This is a do over. It is also a better selection of counter material?

Who was the fabricator?

Did the Fabricator do a Laser measure at time of template?

" can be fragile,, meaning fissures that exist naturally in the stone might rear a head. " It's a quartzite or it is possible it is not that,, and it is marble? Green Onyx marble?

Onyx is soft, brittle, fragile, and I think you have marble

Did the fabricator have the specs for the range, did the fabricator have the actual sink, not a cutout template on his site?

You call the installers BACK to the house, you call the salesperson back to the house. Both.....ASAP.

Will agree with Jan Moyer. The job is pretty sloppily done. Would definitely have the salesperson and the installer come onsite so you can point out the problems.

You have your warning shot here about that material being highly porous, and being highly stainable. You can see at the seam where the moisture has just wicked throughout the quartzite. 98% of this very minor chipping is normal with brittle quartzite though. It chips, even if you use a water jet, which doesn't even have a blade! Chip chip chip. All stone of any kind. requires a radiused inside corner, or you are guaranteed for it to crack.

What that shop needs is someone more artistic with the epoxy mix, and a better color match. Because it's already going to have epoxy fills in it from the quarry that are good enough that you just can't spot them. That's normal. All stone comes with fill these days. And if it were more artistically done, which is a big upgrade in shop skills, you wouldn't even notice anything but how porous that stone is an how much it wicks moisture through it.

You need to find a fabricator that is an artist and has pride in their work. Harder to find these days, but they are out there. They will be booked out for months, never answer their phone, but can produce "masterpieces" with slabs of stone. I found 2 of them when I lived in Los Angeles and had more detailed stone work done. Didn't find one in FL, but luckily I didn't need anything beyond basic counter designs.

Post pics from 6’ back. You always have nose pores 3” from the mirror.

No fabrication of any kind is going to change the nature of the stone that you chose. You chose something porous, brittle, and chippy.

Agree it is fragile and "chippy", and a poor choice for any high use area.

That doesn't explain the lousy sink cut out, other than they kept grinding. OOPS or didn't have the sink on site.

A positive reveal with a rounded eased edge at the sink minimizes standard chipping from use, and silicon cleaning and replacement. A negative reveal gets more chips. A negative reveal with a flat eased edge is the hardest to clean, and chips the most.

Thank you for your insights. The countertop company called me today and they ordered two new slabs and are going to replace

...replace all of the install. They said a lot of the measurements that were taken were not correct. They used a laser. They plan to measure the old fashioned way and template. Any additional tips would be helpful. They already ordered the slabs, they were the last ones from the batch. It's too late to reconsider another materials. I had read so many reviews online about how durable the quartzite is. Now I am a bit concerned based on this feedback.

They've used an adhesive that bleeds to make the seams. This shows inexperience, because non-bleeding adhesives are readily available. In addition, the color match is terrible; again, inexperience. Insist upon this or similar: https://www.defusco.com/product-category/glues-epoxy-polyester-etc/glaxs-glues-for-stone/

Jan, I believe this is really quartzite, we are purchasing it from a large reputable company: https://live-inventory.stonebasyx.com/product/838

Thanks for the additional input. I will ask to see the template and block my day to be home for install.

" They said a lot of the measurements that were taken were not correct. They used a laser. "

It was not the laser, but the operator. "Hopefully" the same guy is not holding the smart end of the tape measure next time. Heed Joe's advice or the seems will look the same again

@ millworkman took the other words from my mouth. A laser template, is LASER Ac.c.u.r.a.t.e in skilled hands.

Every single problem here is 75% skill sets, and 25% , materials.

You must be home for template, home for install and present at the stone yard/ fabricator for all in between.

I would also note, we've not seen your entire kitchen, so I will hope the waterfall of the island top is justified. By that I mean a slab drawer/doors and more modern feel...................: )

It's where it looks the best.

Resolve with yourself what that porous stone is going to look like around the sink, where it WILL absorb water, and have a big dark rink around the sink. Around the range, where it WILL absorb oils and look splotchy. Around the sitting area, where it WILL absorb the spilled drink and have a big stripe from that. You can not make a stone that porous into a non porous choice. Sealer wont' do it. Sealer only buys you a little bit of time.

Not all quartzites have the same poperties.

Look up the Geology threads by Karin_mt. She is a geologist.

She lists many simple tests you can do to a slab to understand what properties they have and how well they will do as counters. Many quartzites can be hard, but still porous. These porous slabs need to be sealed regularly

Use the glass tile test for hardness.

For porosity, partially dunk a small chunk of quartzite in a shallow plastic container with water. Set time intervals and observe how far the water has wicked up the stone.

My Taj Mahal quartzite sample never showed any water absorption, even after 48 hours. I am going to guess yours will quickly wick up water like a sponge!

"They already ordered the slabs, they were the last ones from the batch. It's too late to reconsider another materials."

I'm not inclined to believe that, sorry.

I'd pay a re stock fee, and re select.

The salesperson only promised a great install, and the SALESPERSON can not change the properties of this quartzite, admittedly fragile DUE to the porosity which will do as @ Minardi described, and which @ chispa advised testing.

Why don't you SHOW us the entire kitchen, all the angles from 6' back please? Because in a couple years, when you detest this selection? You will be at a total rip, yet again.

I agree with Jan - you have been given the gift of a do-over, and an opportunity to choose a more durable material. The best part - you have the gift of time, since you aren't living without a kitchen while you wait for the perfect slabs to come in.

There have been many, many posts here about problems with waterfalls - you also have the chance to reconsider that choice.

My biggest concern here is that the same shop that messed this up the first time will be doing the replacement. Possibly you got a rookie doing the measurements AND a rookie doing the layout AND a rookie doing the cutting AND a rookie doing the install, instead of qualified, experienced folks - but this might just be the best that this company can do.

I'm in line behind JAN. Ditch this material and its current and future problems. select the slabs yourself. Figure out the layout and seams before you choose the slabs. How they'll work is as important as the looks. Make sure the pieces layout correctly at the shop before you allow installation.

Here is a look at the kitchen from a little farther away

Please note that cabinetry and backsplash is being installed later.

And the design is modern Spanish revival, so the cabinetry will be white oak rift sawn veneer in clear coat that is moder .

Minardi, in regards to the pics you shared of the countertops, or those stains around them, are they permanent? So when I go to wash dishes, the water spots will always stay and never dry out? Not once has the countertop company mentioned this stone being porous.

@chispa how do I look up the geology threads by Karin_mt?

W.h.a.t????????

" The cabinetry is being installed......later."

"And the design is modern Spanish revival, so the cabinetry will be white oak rift sawn veneer in clear coat that is modern

WHO CARES? Are you kidding? Later?

" Not once has the fabricator mentioned the stone was porous"

May I thus ask..............

What the heck are you doing and it is hard to know who we might blame for what given these NEW givens..

You may now stand back and wait for everyone to scream; not at you, because you are somewhat allowed to be a wee bit clueless. They will scream at me. Yup, you just wait......

You DO NOT let tops, any variety, any material, precede the new cabinetry install. That, my dear is when the laser template is done! When the new cabinetry is in place. You especially do not do it with a material known for fragility!

I don't care if this is inch by exact cabinet replacement, exactly same layout. You are 100% OUT OF ORDER , you don't know what you are doing. The contractor does not, and nor does the stone shop , AND you may include that fabricator who agreed to do this..

You just read brutal truth.

Stop what you are doing. Rip the kitchen. Re select a top, a fabricator. Get all your money back, for being taken advantage of by all.

If I had not just read this? I'd not believe it.

@jan let me clarify that the cabinets are being refaced and the structure is here to stay, the doors will be replaced and the actual cabinets are being skinned with a 3m rift sawn white oak material by a very well trusted professional that has been in the industry for over 28 years. He insisted on having the countertops done first to not scratch or ding his wood materials. He knows the order. I hope that clarifies things.

I am confused. Why would you install countertops on cabinets that are not staying?

Also if you look at the 6th picture down in your original post you already have edge staining and the seams have bleed. None of this is a good sign for this stone.

I'm confused - why was the countertop installed before the cabinets? How does that even work? Especially with a waterfall?

It is a beautiful stone.

@annKH and @Clyde, the cabinets are staying and being refaced with new doors....sorry...new to me cabinets bc they are going to look very different.

"Please note that cabinetry and backsplash is being installed later. "

@Jan Moyer.......

"cabinets are being refaced and the structure is here to stay, the doors will be replaced and the actual cabinets are being skinned with a 3m rift sawn white oak material by a very well trusted professional that has been in the industry for over 28 years. He insisted on having the countertops done first to not scratch or ding his wood"

Words matter................................?

Select a different stone. My same words. Again.

You have a poor layout there that should be changed before you set it in stone. This is just tragedy on top of tragedy. None one competent and knowledgeable seems to be involved in any capacity here.

The brutal truth is that your kitchen is not worth saving with a reface. Ones suited to a reface are higher quality, with less problems. A reface generally costs as much as all new, with none of the functional benefits of rethinking things that do not work. Like the way that corner is laid out without enough filler to allow a DW with a handle. Like too many doors and not enough drawers. Like cabinets that do not extend to the ceiling, or have light rail. Like the big mistake of even thinking about a waterfall. Etc. It’s all a waste of money.

The quality of that lazy susan was all I had to see.

@ktbuilders the kitchen and our pantry are getting reworked. We have new cabinetry being installed next to the fridge, we have a custom butlers pantry being built in the adjacent room, some of the doors are being replaced with rollouts and drawers, a custom hood being installed above the range.