The only difference between these products are colors, particulates, and "movement". They are all Breton.

Technically I don't think you are going to find any major discernable difference between these major brands. Your decision is more related to the color/look and budget.

Graham

Seeing full slabs is also important to check for color variation. Some samples do not match the slabs exactly.

We loved a couple of Cambria colors (Ella and Brittanica) and had planned to use them for our bathroom and kitchen. Unfortunately Cambria raised their price to the manufacturer and our estimate doubled from the time we originally got the estimate to the time we went to put down a deposit. I switched to Caeserstone (Noble Grey) and our bathroom counters get installed Monday. I took home big scraps/samples of both brands and tried to damage/stain them and they both held up equally well. I think it really just depends on which color and amount of movement you like best.

One reason I like Cambria is their website. I like the fact that you can not only view a large image of the color, but they have many job photos of what it looks like installed. This may help give you a starting point, but as others have pointed out, viewing slabs is definitely the best way to make your decision. Cambria also has the largest selection of colors as well!

Like others have said, view slabs. Samples do not give you a true picture.

We went with Cambria for a few reasons, one of which it's made in the U.S and that's important to me. They also had (Britannica and Ella) exactly what I wanted for my counter tops and island.

Also, when we had an issue a few months after installation, they were extremely professional, came out and fixed it. There was no finger pointing as to whose fault it was. They just took full responsibility for their product and made it right.

I can't express how much that means to me. Just wonderful customer service.

Hello Ellie,

Thank you for your kind testimonial! We are so glad to hear that from ideation to final install your experience with Cambria was a positive one.

We're committed to providing top-tier service to all customers, both current and prospective. For any questions, concerns, or comments, please call us at 1-866-CAMBRIA, or email us at CustomerService@CambriaUSA.com -- we'd love to hear from you.

I really wanted to go with Cambria, but their authorized fabricator in my area would not allow me to choose my specific slab, nor be present for templating. They told me Cambria doesn't allow this...not sure if that's true? In any case although I really like Cambria's patterns and they sound like a good company, I couldn't live with that policy. If picking your exact slab and templating to your specifications is important, you may want to ask those questions of your Cambria shop before choosing one of their patterns.

Stephanie - That's absolutely not true. I was told I had to choose the slab because different lots have slightly different pattering. I was also there for the templating, and after that, drove back to my fabricator for the layout.
They insisted on me being there every step of the way.

Cambria product has a lot of complex patterns with movement and with any individual slab there can definitely be love it or hate it moments. I can understand why a shady supplier would want to clear product that passes quality assurance but isn't attractive. I would not buy Cambria product if I was not allowed to select the slab. One foot square samples in the showroom are NOT representative of the product because slabs vary a lot. Make sure the large scale movement is what you want and also look for resin pools in the slab. Cambria does not consider resin pools to be a defect in the slab (lots of posts about this on GW).

Cambria's authorized fabricators are few and far between in the PNW. I'm in Portland but would have had to drive to Seattle to view a slab. I would not buy any quartz without viewing the slab because they can be so different from the sample and also have flawed areas. So I didn't buy Cambria.

In our area, all Cambria tops are templated and installed by a local fabricator. However, all fabrication is done at the corporate fabrication facility in Indianapolis. Your top is made by Cambria. So, here there is no way to preview the slab. I thought that is how they are done everywhere, but maybe not. Having Cambria make your top is a good thing. It ensures consistency with fabrication. Other quartz brands have fabricators all over the place that have different edge profiles (router bits) and differing ways of setting sinks. I use two different fabricators for my quartz and both offer different shaped edge profiles.

So the Kitchen Place uses only 1 fabricator who actually has the slabs for all it's locations?

Ellie, I'm glad you had that option! I'm in PA, and I spoke with 3 local Cambria dealers. All used the same place in OH to get their slabs. I drove to OH (2.5 hours) to view the Brittannica slabs this authorized facility had in stock, but they would not hold any slab for me, nor would they allow me to approve/view the templating. They told me it was per Cambria policy. I called Cambria, and they told me this wasn't their official policy. But I had no choice since the faculty in OH was the only one all my local Cambria dealers used! I just wanted to make sure the OP knew this might be an issue, as I've heard it from others re: Cambria as well.

I am surprised at The Kitchen Place's response. I had understood from previous threads on this forum that viewing the slab and being present at the templating were a must due to the risk of your slab having resin pooling areas. These are not covered by the warranty. Simple solution is to pick a slab without resin pooling, or be at the templating to make sure it is cut out. Here is a thread about it:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2688529/need-advice-badly-what-should-i-do-about-my-countertop

I'm not sure I understand your question, Ellie. I have access to ONE Cambria vendor that only performs the template and install portion of the job. The tops are cut and fabricated by Cambria at another location 3 hours away. It's all done electronically and with a CNC machine. My local vendor fabricator does not stock any material at all. Cambria in Indy warehouses all the slabs for everyone in our area. Hope that helps explain.

For other quartz brands and for granite, I have two other fabricating companies that I work with....and they stock popular colors of granite and quartz.

Hello,

Thank you all for your interest in our product and for sharing your experiences
with us. Every Cambria dealer and fabricator may behave differently in regards
to slab selection and the templating process. We recommend working directly
with your local dealers and fabricators to find the local partner will offer
the best solution for your needs. Utilize the dealer locator tool
on our website for a full list of local Cambria partners in your area.

To get a better idea of what a large slab may look like in your own home, we
recommend stopping by one of our many dealers, showrooms, and galleries that are located
throughout the country. At many locations, we have full slabs on view to give
our customers a better idea of the unique movement in our designs.
Additionally, customers are encouraged to view 3D renderings of certain styles
via our
website. Simply navigate to the specific design palette page, and
underneath the detailed information of each design click ‘View Slab’ for a
simulated view of a full slab.

Thanks, we hope this helps! Feel free to call us with any questions at
1-866-CAMBRIA or email us at CustomerService@CambriaUSA.com
with your specific questions.

We had the local Cambria dealer come to provide us with a bid for our countertops since that company is the option offered through Costco. There is only one dealer in the entire area and they have a corner on Cambria countertops. The sales rep spent most of the visit dissing the other quartz countertop options saying how much better Cambria was than the others. He made claims like Silestone is only "semi-non-porous" so it's more susceptible to staining than Cambria and that Cambria uses a superior manufacturing process (Breton is Breton, is it not?).

The other vendors from whom we got quotes gave us the information on the spot with detailed line item costs and information on demolition, plumbing reconnect, tile work, etc. It has been several days since the Cambria visit and we've heard crickets from them.

I am a fabricator. As Joe said, all the brands you mentioned are made on Breton machines so there is virtually no difference in the material properties. That said, it's still to your advantage to see the slabs that will be used to make your countertops. "Resin pools", which are areas where the resin/inclusion mixture was incompletely mixed, are defects which can be hideous, looking like a big gob of mucus in your countertop. Looking at the slabs also helps you understand what the grain transition(s) at seam(s) will be before anything is cut. The fussier you are the more important it is to view the slabs to be used for YOUR kitchen.

Nothing to compare

Caesarstone is by far the BEST quartz company in the world Vs Cambria that just suck every time there is an issue.

in case to file a claim for product warranty they will make an excuse why it’s not their fault, blame the dealer, issue a slab as a “good will’ and try to force your fabricator to the work for free. If the fabricator won’t agree they will make you work with another company against your Will.

im a fabricator, it happens to me.

they hierd a different company to complete the job, that guy did not do a good job, my client called me back asking me to redo it, I agreed but Cambria did not allow it. What a joke

another fact

caesarstone vs Cambria

we are one of the largest retail kitchen companies in Florida we also have one of the most advanced fabrication shop in Florida powered by fully automated fabrication machines

we sell 70% Caesarstone and 20% Pompeii and 10^ All the rest of quartz countertop.

we stopped selling Cambria because they never stood behind their waranty even when we did it was only few slabs a year.

caesarstone is the best material out there. Strong, durable and god good company behind it.

I am/was very close to ordering Cambria Smithfield. Is Caesarstone really better?

We had Cambria in our previous home when we renovated our kitchen in 2007. We sold our house in 2018 and it was just as beautiful as the day we installed it. We built our final home in 2019. Upon advice I picked a Caesarstone countertop. Right out of the gate I started noticing spots appearing. This wasn’t my first rodeo with the care and maintenance of quartz. So we started our correspondence with the rep in our area. We sent pictures but very hard to discern the amount of marks. After literally a few months of going back and forth he came over to the house. He had an attitude from the time we started our correspondence. Brent looked at our countertops and said this is your fault the way you clean it. I said with what with a soft cloth and a little soap. Plus rinsing it with a clean cloth. He pulled out vim, barkeepers friend and started trying to clean it and after two hours said he couldn’t get it out. He was very very rude. Said he would submit it his superiors as we were still under warranty. Never heard from him or anyone at Caesarstone. So if you think this company deals with issues in my particular situation they did absolutely nothing. I also became aware of others having similar problems with no service at all. Also under warranty. So I guess it’s buyer beware.

ksun27 I really appreciate you posting this! I will quit second guessing countertops other than wondering if Smithfield is too plain white? Or possibly if Inverness Frost is a better choice. I guess I don't really have to worry about it it since my contractor keeps making excuses. He keeps promising to install my new cabinets in two weeks. I hired him in November for a start date of renovations in January. This is so frustrating. No one wants to work, but he didn'tmind asking for a deposit. Now I am looking for someone else...

Elaine_M
This was my experience. I’m sure you could find someone who has had the opposite experience. But as I have posted this on Houzz and Facebook I have many people who have had very similar issues with Caesarstone. The thing with Caesarstone is they didn’t honour our warranty. That has been an issue with others. Things can happen that’s life, but not to honour a warranty is bad form. This happened to us and it wasn’t even a year since we had it installed.
I’m sorry you are having contractor problems. That is the worst. Yes it is very frustrating. I’ve heard your story from other people I know. I blame everything on Covid. Yes your right people don’t want to work. We have similar problems where I live. I wish you the best in finding someone to carry your kitchen to the finish line.

Elaine_M, I know it's difficult. I had to wait 3 weeks for a template and it will be another 3 weeks or so for installation. Probably another week or two after that for faucet, disposal, and dishwasher hookup. Then it will be done.

I finally decided on Silestone Eternal Statuario. It's not a white white but it's peaceful and it goes with what I have.

I liked a number of Viateras more (Lumina, Muse, and Etude), but the only Viatera full slab I could see was Karis, which was too busy for me.

I did not have the nerve to pick something for which I could not see the full slab.

My dealer had full slabs of Cambria Seacourt and it was beautiful but not $1000 more beautiful if you know what I mean. It has delicate light grey veins with pure white splotches and darker white but it doesn't have the darker veining.

People are saying Breton is Breton and that's true but the patent is fairly open-ended in that there are variations in the "rock" material and color used and this leads to different slab weights per unit area, among other things. I don't know about different manufacturers providing different surface treatments but I'd avoid the matte or sueded finishes based on horror stories here. I wish that there was more transparency in the industry.

@Carol DemasThe place I was going to go with is 8 weeks out now to get scheduled for measurement/template. I am very tempted to do with a slab of quartzite that I will not have to wait fto get. I ordered two 10x12" samples last wekend. I received one today. (Smithfield), I have not received the Inverness Frost. I also talked to another granite place that said the marble colors in Cambria are hard to get right now. :( I do not want to be without a kitchen all summer. It owuld be different if it was our main home. I am renovating a condo on the beach. I might end up renting it when I get older. Not that I am young now. lol

My friend got quartzite it is gorgeous

@ksun27 what color is it?

Hmm. I will ask her. Seeing her over the weekend.

@carol Seacourt is at HomeDepot now. I thought it would be less. The only problem I see is that their installers are probably not as good. Seacourt is beautiful. I really need to see what I am buying too. I guess mine will be Cambria Smithfield

Elaine_M, in my area, the biggest local independent (a company I've used twice previously and am currently using for the third time) is also the installer for Home Depot. They are about as skilled as it gets but I can't say the same for other localities. My salesman told me that they add all kinds of surcharges to the initial Home Depot quotes so their prices end up about the same.

They bumped up my installation to Thursday! And my range is installed so I was able to cook today for the first time in about 4 months--what a thrill to eat real food again and not microwave/frozen/canned garbage!

Elaine_M It is a soft white with light and some dark grey veining. My friends daughter is getting married tomorrow and I was over there tonight. She will look up the exact name. I will take a picture of it as well if you like.

ksun27 Thank you! I would love to see a picture!

I am looking at quartzite and would love to see a picture and know the color as well. Remodeling a kitchen is not for the faint of heart!

Elaine_M my friends daughter’s wedding will be done at the end of today. It was a long weekend here. I will go over on Wednesday and snap a few pics.

Carol , I see you said you went with silestone how do you like it. Was it 1,000 more for your full kitchen to go with Cambria?

We put Caesarstone in last year when we remodelled our kitchen in a vacation house. It stains with red wine, tea, and coffee. We could not get the marks out with soap and water and used non-bleach gel soft scrub. Fainter, but still there, especially the tea. We are building a new house and looking at quartz again (and getting cold feet). We tested a Cambria sample with coffee, tea, and red wine sitting overnight. Wiping with just water, the marks were almost gone, and with some dishsoap, totally gone. Seems much more stain resistant.

@segauch - what finish is your Caesarstone? I've heard similar complaints about the honed and concrete finishes, but not about the polished. I'm getting ready to order and will be going with polished.. but reading your comment makes me wonder. Thanks for your insight

We have polished Organic White countertops. We also get subtle metal marks that won't come out. These counters are just a few months old. No one else would notice it, but I certainly do. I would recommend getting a sample of the quartz you are considering and testing it yourself. Maybe we're just unlucky? Although, the number of websites that say "quartz doesn't stain" seem to be equalled by the number of websites that say "here's how to get stains out of your quartz". We haven't tried Magic Eraser and it is somewhat discouraged since it is abrasive, but we may try that next.

Thank you @segauch - I can imagine the frustration of having marks on something practically brand-new. The Organic White is lovely though. Have you tried a Magic Eraser on those metal marks or is that a no-no?

We used to get those marks on our honed Caesarstone. I got them out using Softscrub with bleach.