There's a thread around here somewhere. You'd better find it and read it, please.

Thank you, we are considering it but I want to make sure that it's a good decision.

Yeah, there was a scathing thread about it not too long ago...

Thanks, I found it. Will be doing some more research first

I have ordered rugged concrete for my new kitchen, high traffic teenagers and lots of cooking. What thread?? I ordered fresh concrete for bath vanities.. any reviews or comments?

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/terrible-experience-with-caesarstone-dsvw-vd~5013208?n=190

I have Rugged Concrete, installed about two months ago, but only light use so far. I'm not sure I'm satisfied yet. I just read the thread linked above, and believe my issues are similar to that OP - any use, including putting a damp hand on the counter, leaves marks that do not easily wipe up. See photo included.

I am in Canada and the Canadian Caesarstone site recommends Method Daily Granite cleaner and Vim. The specific Vim product is not specified. Vim "in the yellow bottle" was recommended by the seller of my countertop.

I tried Method Daily Granite cleaner and it did nothing. I did not want to try the abrasive Vim without further discussion, so have been using Vim with OxyGel (blue liquid) which does not "appear" abrasive. It seems to work, but I hate the smell. As I said, I'm not sure I'm satisfied yet, although I'm very reluctant to pull these counters out.

Yikes:( Thank you for the picture.. I love the look but am not thrilled about the high maintenance. So the stains are not able to be removed??

Thanks Joseph. Can you suggest some brands? I'm in western Canada and my kitchen consultant is suggesting quartz (Caesarstone or SileStone). We have Staron on our island and really like it.

Murphy, in my own opinion and somewhat limited experience, the situation is not yet dire.

The first photo shows a section of the counter that was in use for about 5 days (by my husband, who likely barely cleaned it), and the second photo is when I tackled it today with Dawn Ultra. I used the Dawn full strength, and probably too much of it, so it was annoying to rinse off, but I did not do any heavy scrubbing. I tried the Dawn because, as noted above, the Vim with OxyGel worked but I did not like the strong smell.

So subject to being proved wrong in the future, I'd say the counter is fussier than I'd like, but it has been coming clean.

Thank you so much for sharing the before and after photo that was really nice of you.. The after-clean looks pretty good, I read somewhere that a light scrub with baking soda also works.. if you try that can you let me know if your like the result.. I have about another week to decide if I am going to look for another option or keep.

Does anyone have pics or info on caesarstone cloudburst concrete counters?? Wonder if same problems as rugged concrete?

coach5721:

There are many nice concrete look-alikes; take a look at Corian and Formica solid surface please.

murphy1987:

It's the matte finish, not the color, that's the problem with engineered stone.

I will take a look at the brands you suggested. Thank you..

Ikea has a concrete lookalike. I don't know anything about them though.

The issue is the honed and leathered surfaces on quartz. I would do quartz like Difiniti Fossil Grey- still looks like concrete with a slight polish on the finish. Otherwise honed steel grey granite.

I have leathered (not honed) steel grey granite and I adore it! It kind of changes color with the lighting, sometimes it looks light grey, other times it looks almost black. Feels smooth, kind of like soapstone, except colder. No veining patterns, it's more like rock. Leathered granite is also sometimes called brushed granite, but honed granite is a different process.

Here are a couple of photos of my steel grey leathered/brushed granite before our kitchen was complete. You can see how the lighting affects the color.

@skmom it looks gorgeous!

Thank you for the pics.. I have never seen leathered granite very interesting option..

Astonia I am going to look at honed granite.. Putting countertops in a beach house and wanted to create a carefree surf look.. Do you think there is another option for counters?? I am going to instal Gesso matte white tiles as backsplash and white cabinets with cattle horn handles from australia

http://www.ceramic-tile4u.com/emil-kotto-gesso-5x10.html

https://www.handlesbymood.com/product/satin-pewter-brown-cattle-horn-cabinet-handle-pull-144/