New quartz counters staining

6 years ago

Hello- We had brand new white quartz counters (Calacatta Trevi) installed in mid-March. Due to the pandemic, we were not able to move into our house until a week ago. Right after the install we noticed water rings on the island and alerted the fabricator right away. They said they were part of the stone and left it at that. When we unpacked & washed our dishes from storage, we noticed stains from pure water by the sink. There are streaks everywhere that do not come out. Now that we've lived here for a week, everything seems to leave a mark. Fingerprints, condensation, water, etc leave stains. The fabricator came out again last night and used bar keepers friend on a couple spots, but it did not resolve the issue and in fact made it worse because now those spots are chalky & have appeared to lose their shine/seal.

I know quartz is not immune to stains, but this seems ridiculous. Everyone we talk to says they do not have this problem. The fabricator keeps saying this is just how quartz is. Are we alone in this issue? Can it be solved? We are so devastated that we spent this much money and they look awful.

Featured Answer

karin_mt

6 years ago

Huh, that is definitely not normal for quartz. Usually it's pretty stain-resistant and cleans easily. Bar Keepers Friend can dull the finish, so that part is pretty normal. But the staining - no.

Here's an article I wrote that shows the results of staining and cleaning tests on several brands of quartz. You can at least compare your product to these results and get a sense for that may be "normal."

Sorry you are dealing with this!

https://usenaturalstone.org/do-engineered-quartz-countertops-stain/

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Comments (20)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
He ruined it with the BKF. Make him pay.
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chispa
6 years ago
What is the brand of your quartz? Just as with many products out there, Quartz manufacturers don't all produce the same quality of material.
jnmiller324
Original Author
6 years ago
It is Calacatta Trevi
chispa
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
So it is MSI Q-quartz?

You might want to google and do some reading.

I think MSI's business model is more about profit and volume, and not so much about quality.

Lots of complaints about MSI quartz products on Houzz.
Shannon_WI
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Is it polished or honed? There are several long threads on this forum about problems with honed Quartz, pretty much what you described, while polished Quartz is mostly easy-care.
jnmiller324
Original Author
6 years ago
I have no idea @Shannon_WI....how would I be able to tell?
jnmiller324
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes, @chispa it is from MSI. We went to several stone dealers in the areas, but they were the only place that had the color we liked.
chispa
6 years ago
@jnmiller324, polished is shiny and feels sleek/smooth/slippery. Honed is matte/flat, duller look.
pittsburrito
6 years ago
Google & NSF report that Calacatta Trevi is an MSI-Q quartz made in Taiwan.
M Miller
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
“how would I be able to tell?”

What Chispa replied above, and also a polished finish is reflective. Can you post a pic of the counter taken in daylight?

Edited to add: I just looked at the MSI website. According to MSI’s Calacatta Trevi Quartz page it only comes in a polished finish.
jnmiller324
Original Author
6 years ago
So is the MSI/Calacatta just a really bad brand? I have no idea what to expect or what to do. I just know they are ruined
jnmiller324
Original Author
6 years ago
@M Miller ive tried so hard to take pics and it’s just not something you can capture with a camera. Here is what I am able to get though.
jnmiller324
Original Author
6 years ago
This is a hole in the stone that they filled in but is now pure white and looks like crap. There’s another crack on an edge too
Andrea Floyd
6 years ago
Where did you gets these? I know MSI but state? I’m getting worried because we got the Arno and had the same issue. We are now going with Trev- I’m nervous
jnmiller324
Original Author
6 years ago
@Andrea Floyd and @S M I would avoid their quartz. We looked at a lot of places and we only liked the Trevi. I wish I would have traveled farther in our state (Michigan) and looked at other quartz brands. Our friends have quartz and rave about it
PsychedelicPictures 421
5 years ago
We are about to purchase quartz. What brand do yo ur friends have?
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
5 years ago
PP421:

It's all the same stuff. Get whatever brand you like please.
KERYN FRANCISCO
5 years ago
Call me crazy after reading this thread (I'm so sorry, OP!), but I've already started installing TREVI and am 13" short! Does anyone have any leftovers from your project?? (And wish me luck...getting nervous!)
Charla Wood
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
What did you finally resolve this problem. I have the same problem. this was installed in July 2019.