Does leathered Taj Mahal quartzite peel?

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

After installation of our leathered Taj Mahal counters and backsplash, we noticed several areas that appeared to be pink and peeling. Most of the areas are around the sink and edges near appliances. We asked our fabricator if it was fill, and he said, no, it is the stone. Beyond the areas that he denies are fill, there are no areas of stone that are this color. We have multiple other reasons not to trust the fabricator, so need an outside opinion on this potential fill issue. This fabricator also used a different stone on sidesplashes adjacent to this Taj Mahal without asking ahead of time or telling us after, and we explicitly told him not to use the other stone anywhere other than our hearth. When we met with him to confirm layout, he agreed that the other stone would not look good next to the Taj because it was a different finish and appeared more yellow. Needless fo say, we were shocked to find out when we asked about the sidesplashes after install that he cut and installed that other stone as sidesplashes adjacent to the Taj. He also installed broken (cracked down the middle) Taj backsplashes in two bathrooms and didn’t say anything. After we pointed out the cracks, he filled them, but the fills are noticeable. We also have a number of other issues with layout. He basically disregarded the layout we discussed and mapped out prior to fabrication - we now have odd/poor backsplash seam placement, the presence of orange spots we were told would be cut out for sink placement, and a kitchen faucet placement we did not plan on (he initially drilled one centered hole even though we purchased a two hole bridge faucet).

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Comments (4)

bmmartinez1
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
This is the odd kitchen backsplash seam placement. The seam does not line up with the counter edge or the edge of the upper cabinets, and the fabricator deviated from the layout we discussed. The stone to the left of the seam is much darker than the stone to the right of the seam, and this will only become more noticeable when we replace the oven/stove with one with a lower profile.
bmmartinez1
Original Author
2 years ago
There are also numerous large tool marks and scratches on the counters and kitchen backsplash that the fabricator says he cannot remove without further damaging the stone. Any suggestions?
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PRO
JAN MOYER
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
The orange/pink is the iron oxide, occurring naturally in the stone. The seams, or failure to follow previously agreed to conditions specified, the omitting of areas on a particular slab, is on your fabricator.......as long as you have the discussed and agreed to specs in writing.

Quartzite is fragile until it is installed. Fissures, cracks can occur in transportation to a site.

Honing, leathering of Taj Mahal, especially if the slab was a polished version to start, makes the fabrication process more difficult, the material is quite fragile at that point. My own fabricator has walked away from any Taj unless polished for installation.

As to scratches, shoddy workmanship, tool marks, etc?

Telling us will do little good. Did you complain at install moment? Were you present at install to insist on removal/refusal of the offensive? Have you paid in full? What was in writing, documented etc and do you have it?

Your first step is go back to the fabricator. Especially for obvious errors like drilling. One I do not understand, as holes for a faucet, are generally drilled AT the install, at your site and not before. Or.....your actual faucet was provided to the fabricator for drill in the shop.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
2 years ago
It is fill and it's probably peeling because the stone is sucking up moisture and the fill is not.

The backsplash seam is laughable. How could he possibly think that would fly?

The quartzite horror stories just keep coming and coming.