This is my chips on my CS as well. Happened within the first 6 months with no trauma to the counter, just happens seemingly out of thin air. I thought about paying our fabricator the $250 to repair, but they are just popping up everywhere. Do. Not. Buy. This. Product. I feel bad for everyone who invested in a renovation and used this product like me. Bar keepers should only be needed for extreme cleaning of stainless steel and other surfaces made for abuse, not average countertop use!

It would be great if a lawyer were to step up to help,us with a class action lawsuit. It is outright theft by Caesarstone to continue to sell a horrendous and defective product. in the meantime, all we can do is continue to post our reviews on every site and social media we can think of, so CS sales suffer.

Our chips come from thin air too. No rhyme or reason. We’re so disgusted with this product and company for ignoring so many complaints. We had a Trex deck that deteriorated after a few years. Years, not months. Apparently the boards were from a bad batch. Trex sent an investigator and wrote us a check to get it replaced. Great company and would buy their product again. Accidents and mistakes happen. Great customer service goes a long way. Too bad Caesarstone isn’t being one of those companies.

I am really confused and concerned by all these negative comments. We have a polished Caesarstone countertop in Frosty Carrina (white marble look) with slightly rounded edges and 5 years in it is still fabulous, no chips, no stains. When we occasionally get red wine smudges or "rings" (places where the shine is different) we remove them easily with Barkeeper's Friend. We are about to get Caesarstone for a bathroom renovation, for the sill on the shower, the niche in the shower and a few other places and I am wondering if the product has declined, or if the complaints are related to having honed surfaces, black surfaces, or sharply defined edges. Help!

We thank everyone for sharing their experiences and engaging about Caesarstone products. We apologize if these experiences have been poor and hope those have been addressed for everyone. For any cleaning issues, we recommend reviewing our website (https://www.caesarstoneus.com/care-maintenance/quartz-mineral-surfaces/) where we have recommendations, videos and instructions on how to maintain your countertops. Please note that Honed, Concrete, and Rough finishes require more cleaning than our Polished finishes. Since there is a more exposed surface area with these finishes, metal marks, fingerprints, and other signs of daily living will show. However, most of these marks can be removed with little effort and non-abrasive cleaning products such as Soft Scrub Liquid Gel. Quartz is very durable being resistant to cracks, scratches, and stains but is it indestructible? No. Typically, chips can happen along the edges from pressure and/or force with a sharp object. This is something that can be discussed with your fabricators prior to fabrication as our products can have different shape edges. Chips can be fixed by restoration companies as well. Again, we thank everyone for reaching out and feel free to reach out to us via our website. We would be happy to answer any questions you have while shopping for your new kitchen material. If you have any further concerns or questions, please reach out to us at https://www.caesarstoneus.com/contact-us/

Thank you @caesarstone for taking note of our concerns and providing a response. You suggest concerns be sent to your website which I have done with no response so it seems a public forum is the only way to get attention. My outstanding question still not answered: is it the company position that handprints and water marks can not be wiped up off your darker polished surfaces (vanilla noir) and should require the use of soft scrub to remove? And, if that is the case, shouldn’t the company make it clear that a surface you are recommending for use around a sink and other wet areas will constantly have visible marks on it unless freshly cleaned with soft scrub (or similar product) and thoroughly dried/buffed?

If it is NOT normal that a polished vanilla noir surface should require that extra level of care, then perhaps you can own up to the fact that there are some defective slabs out there and start providing a remedy to those of us that experience this unfortunate situation. Or, admit to the world that you are not being forthcoming when describing the ease of care of this product. Simply put, no kitchen counter material should require soft scrub and buffing to keep it free from plain water marks.

In response to Caesarstone’s reply, any readers of this take note….any complaints to CS fall on deaf ears. None of soft scrub, bar keepers friend nor any other cleaner recommended to me by Caesarstone could remove the finger prints, wipe marks and smudeges. And at the time I purchased the product, the only mention I saw on the website as far as cleaning was how ”easy to clean and maintain” the countertop would be. This was an extremely misleading statement! i have been in touch with CS, and no solution has been forthcoming. so their comment above is, to me, rather disingenous.

@Calllee is absolutley correct that it is NOT normal that a countertop made and sold for kitchens and bathrooms should require constant cleansers and buffing to have the product look good, And in my case, not even that helped. CS in fact sent a stone technician out to look at my countertop who acknowledged that there was an issue…..but the fact I had removed the countertop had, they said, voided any warranty. i had removed it only 10 feet away so it could be replaced, but yet they said something must have happened either in the fabrication of the countertop or removal. That was total crap….the only thing that had happened was that they sold, and continue to sell, defective products that are not fit for kitchen use,

I had removed it as I knew I could not live with such a horrendous countertop (if it was this bad within 1 week of installation, I could only imagine how dreadful it would be after any more use) and I figured the cost of replacing it would be better than hating my entire kitchen reno. It never occurred to me, nor to my decorator or contractor, that CS would not offer some form of compensation given the countertop was defective (iI.e. could not be cleaned to look clean at all). Yet CS refused. and based on all the comments here, I am not alone. My decorator and contractor, and those in their trade networks, are no longer using CS, since there are many other and better options available.

So for anyone considering a CS countertop, I strongly suggest you look at competitor products, They are not all the same, despite what CS may say. And don’t get sucked in like I did by the name CS and by all its fancy advertising, which made me think CS HAD (past tense) a good reputauion of quality product. It is a terrible product based on my experience and is best avoided. The fact CS continues to sell its honed countertops is beyond disgraceful!

Agree with recent responses to CS statement. Our chips are NOT from any impact and are literally appearing from out of the blue!!!

@Caesarstone

Let's break down your response:

1. "We apologize if these experiences have been poor and hope those have been addressed for everyone."

None of us have had our issues satisfactorily addressed. Read the thread.

2. "For any cleaning issues, we recommend reviewing our website (https://www.caesarstoneus.com/care-maintenance/quartz-mineral-surfaces/) where we have recommendations, videos and instructions on how to maintain your countertops."

You recommended that I combine Barkeeper's Friend and Soft Scrub. 1. Time consuming for basic every day use. 2. Still didn't work.

3. "Quartz is very durable being resistant to cracks, scratches, and stains but is it indestructible? No."

I wouldn't have thought that aluminum foil would scratch this "very durable... resistant to cracks" product. I was wrong.

4. "Chips can be fixed by restoration companies as well."

What the above sentence actually means: "Those of you with problems are going to have to hire an outside company to fix our inferior product."

5. "We would be happy to answer any questions you have while shopping for your new kitchen material."

Shopping for new kitchen material? After what we spent on your product? Not likely.

My counters looked better when I covered them with contact paper. Maybe I'll try that next.

I wish I'd read these comments before installing this product a couple of months ago. Yes, even a drop of water wiped up immediately will leave a mark. I've contacted the company about having a representative look at my counters but it sounds like anything being done is probably not going to happen. No need to talk about a class action. With all these negative comments they probably won't be around. Ceasarstone has been a big disappointment. Maybe for a show home with cards placed "do not touch" is the only way they look good. I wonder how many are in Canada. This is something "Marketplace" may be interested in doing an investigative story about

Caesarstone:

I'd suggest the author of your next response have a familarity with the use of paragraphs.

I'll do copywriting and editing for a fee.

Caesarstone

I'm really curious as to who and why the decision was made to finally respond to a 6-year-old disasterous thread. Someone decided to go head-on after abandoning the ignore tactic? Fascinating.

Years ago, somebody at the highest level of Caesarstone probably did a cost/benefit analysis of releasing this trash. On one hand, the competition was going to, so you can't look like you're less than they are. On the other hand, somebody in the technical department warned the poo-bahs that if they marketed this junk, it would come back to bite them mightily. I'm betting someone in accounting took a good look at all the money to be made, factored in the cost of the reputational damage and the likelihood of a class action lawsuit and when the CEO read his report, he pulled the trigger anyway.

Speaking of class action lawsuits, remember Wilsonart's Solid Surface Veneer? Compared to that garbage, Caesarstone looks like a star performer. They thought they had the problems figured out when they bonded the SSV to the substrate for the fabricators. They were wrong. Wilsonart ended up paying guys like me to do warranty calls. A buddy of mine was an expert witness on that case. Of course, like what will happen here, fabricators will end up getting screwed, .33 cents on the dollar for SSV replacement.

Your accountant probably already figured the cost of the class action lawsuit into his cost/benefit analysis and he's got you covered.

Well played, Caesarstone, well played.

Oopsie, it was Wilsonart's famous failing blue glue settlement that reimbursed fabricators .33 on the dollar. I do strive for accuracy.

Update: Tenax Quartz Toner makes a positive difference. Definitely better, especially when dealing with those "quick" stains like water droplets.

(Not that I've used it, of course, as doing so would void any warranty or possibly make me ineligible for any reimbursement if there is a class action suit or deter CS from refunding any of my money when they concede "You know, you're right. Our product is not what was promised." Nope. Not me. This is just knowledge gained through casual neighborhood chats.)

The Quartz Toner is available through amazon and is easy to use. (Definitely not speaking from experience.)

I am leery of honed quartz products in general. Silestone Suede finish seems to perform well and is forgiving. But generally speaking I'd test the non shiny quartz products before purchasing if possible. Maybe take a sample home and use oil, etc. to test them. Or just skip them and get shiny quartz. Or perhaps get a stone in a non shiny finish that a fabricator recommends. If looking for lighter colors, perhaps an acrylic like Corian or Hi-Macs in their normal matte finish would look good. But dark acrylics show scratches too easily.

And we remember a glue failure from the late 80s early 90s. Many laminate tops were redone because of that. Perhaps that is the one referenced in another comment. I don't remember the brand.

Were the problems with Caeserstone only on honed, natural or suede finishes vs. polished finishes? Did they used to make Vanilla Noir in honed/natural, as I only see it in polished on sale now.

My vanilla noir is polished. I’ve gone back to my fabricator to try to determine if something was applied before or during installation that could be the culprit.

I posted on another Houzz forum but to second Ann the CS countertop I have is shocking - chips marks etc. I'm replacing it . To Tamara - I have cloudburst. Stains everywhere. especially around sink and near the tap black dots frequently appear which I have to scrub off. It's clearly defective but is marked with the correct caesarstone serial numbers etc. I don't even want it 'fixed' at thie point just want to get rid of and start again with another product.

Biggest mistake of my kitchen remodel was Ceaserstone. I've reached out to the company, they respond that a representative will get in touch. When I follow up a few weeks later they say they have no record of my request even though I've copied their response in my email. They just stall and hope you will go away. From my experience I wouldn't recommend them. It stains like crazy. No problems so far with chipping but I am so careful. It may be fine for a show home used simply for looks but not real life.

Here's my issue. After installing Caesarstone in my kitchen 10 years ago, the whole slab started to 'bow'... lowering the corner edge of the slab by over and inch, making the dishwasher below, almost impossible to open. They of course, have denied culpability, and despite saying "lifetime guarantee", are unwilling to talk with me in person or examine the issue. There was no extreme exposure to the slab of heat/cold or anything that would damage it, and yet as a company, they aren't interested in following up to even determine if the fault lies in their product. unbelievable!

@laurenskitchen I'm trying to imagine it. Can you post a picture? My caesarstone is supported by cabinets underneath.

I have ordered it to be installed at the end of the month. I am so glad that I came to look at the reviews here. My order will be canceled today.

Hi Debra, you won’t regret cancelling your order given the defective products of CS and the horrendous customer service, You’ll have no problems I’m sure finding a great replacement, as there are so many better options out there.

Good luck, enjoy your new kitchen, and glad the comments here helped.

I wished I had known about Houzz and checked out the reviews before my renovation and my CS costly mistake!

https://mixandmatchdesign.com/new-blog/a-review-of-our-quartz-countertops-one-year-later

I’m researching countertop materials and have come across many grear reviews of caesarstone. I attached just one The timing of this flurry of negativity over the last 7 months is interesting

If anyone is thinking about this horrible Caesarstone countertop please don't choose it. They will not stand behind there warranty. The material is junk. Mine was defective from the minute of install. I tried to refuse it and they said it's not defective. I've called everyone involved and no response but denied. I'm looking into a class action suit. I'll put it on here with my email if I find someone to take it.

@ruthcook, i’m sure many of us would join a class action lawsuit against Caesarstone for selling products that it knows are defective, making false claims on its website and not standing behind its warranty given all the comments on this forum. i definitely would join such a suit. Hopefully a lawyer will see these comments and want to take this on! fingers crossed

I have chips and holes all over my Smartstone benchtops and i

Definitely do not choose Caesarstone. It's junk. Everyone is having trouble with it.

@annkippin i see your pictures and i h the same counter countertop and have gad the same issues. my installer said its a cesaerstone problem and ceasarstone denies any problem. were you able to find anything that works?

In respnse to @jenniferbyrdrd, based on my experience (and that of many in this discussion forum and elsewhere) Caesarstone is a horrendous company that knowlingly sells products that it knows are not fit for kitchen use. And it refuses to do anything about it to offer compensation to its customers, only denies responsibility or warranty coverage…..likely because it knows that if it did, it could bankrupt the company because of all the defective product claims that would be filed against it. hopefully contractors and designers will hear and read enough complaints that they will stop recommending Caesarstone to their clients….i know mine certainly have stopped recommending it. But to answer your question Jennifer, no I could not find any product that could properly clean the countertop, so I replaced it with a competitor product, and have had no problems with my new countertop. An expensive undertaiking to replace the crappy and expensive Caesarstone counter, but I absolutely love my replacment!

@annkippin, what product did you replace it with?

Replaced it with Silestone (also quartz )

Thank you @annkippen!

@annkippen, which Silestone did you select, and is it better to choose polished instead of honed?

Ann Kippen , Calle ... 1000% SAME issue w/ Ceasarstone Vanilla Noir. Hazy & marks from initial install, marks in so many places. Visible streaks & overall foggy/cloudy look. I purchased the Soft Scrub w/ bleach recommended on CS website & have read every word on the Care & Mtn.

I called CS today & left a message ,then found this post.

This is beyond disappointing as we did our kitchen walls & counter tops in Vanilla Noir. We went all out on this build, especially the kitchen. This is terrible?!

leah

atlanta

the first few were during construction - the smears are still there

when installed it was polished /black looking at least - now hazy or "patina" as they call it except the "patina" insnt coming off

there might be a class asciont suit already underway: https://www.classaction.org/news/defective-ikea-caesarstone-quartz-countertops-are-prone-to-permanent-staining-class-action-claims#:~:text=Caesarstone%20USA%2C%20Inc.&text=A%20class%20action%20claims%20Ikea's,permanently%20stain%20from%20normal%20use.

Everyone get in on this lawsuit against Caesarstone

Wow I'm so glad I found this thread! I am about to start a bathroom reno and just looked at Ceasarstone Slabs this morning. Now I definitely won't buy from them!

FYI I had Silestone quartz (Eternal Calcutta Gold, Polished) installed in my kitchen 2 years ago and I love it. Red wine, curry, etc. and all I need is blue dawn dish soap and it all scrubs off. Looks like I'll be going with Silestone for the bathrooms!

Hi Everyone, i have the same problem with Caesarestone. My Blizzard stone changed its Colors to brownish. i contacted CS , they said its not cover under warranty. its not clear whats covered under warranrty ??? they even stopped responding. at this point, looks like the best would be to contact a tv channel and complain on tv. who’s in?

Im in

Not a lawyer, so unclear if I am interpreting this correctly, but it looks like Ikea was successfully removed from the Caesarstone lawsuit. Also, I think it says the court dismissed the class action element of the suit ("Plaintiff's class -wide allegations with regards to their MMWA Breach of Implied Warranty Claim (Fifth Cause of Action) are dismissed;") If someone with a better understanding of the law wants to check out this update from December 2024, it is here:

https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/67727c70d17ef612d803046d

I have a Caesarstone Concrete 2003 island countertop and have the same issues as everyone else - random large stains showing up after brief water exposure. I have not tried Soft Soap. Has anyone actually had success with using that? So annoying.

I had a similar horrible experience with Caesarstone Raven (dark gray). Developed multiple darker gray splotches that look terrible and will not come out. We have been very careful and I have no idea where these came from... certainly no chemicals or hot pans or spills that we let sit. Contacted CS customer service which offered no help at all... they bascially just blamed me for not caring properly for it. Never again. Strongly encourage everyone to look elsewhere.

I had a similar horrible experience with Caesarstone Raven (dark gray). Developed multiple darker gray splotches that look terrible and will not come out. We have been very careful and I have no idea where these came from... certainly no chemicals or hot pans or spills that we let sit. Contacted CS customer service which offered no help at all... they bascially just blamed me for not caring properly for it. Never again. Strongly encourage everyone to look elsewhere.

We had Caesarstone countertops installed in Nov 2020. Remodel completed Jan 2021. 5 years ago. The Caesarstone was a problem from DAY 1! Was offered replacement but all removal and installation costs would be on us, and any damage in the process to cabinets would be our fist as well. So we still have it 5 yrs later I’m sad to say! I use pretty mats to cover the aweful stains when having company. It’s black honed, a matt finish. I wonder if the class action could include us, even tho we did not but at IKEA. Also it may be too late! Over 20 mos ago😢.

Anyone have any suggestions? I’ll listen!

Thx
Stephanie in San Diego

Many thanks for the reality of Caesarstone horror! Friend in new build (production home upgrade) revealed issue w/kitchen counter. Oh my -- run from this product! My new MO -- do research then visit slab cos and order samples. Should've paid heed to first youtube warning about chipped edge(s) on kitchen counter and redoing w/ole faithful granite or natural stone. Love the clean, consistent, pattern, non-busy, look, of some quartz but perhaps not worth it. No wonder granite is popular again. Not difficult to buy spray product and keep it sealed. What is wrong with these quartz cos!!

Any reputable quartz cos -- thanks. Cambria has positive reviews on Facebook but horror stories on Yelp - WOW! Strange!

To @abstract101, after my horrendous experience with my newly installed Caesarstone countertop, on which smudges and stains would appear and could not be removed with cleaning (even with products recommended by CS) and the total lack of support or responsibility taken by CS itself in selling products that it must have known were defective and not suitable for kitchen use,, I replaced mine with another quartz product, Silestone. Have had no problems since. My designer and contractor have sworn off recommending any CS product to any of their clients,,,,,hopefully with all these bad reviews, word will spread and their profitability will take a hit, big time!

i think there was/is a class action lawsuit for CS that was purchased through IKEA, but unfortunately that was not my situation…..and also, I am in Canada so would not be covered by a US class action anyway.

At all costs, avoid CS, and spread the word.

We all need to get together for a class action lawsuit. That company needs to stop doing business. They are crooks. Please will someone direct us to get this started.

To @ruth cook, i hope a lawyer sees this thread (even better if they‘ve had a lousy and costly experience with Caesarstone product themselves and got the run around re no warranty coverage as we all have) and can provide a quick rundown on what is required for a class action, one that would cover US and Canada. Unfortunately I am not a lawyer,