I have attached a second pic which shows the top end of the line in question. Note there are some finer marks and some whitish blurred marks in the granite as well. Replacing this will likely cost me full price...as I feel it was my fault for not being there during templating. But I also think the wholesaler or cutter shared some responsiblity for this as well. Look forward to hearing your thoughts and experiences, especially the pros. Thanks so much :)

You said it's perfectly smooth? It's really hard to tell. I agree it looks pretty bad. Because it doesn't show up on the edge, I'm guessing it's not a fracture. It could be a really bad scratch that had clear fill poured over it, but usually if you polish out a scratch, you don't see it anymore. It could also be a vein, like you said. Although, if they told you it would be cut around, then you have a right to complain. I'll show this to my foreman and see what he thinks. Can you attach a photo from directly above and close to the offending line?

Yes, it is 100% paid for though they are members of the better business bureau. They convinced my husband it is all part of the natural beauty and told him it was normal. They stuck a bbb recommendation sheet under my nose and i felt really pressured by everyone to go along with this.

In your first photo, it looks like a natural crack, which does occur in natural stone, but in your second photo, it looks more like a scratch. I would definitely get your contractor involved. Did you write on the order to template around the area, or was it just a verbal?

It appears to be a natural vein running through the stone, especially if you can't feel it on the surface, but like, Granite Grannies said it's hard to tell. I would say it's probably part of the stone, and something that should have been addressed at slab selection or lay out. I'm not sure how involved you were in this process, but if you were told by the fabricator that they would work around it, then they should have. If they weren't able to, then that should've been communicated to you prior to install.

As far as recourse goes, if you feel you've communicated your dissatisfaction to the fabricator and they aren't willing to try to resolve the situation, then you can go to the state license board. Hopefully, they are licensed. Depending on your state, they will come out do an inspection, and let you know if this is something that can and should be fixed. If the fabricator then fails to perform, they will take out a bond against them to have someone else fix it.

I am attaching a more closeup photo. Thank ou gg. It is smooth.

That looks like a natural vein from this angle. When you sell the house, tell the potential buyers it's a wonderful natural variation in the stone that was probably caused by an earthquake or other geological shift. That would be my recommendation on how to sell it to a potential buyer.

It looks like it is a natural vein in the stone. That being said, sometimes during fabrication these flaws cause a problem and are made worse. Did you write down the request to work around the vein or was it a verbal request? If this was arranged through your contractor, then ask the contractor to talk to the fabricator. Usually fabricators will take care of anything that will cause them a problem with the contractor because they get work through the contractor and don't want to lose this referral. If they could work around the flaw, it would have been smart of them to do so. If the surface is very smooth and there are no slightly dull areas from filler, then it will be ok and the flaw will be something you forget about over time. I think any buyer will understand natural stone variations, and most won't pay attention. You will have to see if you notice it in a month or two. Because it is new you notice it more. Good luck and I hope you get the result you want.

It looks natural, and it adds character. My granite has veins through it, and everybody has ooed and awed over it. Go with it:o)

It was just discussed verbally and even then over the phone so there may have ben a misunderstanding. It is a good lesson for me - be there when they template. And the fabricator could have offered up another slab, i didn't fully understand my buying rights. That said, i have contacted the cutter to express my unhappiness and ask if we can come to a compromise on this. Thank you everyone so much.

Ps. Well, my employees do tell me i am too detail oriented :)

Update: they are offering to charge me 2500 to fix it which means i pay for the slab again and they will cut and install. I think we paid 4500 for the original job so I don't really see any discount here. Am i being too fussy?

I think it looks like a natural vein that adds interest.

Do you have any recourse in the future if the countertop fails--as in breaks in two?

No i don't...my hubby and I did this as our first kitchen reno and we dealt with all the tradespeople directly.

Lesson learned: use a general contractor in the future, for the little extra you might pay they are well worth it, because they will guarantee the work for a period of time.

While we have dealt with a lot of professsional good ppl on this, I have a much better appreciation for the role of the contractor and value. The hours off work, hassle and stress we have incurred I will gladly pay for next time.

Go to the contractor's license board. They usually require a contractor or specialty contractor to warranty their work for a certain period of time. Now in this case, if it is a vein, it is not a deficiency in their work (poor communication certainly). In AZ we are required to offer a two-year warranty on labor.

If the fabricator is licensed, bonded, and insured, I would think he would warranty his work as well.

That is for sure a vein. That vein would also be in all of the slabs in that run. Look how you can see it in the edge and how it changes color from the outside of the line to the inside.
You might have also signed a disclaimer stating the veins are natural and a part of the rock.

"Update: they are offering to charge me 2500 to fix it which means i pay for the slab again and they will cut and install. I think we paid 4500 for the original job so I don't really see any discount here. Am i being too fussy?"

That sounds like they are offering you a half discount to replace a piece that (if I'm reading everything correctly) is not damaged in any way, just has a vein you personally don't like.

It's one thing to warranty work, and another to warranty a natural material. There is nothing empirically wrong with that slab, correct?

Could they go over the top and replace the whole thing for free...yes. Is the current offer fair, yes. It sounds like you were working with someone who was giving you a good deal on the price to start with. If it was us, and our client had paid more to work with use, I would probably replace it. However, I don't know if you can in all fairness ask him to replace it for free.

We were told these were veins also half ass filed with epoxy not smoothed over and they are getting worse. Veins or cracks?!

There are over 12 veins-cracks in this location!

Steve, please start your own thread. This one is CLOSED.

qam999:

The thread may be 5 years old, but it's hardly closed.

Steve:

It's your statement that the veins are getting worse that concerns me most. Properly filled and polished natural fissures in stone should not be changing. What's under that stone, please?

It's called a fissure ( a natural crack in stone )

Steve, these look like fissures, breakages made by cracking or splitting within the stone. Your photos are a bit blurry but from what I can see it looks like it.

If that is a natural/normal look for granite to have crack lines.....I wouldn't be purchasing it! Why spend a lot of money on something that looks broken?