Usually the granite cannot be saved and reinstalled. Normally you would need to purchase new slabs and have the counters refabricated. I don't think you can ask for perfect on a project involving already used slabs. The stain will probably help a lot, but I doubt it will ever be perfect again.

Is your insurance covering this? If so I'd let them know theirs a problem.

They are not covering the granite because it was not originally damaged in the flood. It is a contractor error so they denied. I didn't know if this was the norm or if I need to go after the contractor to pay up and get us new granite. Our house was built in 2014 so everything is relatively new.

Presidio, do you know what the stain is called so I can research it? Google isn't understanding. It wants to help me take out stains, not add a stain

why is the seam discolored? Did the contractor make that cut and then seam them? Or, Was the seam already there, he removed the countertop, and then seamed it back together again? I don't understand why that portion is lighter. What was done to it? Unless it was cheap granite that they died and then sold (stuff from China is often died and sold under another color) to you when the kitchen was first done. There is no 'stain' that homeowners can use to dye stone. Do you know where you bought the counter from in the first place? That's where I would start.

This is the stuff.

I've recycled granite countertops several times and re-installed granite for insurance companies. It isn't all that.

They went mechanical on that seam. I wouldn't have done that. Razor blade at most.

Hi Ssnowinco, Joseph Corlett is correct.. it's probably the uniblack they were referring to.

Looks to me like they used heat to break the seam when they uninstalled. This heat discoloured the resin in the stone. The product they want to use should be an Ager. It's the same product used on the edges to match the resin in the tops. The Ager may do the trick if they can first remove any sealer that is on the stone and get it to penetrate.

Look at the light reflection near the edge; it's beyond factory and higher gloss than the rest. That's what makes me think they tried to top polish this seam and have cut through the dye. The gloss is there, the color is not. Ager isn't going to do this one. If the Uniblack doesn't, it's toast.

A guy with a knuckle dragger is usually going to work the front more than the back. The picture is consistent with that, although I find the heat theory interesting.

The reflection in the front is from the edge its a bullnose and is reflecting the light at the camera on a different angle than the top. uni black is specific to black stones especially absolute black its used to blend repairs and match edges to the tops of black stone. used on other stones it comes out as a nasty film and on this persons counter top which is Ubatuba it would fill all the micro cracks and make them look purple. The tops were already once installed so there was no need to dress the top of the seam a second time (chances are they didn't have to the first time either). Lets say they did, Ubatuba is soft and works very easy blends really quick with a ten oxide buff. They would never have had to hand grind below the resin heck they would have a 3/4" thick counter top at the seam.

I am now replying on my computer not on my phone and I can really view this picture in all its horror! its burned really bad I wouldn't be surprised if there was texture like a crackled feeling where its burned if that's the case ager wont work. if its not textured I would let them try the ager you have nothing to lose just be there when they apply it the results will be instantaneously and you can either give them a thumbs up or a kick in the butt out the door and tell them not to come back unless they have a new top.

@ Joseph Corlett - Is knuckle dragger a tool or a comment on the mental abilities of the installer?

At this point, you have a piece of unsightly yet FUNCTIONAL counter top. There is a very good chance it needs replacement (because of aesthetics). Because of this, you might as well allow the installer to repair it. There isn't much more they can do to it to make it "unsightly". It has already reached that point.

They have a small chance of making this look better - with no guarantee. You might as well ask them to try. Worse comes to worse, you still have a fully functional - yet ugly - counter top.

If the repair doesn't work, you are no worse off then if you left it looking like this. You might as well let them try (at no added cost to you). Once they are finished you can then assess whether or not they saved the counter top or not.

If not, then you simply start looking (and saving) for a new counter top. As annoying as that is, this is where you are. Might as well let them have a go at it.

"@ Joseph Corlett - Is knuckle dragger a tool or a comment on the mental abilities of the installer?"

In this instance, both.

Unlike on a black granite, it can be significantly improved by just well polishing and using a product like "Pectro Tenax", that hides granite micro-fissures.

It would be much cheaper than replacement.

Seam Before

Seam After