It is true that special orders cannot be returned, however you should have gotten a sample tile from the manufacture to make sure of the color match. If your contractor failed to do that, I may call him out on that fact. When doing tile work you should get a sample of every tile you are using to see how the match up. I know that is all would of should of's, but when it comes to special order you have to be very careful.
Are you doing the work yourself or do you have a contractor?

Prime Siding is correct, whomever was handling the order, or purchasing the tile should have gotten a sample of all current dye lots. It looks like there is a pretty large floor space, but what about using the 12" x 24" on the shower walls, and the 3" x 6" on the floor? You could do something cool with the 3" x 6" like install them in a herringbone pattern. I realize this changes the scale of the large tiled floor, but it may help soften the blow of being stuck with the tile, and it could still look very pretty. You may just have to order a few more sq. feet of the 3" x 6". Good luck!

Perhaps you could sell some of the tiles on Craig's List.

Totall agree with the previous posts---your contractor should have provided you with a sample. Hopefully, you'll come out on top of this and will be compensated. I suggest a different tile for you---something like a basketweave or small hex bordered in a marble such as you used on the counters. Pics for inspiration. Good Luck to you and keep us posted. [houzz=][houzz=]

Most suppliers will do a return on special orders at a cost of 20 to 30% for restock. If your re ordering you might see if they will credit the remainder of order against the new order as it gives them a 2nd chance to make a profit from your job. If neither will work your best bet is ebay and use flat rate boxes for shipping or list as local pick up. It is a cost of business for most of us, that's why the earlier comments on sampling choices is so important. Even with this I have had clients pick a color more than once and not like it after they see it in place which at that point they look for the contractor to tear it out and replace it. If we know a clients is a perfectionist or an attorney we mark up the job 100% or more then would be normal, just so we can say OK and try again.

It's all too busy.. and I don't agree it's the contractors fault. If this homeowner is not working with a designer, and trying to do it yourself, I am not surprised this happened. I think the tile needs to go back. The floor should be white. Then those BEAUTIFUL slabs of marble will really stand out. I actually have a carrera 12x12 floor in my master (I am a designer and architect) and since I wanted it restfull and I knew marble tiles never match slabs, I chose a white marble top and I white vanity. I think I pure white floor with the marble in shower and counters would be classic and timeless.

It is not the case with our company, but most contractors are not design/build firms. They send the customers to select their items and work with the designers on staff at the individual suppliers. Unless the customer contracts and pays for design service, the contractor is not providing it and should not be held accountable for what a customer has selected on their own. If the contractor was hired for design as well, then there may be a case that he/she would have some responsibility - but no more so than an interior designer who had their customer sign off on everything and then once it was in place they didn't like it. What would happen in that case?

I agree to attempt to send the tile back for a restocking fee plus S&H. If that can't be done, then try to sell it. I would use a white or do what Natalie said for the floor.

It is not true that the contractor is not at fault depending on the situation. If the homeowner selected tile without the help of an experienced contractor, then it is the homeowners problem. If the contractor was involved in the selections, then any experienced contractor would have acquired samples, and the responsibility is most always left on the contractor because they are supposed to be the professional.
Experienced tile contractors are aware of this and almost never allow customers to simply order items without the contractor's input and for us, if a customer insists on it, we have them sign off that we carry zero responsibility for any issue that arises. Hence why a real pro will prefer to be involved in every step of your remodel to help alleviate issues that arise.

And yes, it is possible that you may be able to return the items for restocking fee. We subcontract out the tile work, so I'm not as familiar with tile returns. I know special order windows and doors will often not be returnable at all.

I hope this homeowner tells us how this happened, now I am so curious!

I appreciate all the feedback. Here is what happened...we are our own contractors working without a designer. Surprise! Over confident because we have done many other successful renovations but didn't get this one right. I will have to wait until the morning to inquire about the restocking fees but after reading everyone's comments and pondering the options I am concerned that getting the perfect shade for the floors will be highly impossible, especially on a short time schedule.

At this point, i am considering forking out another $2k for darker Carrara countertops to flow with the floor better in the hopes of finding someone to buy the vanity tops. I saw slabs very similar to our floor tiles so I think it's doable. In the long run I think this might be our best option.

One day we will be laughing about all this but today, only my one year old can make me laugh...

I have almost this same floor in my bathroom and it has flouresced. (Look it up). Be sure you seal the tiles on the back side to keep that from happening or put down a barrier. For sure ask your installer about it.

I can't find the meaning of flouresced. If you mean they discolored, its because marble is very porous and will soak up the color of the bonding agent. You don't need to seal the tiles, you just need to use an appropriate color, usually white, bonding agent. Again, any quality tile installer will know this.

If you like the color of the floor tile, I think it will be easier to sell the counter tops than the tile.

Not to derail this conversation, but I'm really curious to learn more about what happened to Girla's floor and how she(?) came to this conclusion.
But back on topic. While it is true that a competent tile mechanic should be checking the quality, condition, and caliber of the tiles before taking possession of them it is not entirely accurate to say that he/she should also second-guess the client's design choices. Was the installer involved in the design process, or were they simply told "install X".
I would try to sell off the tiles rather than replace the counter tops. The tiles are already too dark for that room (my opinion) and they will be easier to find a buyer for, being that they are unmodified. The slabs have already been fabricated and installed. Unless you can locate a buy with exactly those sized cabinets AND who wants that stone, you'll be sitting on these for a long while.
Best of luck,
Shaughnn

I agree 100% with Shaughnn..Custom countertops are virtually impossible to resell. Ask any stone yard who has all his mistakes SITTING in the backyard. They literaly call it the Graveyard. The tops are gorgeous, the floor is not the same caliber material, it is dark, and very busy, I stumbled upon this chat, when I was sick in bed. I am leaving it now to go to my real job, in which I have to solve these problems every minute of the day, everyday... So good luck Ashley! Send pics of the final outcome.

Don't change the countertops. They are beautiful. And everyone's comments about reselling them are correct. Countertops are custom for your space only. You need some contrast in your bathroom. Get rid of the mis-matched floor tiles. I'd try a black tile. Or first try the suggestion of painting your cabinets black to see if it can be pulled together. But, BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY PAINT THEM, paint a peice of cardboard or plywood black and place it in front of the existing cabinets to see if this ties things together.
If not, you need to cut your losses now and choose different floor tiles. Good luck.

I have considered painting the cabinets a dark slate color which is actually what we have on the island of our kitchen with a giant slab of Carrara on top. The floors are hardwood and it looks great. I agree the countertops are beautiful and would love to make them work. If I decided to get new floor tiles, would you suggest a whiter Carrara to match shower subway tiles or whiter Ibiza tiles to match countertops? I don't think a darker or black color would look right in the space and would take away from the calm spa-like feeling we were going for here.

Ashley, I suggested the black floor tiles only if you were to leave the cabinets white. If you like the idea of painting them a slate or black, I would say yes to whiter tiles to match the counter tops. Get samples at your supplier to see what your eye tells you. Carrara might work the best, but I don't like the word "match".....blend would be a better choice of wording. Don't think you'll be able to exactly match subway tiles. Hope you can get a refund,or at least a partial refund on the tile that doesn't "blend".

Good luck. I'm sure you'll end up with a beautiful masterbath.

Actually I think it will be easier to sell the tiles than the counter tops. Keep the beautiful counter tops.
It is very difficult to match marble which is why the slabs are numbered. When you then try to match a tile to a slab it is pretty much impossible. I suggest you use an entirely different floor...say black and white linoleum tiles...there are some very nice ones today...or hardwood. If you get your replacement floor from the same vendor as these consider making a deal for no restocking fee, especially if you buy a considerable amount from them. Hope this helps you! :)

Its unfortunate that this has happened to you... but I don't think this should have been a "buyer beware" purchase. I believe the stone supplier that you purchased these tiles from has a responsibility to ensure your tiles are within a "range" from each other. I believe this was the Stone Suppliers responsibility, not the contractor or the end user, You should have been given samples of the material so that when it did come in you could check the boxes to see if it was all in the agreed upon range. This should have been the 1st thing the sales rep did when placing your order ,especially with this material. The range on this material is night and day from box to box.

If it were me, I would take the entire lot back, fight that you were not informed that this material ranged this much, and that their entire procedure ended in this mess. They know the material you don't , you are trusting them. You must have been given something to look at in order for you to order this floor. Go back and look at it with your tile. I'm in the stone business and I believe they are wrong.
It this isn't the case or im missing something on how you purchased this tile, then maybe try and have a leathered finish on the stone. Once you take the polish off the material you may loose some of the grey, it should soften up . The counter top is very nice, I would make sure you seal, seal, seal every 2 years.
Good Luck

My son had an issue like this and the stone was returned. But he was working through a tile contractor who had purchased the stone. Also he is an attorney. It was a very tricky situation.

If you do decide to keep the floor material, the tile should have been book matched. I think you need to play around with it and match the veins, they shouldn't be going in all different directions. (Just my opinion)

My initial conversation with the girl at the tile place is she thinks it looks pretty and so do the other designers in the store. I'm going down there in a little bit to show her the samples and see what we can do...

I do sell stone and marble. YOU have two (2) different types of Marble, Carrara and Arabescato. The Arabescato is on the floor. It has more striations, longer design than the Carrara. Whoever you bought this from, did not know the difference. The staggered layout on the floor, only makes for more confusion. My friends, there is a difference also between, your Turkish Carrara (greyer background) and the ITALIAN Carrara, whiter background. I am thinking about something that you can do to make it better. I am kind of thinking, to cut the 12 x 24 into 6 x 12 and make another pattern on the floor. I'll get back to you on this.

Tell me if the 3 x 6 match the counter or the floor...

They screwed you over and those tiles obviously come from separate quarries or from different blocks of Carrara. Carrara also comes in many variations but only comes from Italy. It could be possible they provided you with a white marble from another country that looks like Carrara but is not. You may be forced to eat the cost. However given that you attempting a very high end reno any company worth their salt will see the glaring difference and agree to take back the off-color ones and replace it with the right color... Whoever that ditz is at the tile place is just trying to get you to accept it. Don't fall for it. Read your purchase agreement copiously and see what they are responsible for in such an event. If you have an original sample take that with you. If you have to eat it then consider using those blue ones as a floor border and put a basketweave carrera marble in the center.

Good luck.

I think you could make both tiles work if you introduce a patterned tile which incorporates both of your tile colors. Just a thought... Good Luck! [houzz=][houzz=][houzz=][houzz=]][houzz=

Sorry, but I get tired of people who think they know stone and marble. Only to realize they don't!! There are several kinds of Cararra like I described above. You just have two different types.Like I asked before, which type are the 3 x 6, cut the big 12 x 24 into 6 x 12 and make a pattern with a mix of the 3 x 6 and the 6 x 12. That will cut down a bit on the noticeable difference. When you buy stone or marble of any kind, I am sure you signed a form that said that you are accepting the order. And that warns of the different variations. But like I said, you have 2 kinds.. Always buy from a knowledgeable sales person, like myself.. 30 years in the business.. I never, ever mislead anyone and always try to educate. Like I just did
on here.

Thank you all! I just heard back from the tile store and it sounds like they are going to let me return the floor tile and just pay shipping back to the supplier. Such a relief! Now talking with my installer we came to the idea that maybe we switch to something different on the floor.

Right now I am contemplating a 12x12 dark slate/grey porcelain tile running straight down the floor and placing subway tiles, cut in half, and laying them in a diagonal pattern in the corners of the 12x12 tiles, sparsely, on the floor. Does that make sense?

I sympathize that the flooring does not meet your expectations, but take a look at this bath. The floors are markedly different from the marble counter, but the brushed metallic kickplate on the cabinets tie the two stones together. You will need to click on the photo to see the full view.

Take some graph paper and draw it out to see where and how you are going to "clip" these into the corners and get a better sense of how it will look. One of the things we do is get several pieces of what we want to use so we can lay it down on the floor and look at it. Sometimes one piece does not give you a good idea of the look.

It is good that the tile store is working with you. Very nice of them.

I am considering this mosaic with Carrara subway border for the floor to go with a very elegant look. I haven't gotten the quote yet but it's in stock....

Love iT!!!

Congrats on the supplier working with you toward this resolution. Best of luck with the next selection!
Shaughnn

Glad to hear that the supplier stepped up to the plate for you. Now, you won't have a problem referring other friends to this supplier since they are taking care of you.

We stock over one million square feet of just Carrara with over 500 SKU's lots can vary, but not that significantly. When buying from Italian Carrara there is a standard, 'C' grade, 'CD' Light and 'CD' Dark. This is a 'CD' dark (Dark++++). All you would have to do was take picture of the counters and email them to whomever you were getting the tile from and this would have raised a red flag.

Better than that and this is for anyone buying Carrara ask for pictures of the current lot. Attached are pictures of How our 'C' grade Italian marble compares to that of samples we have purchased online from our competitors. The difference is incredible. CD Grade Carrara accounts for about 90% of all the Carrara sold, so most people never actually see the good stuff.

The reality is you we could have sold you our 'C" grade Carrara Bianco for $8.00SF: http://www.thebuilderdepot.com/cacbiho12ma.html a it would have been a pretty good match and then you would have a nice light Carrara bathroom.

But it is not the contractors fault, if you did not request pictures and it was just 'ordered blind' without any discussion of quality then how is the supplier of the stone supposed to know what to send. We love Carrara and with good reason we stock more than anyone else does in the USA!

But we like to think of our orders and shipments/customers as a partnership. We work together, we send you pictures of lots, you give us feedback. Having so much stock and lots available gives us this opportunity. Most companies only have 1-2 crates and limited choice.

The pictures attached really speak for themselves. Consider spending a dollar or two more and get the very best unless you are looking for that dark cloudy Carrara. Then you should only be paying around $6.00SF.

Carrara is graded like Diamonds and the cost is reflected by Italy in that. The whiter the base, the more clarity of the veining the higher the cost. Will that be reflected by a Traditional Retail store, probably not, as their are so many other cost variables at play in stores with all their overheads.

But get samples and pictures, that will save a few headaches.

I would integrate some of the lighter tiles with the darker, this will tie the counter to the floor.. Even if you use the dark ones as a perimeter and backsplash. I am a kitchen designer, CKD and have done this.. Looks great if done correctly

Got the same kind of issue, anyone know how to fix it? Half of the tiles Installed are darker

With floor of this size I would recommend the installer put the tile in place without gluing into place and have the client approve the pattern mix.

If you have this kind of variation and want to use the tile you have cut the dark into strips and arrange them as a dark border with a lighter center or light on the outside and dark in the center

The floor colour doesn’t work.

Always be sure that the tiles you buy are from the same dye lot. Nothing can fix them if already glued down except to rip them all up and start over again with new tile.

I bought 12 x 24 Carrara for shower walls and 4" hexes for the shower floor and bathroom floor, and it was all beautiful until it was installed five days ago and the hexes turned grey blue. The tile guy says he has never seen anything like it.
I have a fan blowing on it, hoping it will dry and lighten.
In the picture is a sheet of the hexes sitting atop the discolored floor. Any advice or opinion?

s1eph, this post is 11 yrs old. can you please start your own? no one is going to scroll down to read your question on this old post.

off the bat, what kind of thinset did your tile guy use? If it's cold and humid, it's going to take longer to dry

please make your own post and answer those questions on it

Hi s1eph

Very few people unless they have kept up with all their training understand the complexity in chosing the correct thinset, how much water they use (which leads to a wet stone), did they seal it first before grouting? There is still a great possibility the water in the stone will evaporate.

The point is the tile was perfect before they installed it, meaning a step was missed or added.

https://www.tileletter.com/marble-moisture-discoloration/ 

There is even a great blog taking you through a customers installation and when they finsihed they read the morter and it stated on the bag "Do not use with natual stone".

Point is assume nohing, check what equiptment was used.

https://youtu.be/ZPSnTY8S740 (this video shows the complexity of just the thinnset, then you have to use the correct trowel size).

Here is thread on Houzz.com https://www.houzz.com/discussions/4786476/white-marble-tile-turned-gray-after-install 

I recommend asking to see their TCNA qualifications (if you did not already verify them). A lot of installers want to switch from lower priced job of Cermaic installation to higher cost of Marble installation. But this is a bus driving thinking he can now pilot a plane, it takes time. It is a craft.

I hope this helps.

The Builder Depot.