Granite color variance

10 years ago

I am working with a contractor to remodel three bathrooms in a home I recently purchased. I decided to go with granite countertops for the vanities in all three bathrooms. My contractor obtained quotes based on size from two granite companies that he uses. He did indicate one had a better price and we would be using remnants. He instructed me to go to the granite company and select the color I wanted. So I went in and selected a granite they called River White, my bathroom is grey glass tile with white trim so I selected this granite:

I was very excited about this and knew it would go great with the rest of the bathroom.

I was very suprised when the granite installed did not look anything like what I went in and selected. This is the granite I received:

My contractor replied by saying they did not have enough of the remnant I selected to do all the bathrooms the same, but this is the same style and lot that I selected and granite varies.

This is the first time I have bought granite, but instead of the granite matching my bathroom tile, it has brown and red in it. I expected a variance in the veining and the shades but why would I even be asked to go in and pick a color if what I got was not even a similar color. My main goal was to stay away from brown/tan. I am not sure what to do.

I would like to get some opinions from anyone who is experienced with granite to let me know if this could possibly be the same style and/or lot?

Is this an acceptable/expected variance in granite?

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Featured Answer

teamaltese

10 years ago

And as all your baths are (presumably) spaced apart, around the house, no one but you will notice that it's not the remnant you chose. We also have River White, and in one piece, there's a large orange splotch. Not my choice, but, granite is a natural material, so it's going to have markings, and colors, we may not expect. Both stones in your photos are beautiful, and there's enough gray to go with your tile.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

Meg
10 years ago
I have a large amount of River white in my kitchen...we do have some areas that look like both of these pieces; however, we made sure that all of the river white came from the same lot so the areas with more movement blend well with the areas that have more purple/brown specs. River white is known for having some of the purple and brown (which some people like and some don't). It looks like it's possible that you have River white that may not all be from the same lot? I think all of it still looks great with gray and white though! We also have a gray subway tile backsplash and white cabinets. Maybe you will like the look better once all of your fixtures and accessories are in place? Good luck!
Related Professionals
Port Saint Lucie Interior Designers & Decorators · Rolla Interior Designers & Decorators · Meridian Interior Designers & Decorators · Petersburg Interior Designers & Decorators · Alexandria Interior Designers & Decorators · Grand Island Interior Designers & Decorators · Sacramento Interior Designers & Decorators · Bend Architects & Building Designers · Topeka Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Cincinnati Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Chicago Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · North Adams Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Lima Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Green Bay Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · London Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
10 years ago
When selecting any stone, you should view the exact slabs that you are going to install. The variations are quite large, even between slabs in the same lot. Even the engineered stones should be viewed on a large scale, since you may not like the repeating patterns that aren't evident in a small sample.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
10 years ago
You can even get this variance in a single slab
User
10 years ago
If you picked the exact stone you wanted then that's the one you should get. They don't get to switch after the fact. If their wasn't enough for the job you should of been told. I would never accept that.
Lorna M
10 years ago
For our kitchen, we were on site when they placed the template before they cut the granite. This was for a larger piece of granite. There is variance within granite as it is natural stone, even within the same slab, but no one should change what you selected without discussing in advance.
samsamyd
10 years ago
I'm with Idecor 54 -- yes natural stone has a great deal of variance, but that is EXACTLY why the customer has to go pick the stone they want and get it tagged -- you didn't want tan/red -- so tell the contractor that he should have cleared it with you before he picked a 2nd remnant or slab and now he should replace it (at his expense) and take YOU out to re-pick the stone!

It's one thing to not see the whole stone and then get some unexpected variance (which is what I did), but it's totally different to have someone else pick your stone and change up the colors on you!
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
10 years ago
The problem is that the contractor said he was using remnants to save $$, so with remnants you get what's available. You probably should have asked to see them before they were templated and cut.
User
10 years ago
You go cheap with a remnant, you don't get to gripe. Pay more money for a whole slab(s) purchase, and you can be as picky as you want.
susanalanandwrigley
10 years ago
Even with a remnant you can and should see the exact slab first, we just completed 3 bathroom counters with 3 different slabs, chose them all in person and went over the templating in person to figure out the best part of the remnants to use on our projects.

That said, if the issue is that the counter in one bathroom looks different from that in another, I don't see why that's a problem. No reason that they all eve have to be the same granite or material.
Lorna M
10 years ago
You should be able to know what you are buying - even with a remnant. In this case, the contractor states that they did not not have enough of the remnant you selected and made an alternate decision, without contacting you to discuss a change to your agreement. I concur that all baths don't have to match exactly, but it seems you are not happy with the red and your goal was to stay away from brown and tan and go with grey tones. If you are not happy, I would talk to the contractor to discuss these points. What was the point of obtaining your input if it was ignored because there was not enough of what you specifically selected.