasher, always tossing stuff in the sink, and I have no chips around my sink (yet). Hope you can get this resolved.

I had a Caesarstone chip that came off the edge with a sponge about two weeks after install. I suspect it chipped during fabrication and I dislodged it. A talented fabricator can repair chips to look almost invisible. But it shouldn't be chipping at this rate unless you're banging the edges with cast iron pans, and you certainly don't want to pay for repairs. I had to have my Caesarstone pulled out due to damage on install and it was replaced a few months later with Pentalquartz. That's been in for four years with one tiny chip on the sink edge. I feel it but can't see it.

I'm wondering if something has changed in the manufacturing process as the Big Boys see the Chinese making quartz now and selling it cheaper. One reason they can is because they cure the resins at lower temperatures for less time than the Breton method used by everyone else except the Chinese. Just a few weeks ago someone had pitting and chipping with his Samsung quartz (which I believe is Chinese) and they told him "Oops! We cured it for seven days instead of 14!" How does that happen?

I don't believe resin products are inferior. I think it's very durable. I had a chip on my tooth filled with resin 20 years ago. I'm not chewing cast iron, but it's still doing its job.

If you're having frequent chipping, you need to have the fabricator send out a Caesarstone/Cambria/whatever rep and see if there's something wrong with that particular lot.

It also has to do with the edge style of the countertop. We picked the square edge because we wanted a more modern look but unfortunately this style is more susceptible to chips.

Caesarstone doesn't chip any more or less than any other engineered stone or natural stone. It's all in the edge profile. Form or function, take your pick.

Hi By Any Design Ltd,

I think that your tiled countertop can be repaired. Our tile guy came out last wk and took out 2 rolls of 30 yr old wall tiles in our bathroom and replaced them with new glass mosaic tiles. We were able to find matching tiles at HD, Lowe's, and Menards. He was also able to match the grout for the wall tiles that he replaced. I think that your counter can be repaired, but you have to find a good tile guy to do it. Good luck!

Hello...I have three chips in my Caesarstone and it's 5 years old. Very disappointing for sure as it was the most expensive part of my kitchen redo.. Thanks for the advice as my emails to the company have failed to produce any help.

wendyloub:

Best I've found.

I just noticed three small chips in the rim inside my sink in my bathroom, (caesarstone). I am not sure where they came from. I am wondering if the fabricator did a poor job. Uggggh.

How large is you sink rim edge profile?

It measure 17 x 12 inches.

I am reading all these posts and am so disappointed. I was told this was incredibly durable. This bathroom is a guest bath and is never used, so, I am guessing the fabricated chipped it and just installed it this way. I do not recall feeling the rough edges until cleaning it. I am feeling a little suspicious that it was covered up some way. I am calling him today and hope I get a positive response.

Rosalie Carter:

Sorry I wasn't more specific. The edge at your sink cut out must be rounded. If it's only rounded an 1/8" radius or so, it's called a "pencil edge" and is prone to chipping. It can be made larger without too much trouble. That will probably grind away the chips you have and help prevent future chips. You could have a 3/8" radius or even 1/2" without too much trouble.

Can that be done with it in place. My fabricator mentioned today it had been two weeks plus and that I may have chipped it. I was highly insulted as I have not touched it but to clean it. He is coming out Monday and I am hoping is is not going to try to do a small repair.

How would you chip a bathroom sink? I could see if it was a kitchen sink where you were carelessly banging around cast iron pans.

They sometimes chip the edge during fabrication. My counter came with a tiny repaired chip. They didn't tell me about it--I noticed it later on.

I re-profile sink edges in place all the time. It's a little dusty, but it ain't all that.

I didn't chip it. I was told by another fabricator that it was a poor fabrication job, he is coming Monday to round out to the 3/8 inch round. He seemed a little miffed, as if it is my fault. I have only cleaned the sink twice. Unreal!!

Joseph does this require a lot of skill? I am looking confidence in this fabricator?

"Joseph does this require a lot of skill?"

No, but he needs to take his time and do it right. Remind him of that, please. You're being reasonable.

What causes that, Joseph? We see the chipping on seams quite often too.

What causes it is lack of fabricator salesmanship. Fabricators should have the ability to convince customers to pay a little more for an edge that takes a little more work but performs much better.

Joseph - which of the below edge types would be acceptable while still fitting in with a modern/minimalist style kitchen? I don't like the look of Radius (3) and can't stand the look of the Chamfer, all the Bullnoses and the ogees.

Sorry, pippabean, I try to stay away from stylistic questions as there are so many more experienced and talented folks here. The sharper the edge, the more likely it is to chip. Only you can weigh the risk you're comfortable taking versus getting the look you want.

Those edges came chipped from the fabricator. So I'll clarify my question to be a technical one about what causes edges to chip during fabrication. You can't bullnose the seam edges, and most fabricators do provide a clean seam edge. But those chippy edges on seams do turn up from time to time here.

A dull cutter is the most likely cause of chipping.

That's what I thought. It's funny how fabricators always act puzzled when that happens.

I agree with mayflowers, it seems the fabricator (or the one I am using) are not using the proper equipment and this is caused the problem. I am hoping my fabricator can fix the problem, - not making it worse. I have lost faith in him.

I have two fabricators telling me this is easy solution like you mentioned Jospph. I gave this guy a chance get it right and they are up there grinding away with heavy tools. I am unsure of what they are doing. I am once again thinking I may have made the wrong decision, but, I was afraid if I had someone else do and it would void the warranty. Stressed in Draper, Utah. Help!!!

I see they are working on a large rounding job on the inside - and the slight rounding on the outside edge. This is why they are grinding away up there. I pray for a good outcome.

If you have a stubborn stain, you an use Acetone and it removes just about anything. I have never had a stain that a Mr. Clean sponge or, if this fails, Acetone does not take care of.

I'm a little shocked to see all of these stories because I thought these were very strong. I've had my ceasarstone countertops (pure white) installed by Ikea less than 2 years ago and I've noticed a few chips, nothing too noticeable until this morning. I just noticed a nickle size chip and I didn't even drop anything on it. Ikea asked to see photos so we'll see what happens. I always use a thick cork trivet and never ever cut on it and most times, I use a table cloth on my bar counter (which is where the damage is) to protect the surface. I paid extra to get ceasarstone instead of the contractor grade quartz because they said it was more durable...I never even had a chip when I had porcelain tile counters for 10 years. OMG

Are there teenagers in your home? That'd be the first question I'd ask were I the warranty agent for IKEA.

I had Caesarstone countertops put in when I renovated my kitchen in 2010. In the last month, I noticed what I refer to as pitting. When the installer took a look at it, they said it was from putting a hot pan down on the counter roughly. Well, I don't even put my pans on the counter without something underneath them and I guess I really don't understand how putting a pan on the counter results in a small pit. It looks like someone took a knife and struck the countertop with the knife in a vertical position. I noticed the pitting when they started to get dirt in them. Going first to my contractor, then the installer, then to the Caesarstone rep and then to Caesarstone, I am now waiting for two to three months so that a trainer can come and see it. Apparently he can repair it or make a decision about it. They reminded me that Caesarstone does not cover this and I told them they will cover it. They say they can fill them in. Great, but more will crop up, so I have to keep calling them to come in and fill some more in? I am so unhappy with Caesarstone right now.

webuser:

Wipe the pit with acetone, fill it with super glue, spray it with accelerator, and leave the accelerator on the top as a lubricant while you scrape the instantly hardened super glue to flush. It won't be quite as glossy, but it will be very difficult to find or feel.

Joseph - what type of accelerator? Does super glue come in 2 parts? One part being the accelerator?

I have a couple of small pits on my Cesarstone counter from a super heavy whisky glass that fell from a shelf onto the counter and shattered. I've tried to fill the holes with single bottle super glue I found at the grocery store. That didn't work well, since a single glue drop would overflow the pit size and create a matte, rough surface around each pit. I managed to scrape it off, but the super glue fill in the pits came back out as well...

I buy my super glue and accelerator at the model train store down the street. You can send for it from Braxton Bragg. Super glue does not come in two parts. If your chip is too shallow, make it deeper with a Dremel with a diamond bit.

Joseph - I think I'll give it a couple of tries on a quartz sample first. If the outcomes are all superb and easily repeated, I'll try it for sure. Thanks!

I too have had chips in my Ceasarstone counter. The
first time I called to have them come and fix it I was told that chips are not
covered under their life time warranty and I would have to pay for a technician
to repair it. What really makes me upset is how difficult it is to
get them to set up the appointment. Ceasarstone asks for irrelevant
information like "batch number" of your colour when that has nothing
to do with the repair.....They take days to get back to you and they charge a ridiculous
amount of money to do the repairs! I have been advised by
the company that sold me the counter to just do the repairs myself.....not sure
if I can colour match it though. You would think that after
thousands of dollars on a counter they would have a better after market repair
service especially as these counters do chip.

Katsomm Somm:

Where are your chips located, please?

On the edges and near the sink.

You may want to consider having your edges, especially at the sink, re-profiled on site. A more rounded edge is less likely to chip and your chips would be eliminated instead of being repaired.

Joseph is correct, I had the fabricator come out and round the edge inside and it looks like it is holding up. This bathroom is rarely used, but when used I am not seeing more chips when my guests leave. I hate that I have to worry abut it. I will NEVER buy this product or recommend it to anyone. My granite is holding up in my master bathroom and I use it everyday. Also, as mentioned in my prior statement 17 years later the Corian in my kitchen has 0 chips. This is where we live daily and it has been amazing.

Casesarstone is not durable. It chips quite easily. We have chips near the sink, and work areas of the countertops. If you have a choice, choose another option.

do not install caesarstone ....... it chips!!

I wonder what these counters from 7 years ago are like now. I have granite which I never really liked but it's lasted over 25 years. I wonder what people are doing to caesarstone to chip it unless there is a design flaw in the material...

The 'cheap' Corian bathroom counters last forEVER and continue to look exactly the same, for what it's worth...