It looks like it broke and someone glued it back together, and then tried to pass it off as undamaged. Which is probably exactly what happened. I don't know if that "someone" was the installer or somewhere up the supply chain, but in any case. I don't think you should have to live with it.

Inherent to the stone my posterior.

I wouldn't except that. It would absolutely drive me crazy every time I looked at it.

No darn way....and if this is man made product and an employee of this company tried to tell you it is inherent I don't think I would purchase anything from them. It is making me see red and your kitchen counters don't mean much to me. To have an employee outright lie......no darn way......

I just looked at the website and they don't mention it will have rough areas .....Heck to the no.........I am angry for you.

Your counter is human high fired, gonzo compressed clay, ( and feldspar, silica, etc) and your fissure was not the result of nature but the result of human error. I would be so angry at the installer for trying to pass this off, and then lying, I'd probably create a fissure on his skull.

Please tell me you cancelled the order and called them out on being fraudulent. I am also very angry for you!

Agree with all of the above. Not only is that not acceptable, I too would reconsider the installer. I'd also contact Neolith. They are trying to build a customer base and fabricators like yours could kill the Neolith product. The manufacturer may help direct you to a more experienced fabricator.

Not just no, but hellllllllllllll no.

Thanks, all. I'm glad to know I'm not crazy for thinking this is unacceptable. I'm going to talk to the fabricator directly tomorrow and tell him it has to be fixed or replaced. One of the slabs apparently had fissures and cracks during the install, so he had to replace it on his own dime. He's an experienced fabricator with the stuff and most of the slabs that have been installed thus far look really good, but he even admits that this "gonzo compressed clay" (hahaha, I like that description) is quite challenging to work with. He's been super responsive and good to work with thus far, so hopefully he will find an acceptable fix.

It's sooo similar to stone, that the installer fooled himself. Or is full of bull puckey. Super pretty pip.

That's such a load of Bull there must have been flies swarming around him! Shame on him.

Agree. Send it back. It's annoying to wait longer getting it fixed but it'll be worth it

I hope he steps up and fixes this right for you. We have heard that this is challenging material. But it also commands a hefty price tag because of that. Good luck.

Rats. I'm sure you've gone though hoops to make sure everything was perfect with the Neolith - and then this. Hopefully, just a delay and then it will be perfect. I am so looking forward to seeing your progress/finished spaces!

There are practical reasons for epoxying the broken piece back in. It covers a brutally sharp edge, keeps the crack from additional chipping, and makes the sheet stronger. Of course it should be cut around and discarded after/during fabrication.

Good news - met with the fabricator today and he's going to try and repair the damage. He can make this Neolith wall two inches smaller, and cut out the chip. Hopefully this will hide the chip. If this is not satisfactory, he said he would buy another slab and start over.

That's a good thing!

Did you have to tell him that you're not buying the "fissures in the stone" nonsense?

No, thankfully, I didn't -- it was a pleasant conversation with no finger pointing. The owner of the fabricating company is a real stand up guy. The installer could tell by the look on my face yesterday that I wasn't buying any of his malarky.

"inherent defect" -- I'm still laughing about that one.

Maybe by "inherent defect" he meant "this stuff breaks super easily and is impossible to repair invisibly"? I mean... that IS a problem inherent to the material, if you look at it a certain way.

You bring up a good point. This stuff has it's strong points, but repairability isn't one of them.

I suppose, but this was a clear case of improper workmanship, which does not really have anything to do with the material being defective -- it's the fabricator's error and they thankfully admitted as much. It could have gotten damaged in the truck coming over to the house and they epoxied it back on hastily before we came over to inspect. Who knows. I'm just glad they owned it and are addressing it. Moving on...

(That was about 89% a joke. Imagine a winking emoji at the end of the comment)

all good, Elizabeth. I figured as much. ;) Houzz needs to figure out a way to incorporate emojis...they would come in handy here.

I laughed out loud when I read your post.
Did he expect the little lady to nod and smile? Walk away appeased?
Holy moly. Just like we do when cigarette companies affirm that yes, once again, research proves cigarettes don't cause cancer. (Nod Nod Nod)
No global warming, either.

It is AMAZING what people try to pass off.
In the house I am rebuilding, the original owner was worse than my ex-GC-DH. Everything was wonky and jury-rigged. I've had people I saved to pay install or make something and it was off. I'd ask for correction, and what would leak out of their lips? "Oh, everything existing in this house is off..." YOU BUILT IT, BUTT-HEAD!? Of course, I actually said, "Buddy."

I'm glad your conversation came to a good end. I think the owner should doubt and question the installer, if he's going to tell you something that blatantly stupid.