What does the fabricator recommend as an alternative stone? Or same type but different slab from another supplier?

Fabricator didn't recommend any alternative stone and didn't give us options other than lowering the backsplash. Our supplier is going to move our stone to a different fabricator they recommend.

Fusion is one of those stones that really should not be sold for kitchen counters. It will crumble in your hands. It's suitable for light is or vertical surfaces only.

Some quartzite are very crumbly. Sometimes it can be wise to follow the suggestions of a good fabricator as you will be happier in the end. I have talked to several of the top fabricators in our area who won't work with chrystello anymore.

HI -- THIS IS A MUST READ --- CandysDirt.com - and search - Quartzite . This is the best write up and information article on Quartzite and other counter top materials . And about finishes and problems with Quartzite . This should help you !

I've got a quartzite island. It's been amazing for a number of heavy use years. We've had only one problem. My husband put his hand on an unsupported corner and bent over placing his body weight on that corner. A little piece (about 2" by 2") broke off cleanly. It was repaired by the granite guys and looks fine. Other than that, it has no etching, no scratches, no marks of any type. We've loved it, but our one issue might indicate it can be a bit crumbly?? Ours is Capolavoro and I've attached a pic of it.

HI - Dear @Ann --- Why was your island Quartzite counter top installed unsupported ? It has all ways been my understanding that any stone counter topping had to be supported by a plywood base , because of natural weaknesses in stone .

You understand incorrectly. Plywood adds zero strength or support to a counter install as it deflects too much to provide support. It's used with 2cm stone as a buildup only, similar to how laminate uses a buildup edge and buildup kits to allow the counter to clearance full overlay cabinets.

Stones with a high mica content like Fusion, Kosmus, etc. are not geologically granite. Nor are they Quartzite. They are schist. They are pretty, but soft and will flake easily, or crumble.

Hi Lefty, no just the 3 cm slab, no plywood. And no brackets under the 12" overhang (stool section) because it's only 12". Other than that one mishap, we've loved our quartzite. You couldn't damage it if you tried - in terms of etching, scratching, etc. Even when I see a little area that looks dull or stained, it's always gone the next morning. It was a polished slab when we found it, but we chose to have the slab leathered before fabrication. We've loved the leathered finish too. We've had it for years now (heavy daily use). When the little piece broke off, I asked the repair guy if I should be concerned. He said he's guessing it was just a fluke where heavy pressure was applied in one area of a natural vein. No problems of any type since then. The guys that installed it put on a sealer and told me I really didn't ever need to seal it again, so I've done absolutely no maintenance to it. It's a remarkable counter.

HI -- Thanks Ann -- good to know you have had no problems with it . Your confidence in the product has made it sound like a good choice .

If your contractor doesn't get involved in counter top selection, then who is helping you? This could end up being a very expensive mistake. You had a designer for your island and sink, what happened to her? I would hate you to do this without some professional guidance. I have ceasarstone for my bathroom countertops and love it. Easy, peasy, maintenance free. Unlike my marble shower and floors which require frequent resealing and special cleaning agents.

Great question, SandyC. The designer "helped" us pick out the fusion quartzite and was too busy to meet us at the stone warehouse yesterday. We ended up picking this azzurite granite. Thanks, everyone, for your helpful tips!

A link to lefty's article on quartzite:

http://candysdirt.com/2015/07/17/caution-quartzite-countertops/

the Antartide stone featured in the candysdirt article/photo taken at IMC is Not a quartzite.... that stone is a calcite/marble... therefore the entire reference of the article is lost by itself, because that stone is a calcite/marble, not a quartzite.

Glad you changed. After years of reading Houzz horror stories, I have to say: When your counter fabricator points out issues with your selected stone that will result in an unsatisfactory install, TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.

Thanks so much for the reassurance! Is it typical for general contractors to NOT be involved in the countertop selection? Our contractor asked us to coordinate with the fabricator directly and do the template layout although the fabricator is a subcontractor. Our general contractor did not even come with us to visit the slabs at the fabricator's shop and discuss the fill or fissure issues. Is this normal?

After we selected our granite on 10/12, the contractor said he'd expedite fabrication....however, the fabricator won't install until 10/28. Our entire kitchen remodel has been stalled for over a month due to the countertop material issues. When I pointed out that the contractor and designer, who saw the fusion slabs before selection, could've pointed out issues and prevented this delay, the office responded, "We are the builders and were contracted to build using information and material selections provided to us, we were not contracted for design."

Is this a valid statement, given that they hired a subcontractor for kitchen design?

Also, after we chose the fusion in mid-June, the contractor's office decided to store the slabs at the stone store for 3 months before shipping to the fabricator when it was time to install the counters. Is this typical? Can't help thinking that had the fusion been shipped earlier, the fabricator could've pointed out issues MUCH earlier.

I'm completely new to home remodeling and would deeply appreciate your perspectives. Thank you!

Cellisteph, the contractor usually is involved in picking out the stone if he brings samples to you to pick from. My contractor did that, then I went to the stone yard, where they had pulled out two bookmatched (like your photo) slabs. The slabs themselves vary quite a bit from the little sample we picked from, but I was delighted with all the veining.

The fabricator is the expert as far as handling the stone, but he/she doesn't usually have room to store those size slabs on site, and the slabs are safer from breakage in the stone yard. That was a long way of commenting on a couple of statements you made, but That's the reasoning for the statements made by your contractor and your fabricator. The kitchen designer should have been the one to help you pick the slab, IMHO.

If you are dealing with a typical general contractor then it is correct that you have not contracted for design services - which includes the selection of materials/products. It is your responsibility to select all materials and to provide all of the necessary information to the contractor so they can be purchased correctly by the contractor. It is the standard way for contractors to operate, but it leaves you with the responsibility to understand the products/materials, to know what the plan calls for and make sure you stay within the plan parameters.

There are design/build companies and they will advertise themselves as such. Design/build companies assist in selections (either by someone in their company or by providing that service through an affiliate) and are actively involved. Generally you pay for these services - most times through a higher markup on the overall contract.

Yes, the slabs are generally stored at the warehouse and not moved to the fabricators until a day or two prior to fabricating. Most fabricators do not have a great deal of storage room and slabs can be broken.

Contractors are NOT designers.

Some Kitchen cabinet sales people aren't designers either. They are there to put together the cabinet layout only. Unless they work FOR the contractor, as a staff member, on salary, they aren't there to hold your hand through the process. Any contractor that employs a designer, or a design build firm, will pass that expense along to you.

Some Kitchen Designers ARE designers, and you can hire them for more than the cabinet layout. But, if the contractor is referring them as the cabinet supplier, that isn't for full design services. Hiring them for full design services would be possible, but that would be an additional expense paid for directly by you. Not your contractor.

If you want design assistance through the whole project, then the project needs to originate with a designer who can refer you to a contractor. Not the other way around. Otherwise, the design decisions are expected to be made by you, with no assistance.

Or hire a 3rd party designer to provide you with assistance through the project. Once again, at additional cost beyond the execution of the construction details.

For our remodel, we used my designer's contractor and subs. The designer helped us pick all materials and ordered them at her discount. She was involved in all material choices, as she knows all of the specs and can help you visualize the finished product. It really helps to prevent mistakes that are not only costly, but add to the remodel time by having to reorder materials and wait as you are doing.

Live wire, we crossed posts. I completely agree with you. A designer will prevent expensive mistakes and if there is a mistake made it is at her expense!

Thanks for enlightening me! I'm a newbie to this whole remodeling process.

Here's what our kitchen looks like so far with the new granite, azzurite.

A month ago, our contractor gave us a $1,980 Change Order for increasing the backsplash from 4-6" to covering the entire wall. This was when we used to have the fusion, which was more expensive than the azzurite. When I asked if the granite change affected the value of the CO, the contractor's office responded it was for labor and not materials. Is this typical, and is it reasonable to ask for the breakdown in hourly worker wage costs (as they've done with other CO's)?

The CO is pretty vague: "Fabrication and installation of full granite splash at kitchen, this number reflects the credit for the 4"-6" splash in contract as well as the pc behind the stove." The cost of the 4"-6" splash was not specified in the contract, nor is the pc behind the stove, so we have no idea what numbers were added or subtracted to produce $1,980. When we asked about these specific numbers, the contractor's office refuses to answer.

I have fusion quartzite (the absolutely most beautiful on the planet) from Brazil. I know this is just my subjective opinion, but I can say objectively the installer did an amazing job and the stone requires no maintenance whatsoever. My installer was absolute artist and it sounds like you need to shop for a more agreeable installer.