Joseph, it's definitely two different slabs, manufactured in two different years. There's a long run with the sink in it, then the mis-matched slabs are at each end. But it that considered an okay thing to do, to mix slabs from different lots or is considered bad practice?

Cheryl, I get it, I am a little OCD too. It’s why I am doing granite with a busy pattern, then I can’t freak out over the seams because they are hard to find :)
I sourced my slabs and made sure that they were in order in the run, for example they were number 42 and 43 from the same run of stone that was harvested.
The fabricator does have a responsibility to make it match, but I think that this is an acceptable match, therefore it’s probably on you to install new counters if this is going to make you crazy.

Thanks, Momofthree. I won't do anything until I can find out if this is considered acceptable practice or not. If it is, I'm going to have to live with it because we don't have the money to re-do. It didn't occur to me that they would use slabs that didn't match.

Honestly, I wouldn’t have thought of that either since quartz is a man made product. I would invite the fabricator out to see the issue and see what their response is. We had an issue with our granite oxidizing and turning green in a 4 inch section in our last house and they came right out to fix it. Most fabricators want happy customers...call them and see what they say. And, ask this question...is it typical that you would use pieces from slabs with manufacture dates two years apart?? Let us know what they say, because I am curious if that’s standard practice for quartz.

I definitely will. I emailed them yesterday showing the different dates on the slabs but they were closed at the time. Hopefully I'll hear from them this morning.

I just heard back from the rep, she said that someone was going to come assess the counter, because the slabs came from the same lot. I told her that wasn't the case, that they were made in two different years She said she wasn't aware of that, even though I emailed photos to the person I had been communicating with at the company, and she said she was going to get back to me. It's sounding like they are not supposed to use slabs from different lots. I'm hoping they will fix it with no issues.

Good luck, cheryl!

Betcha the fabricator found a remnant and used that to cut his cost and didn't pass any of that savings to you.

There's so much counter I honestly think they had to purchase two whole slabs.

Okay, she called back and said that it is standard to use slabs from the same lot for the same job, and according to what Caesarstone sent them, the two slabs are. She claimed to not know what the dates on the bottom meant, and said that they don't go by that, but reached out to Caesarstone. Depending on who they get in touch with, and she said it might be me, I will be hearing back from the manufacturer or them. Hopefully asap because this kitchen is taking forever. I did tell her that I wanted the stone on the other side to remain because it's far enough away that I don't think anyone could tell, and the installer made the seam almost invisible on that side.

See page 12. I would call Caesarstone directly and ask for Technical Support.

https://www.caesarstoneus.com/media/220459/caesarstone-spec-doc-revised-final-9-14-17b.pdf

Thank you for that, wilson853! I called and I'm glad I did because they said that this is definitely a fabricator error, because slabs from different batches are never supposed to be seamed and it was their responsibility to check. I'm waiting to hear from the Caesarstone sales rep that handles that account.

You’re welcome. Let us know how this turns out.

Woot!

I can barely see the difference on my monitor and only because I was looking for it. But if it's much more noticeable in person then you're doing the right thing by contacting both the fabricator and Caesarstone. I saw both my quartz slabs before they were templated (standard practice for my fabricator) and she showed me they were from the same lot.

I am still waiting to hear back from the Caesarstone sales rep that handles my fabricator's account.

If you only see a difference on the left seam and not the right, it’s not the material. It’s the lighting.

live_wire_oak, I have three seams. One of them is fine, because both pieces were from the same slab. The other two are from different slabs. There's a long piece in the middle, and then two pieces on each end. The end pieces are from a different batch than the middle one. I can see the manufacture dates on the underside of the slabs and one was made in 2017, and one was made in 2019.

Caesarstone told me that that is the manufacturing date.

pippabean_5b, according to Caesarstone's installation guidelines, if there are going to be seams the pieces need to be from the same lot so I shouldn't have had to. Somebody messed up somewhere.

Most fabricators do not stock quartz. They order it in. If you need 3 slabs for a job, you call up the distributor and order 3 slabs. They send them to you, and they get cut.

The point is to check your lighting. If you see a difference on the left seam, but there is no difference on the right, it isn’t a stone issue. I can’t see any difference at all in the seam to the right. i only see the very slightest of difference in the left seam. One that could possibly be attributed to a slightly different plane and how the lighting strikes it.

live_wire_oak, there is definitely a difference in the slabs and it's more visible in person that it is in the photos. The 2019 slab has a slightly grayer background than the other one. Every person who has looked at it here at the house has noticed that it doesn't match.

Just took these with the lights off. maybe you can see it better?

The third photo is just for reference. I took the other two photos at each end of the long run where the seams are.

Quartz is man-made and is very consistent in color from slab to slab BUT it does vary from lot to lot and distributors know better to send 2 slabs or more if required from the same lot same goes for granite where the difference will be more noticeable and in some cases like "night and day".

I see the difference, and I don’t find it acceptable. You have photographic proof they used different lots manufactured two years apart. I suppose it could have been a mistake, but it surely looks suspicious that they used remnants they still had two years later. Did they save money on you by using remnants and charging you for new slabs?

Manufacturers recommend tile be ordered in excess of the minimum needed for an installation to avoid the possibility of having to order additional tile from a different lot. Why should it be acceptable to seam together quartz from two different lots?

I’d be polite but firm. Let us know what happens.

Carolae, according to Caesarstone's own guidelines it's not acceptable. They clearly say that if you're going to seam two slabs, they have to be from the same lot. I'm almost positive that these aren't remnants because with all the counter space I have, it would take two whole slabs. I'm not sure if the fabricator didn't specify that the two slabs were for the same job, or if they did and Caesarstone didn't catch it. They have opened a warranty claim but that's all I know so far. I'm really, really hoping the sales rep will contact me today so I can find out what's going on.

Here's what they sent me showing how they cut the pieces.

Man, if only they had been able to get all the cuts for the "U" from the same slab, you wouldn't be here! I hope you get a resolution soon.

zsmith, had I thought about it in the beginning, I would have attempted to do something to avoid those seams but by the time we actually got around to assembling the kitchen it was way too late.

Do NOT blame youself, cherylbirth. How were you to know that you'd need to be concerned about a mismatch in the slab color.

I have to admit, it never occurred to me that they would install slabs from different lots. I asked right after they were installed because they looked different and was told no, but then I thought to look underneath. I thought that they would be able to do one seam where the sink is but it turns out the regular slabs aren't quite wide enough.

FINALLY heard back today, and they are going to replace the counters. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to not settle for something that was done incorrectly. I really appreciate it and I'm relieved I don't have to live with mis-matched counters after spending all that money.

Excellent! The mismatch would have bothered me too. I’m glad the dates of manufacture were visible under the counters and you investigated and found them!

Cheryl, give yourself a pat on the back for obviously handling well what is a frustrating situation. You did good.

I admit I was taken aback by the first few responses you received. Thanks for keeping us in the loop! I was invested!

That is great news! Thanks for the update.

Thanks, everyone. Honestly, all I did was tell Caesarstone what happened and they took it from there. Very happy with the customer service!

It's nice to hear that a company will do the right thing...They know that you cannot mix slabs from diffrent lots and even if they have to bite the bullet on this job, it will be well worth-ed in the long run.

Good luck!

Excellent news, Cherylbirth! I hope all goes well the second time around. :)

Oh okay, that makes sense, and thank you! Wilson853 was the one who suggested I call them, and thank goodness! I think I would have been given a complete runaround if I hadn't contacted them directly.

Thought I'd update - we finally got the counters replaced today. We all double checked to make sure that they were from the same lot and they were.

So much better. Glad it worked out.

Thank you! Now we can FINALLY finish this thing!

Looks great! Sorry you had to go through such a hassle and delay but I am glad that they did the right thing.

PERFECT!

wilson853, the delay was mainly because I wanted to wait until my husband was in town and could supervise. We didn't discover it until later, but they didn't leave a big enough gap for the stove, and they put silicone between one of the doors and the counter so the door wouldn't open. This time they sent different subcontractors and I was much happier.

Hurray for you! Glad you got the issue resolved to your satisfaction. Best wishes for smooth sailing the rest of your remodel.

Thank you!

Sigh. I started a new thread because I just realized that the overhang in one place is an inch and half short of what it should be.