I have Caesarstone in my kitchen (the "concrete" color), though it was just put in a few weeks ago so I can't vouch for how it wears in the long-term. I really did NOT want much shine at all, and so waffled between getting honed and unhoned Caesarstone for the longest time. The honed stuff is pretty matte and feels much nicer, but comes with its own set of liabilities (stains easier, chips easier, etc.) I'm sure regular Caesarstone has its issues, too (doesn't everything?), but for what it's worth I absolutely love how it looks. Kinda shiny but not TOO shiny. Perfect for me. And if it gets even less shiny as time goes on, I would actually be thrilled.

Uh, sorry, I realize that doesn't help you much...

Can only speak for DC, but Silestone is very popular arond here. In the DC area, there is a company called "Counter Intelligence" that specializes in Silestone, another engineered quartz countertop material. (Caesarstone and Silestone are both about 93% quartz and 7% resin.) Quartz is apparently one of the hardest substances out there and the shine seems to be very difficult to break down (even dragging metal pots and pans across it day in and day out).

We have some neighbors who have put in Silestone countertops and they have been very happy with the level of gloss and durability. Silestone often comes with little flecks of mica-like substances, so it can sparkle, especially with the medium level of gloss.

Friends who have had Silestone for a couple of years - and kids in the house, which contributes a lot of wear and tear - say that the shine has not diminished. Three years of kids dragging stuff over countertops and the Silestone is still shiny.

(Disclaimer: We don't have Silestone in our kitchen. Like Anne, we didn't want a high-gloss countertop in our kitchen. We opted for Avonite, a solid surface material that has more...umm... artistic colors and patterns and would not show any seams since it is a solid surface material. We were tempted, but did not get the milk glass-like Avonite that bars use because they can shine lights through them and make the countertops light up.)

Have you looked at Sileston? It's shiny and comes in more neutral colors than granite. I don't remember what its made of but I think its part real stone and part synthetic. I like it much more than granite but I like the way Ceasarstone looks the best. From what I've heard Silestone is the easiest to care for. Basically, you don't have to do anything to it and its even heat resistent. I'm about to have new counters put in my kitchen and am deciding between Ceasarstone and Silestone. Good luck!

Simply shocking that your "granite" guy is trying to talk you into granite. Maybe talk to a Caeserstone guy, or better yet just a counter guy to get a more balanced picture.

Personally, I get a little queasy thinking of all the granite getting quarried, and all the granite getting trashed when homeowners remodel. If I were doing a kitchen, I'd probably only consider synthetics, engineered or composites. Though I do love the look of soapstone...

I don't have either, but a good friend has a very high-end kitchen with granite, and she swears that she'd never, ever get granite again. She has hers sealed and says it's still very messy. Of course, I've also heard bad things abotu caesarstone, so I would probably steer clear of both. However, not sure what *would* be good, so I'm not very helpful.

as an English teacher, I must point out:
it is "caesar,"
from the Latin. as in "Julius Caesar."

it is neither "ceasar," nor "ceaser."

How come granite counters have to be sealed every 6 months, but stone tile (i.e., travertine) only needs to be sealed every 10 or 15 years?

That's the reason we are probably going with engineered stone (i.e., Silestone, Caesarstone, etc.) for our bathroom counters.

I've lived with my Caesarstone counters for 9 months now and haven't noticed the shine diminishing. I have the color pictured above that looks like terrazzo flooring. The look is great and the material seems resilient and hearty. I've mistakenly placed hot pots directly on the counters without any visible wear and tear. I stick with low-abrasion, liquid kitchen-surface cleaners to maintain the counters.

I think the whole resealing of granite every 6 months thing is a load of b*llocks.
I've said it before and I'll say it again; after 5 years our (admitedly dark) granite was never resealed and it looked like new when we left.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/main/archives/002895.html
do CTRL F or Apple F and search for resealed

My kitchen renno starts this weekend (thanks to patrick for all his advice and kind support, and all of AT for the ideas!). I met with my contractor last night. He suggested I go with Caesarstone instead of Silestone, since he has a Caesarstone "guy." I had already done my counter top research and decided to go with Silestone, but am now reconsidering. I too am trying to figure out the difference, if any, between the two. DuPont has their own Silestone-type product as well.

Hey, that was a nice little mention. Thanks Chris! Happy to hear you found value in the exchanges.

Regarding Caesarstone, Silestone, GeorgeClooneystone or whatever, I think all the engineered synthetics are probably all in the same ballpark (price, durability and install tactics) so go with the color you fall in love with.

Sometimes it's just about the love. :)

ps--
What reasoning of one over the other did your guy give you?

The DuPont product is called Zodiaq. I am wavering between that and Silestone, myself, and this is the first time I've heard of Caesarstone. (Egads, another choice!).

Caesarstone and Silestone are nearly identical, and the best argument for choosing one over the other is probably going to be color and finish. Silestone is a little better about giving their retailers and fabricators the large 1sq.ft samples, so you can usually find one to take home.

We went with Silestone, and all the colors that have the word Stellar in their names contain flecks of both mica and glass and give off an amazing shine, fyi.

Thanks for all the tips. I think I am going to go with Caesarstone since this is the company my contract has a 'deal' with and he can get them in to do the template faster. I want a "black shiny" color and I think Zodiaq, SIlestone and Caesarstone all have about the same color.

I see that Caesarstone also have some concrete-like counter top options, which could be helpful for other people on here.

Dark granite, if polished, never needs sealing. It should not be sealed even once.

It is so much more beautiful. For us it was a no-brainer.

We've had Silestone in a very "hard use" kitchen for about 5-6 years now.

It's great. Red wine left overnight didn't stain it. Hot pots haven't hurt it. It still shines like new.

We're about to build a new house, and wouldn't use anything except Silestone.

For folks looking at the engineered stone there is also Cambria. I have found that with the exception of the "stellar" series most of the fine particle quartz composites are pretty close in technical appearance. Caesarstone however has some options that look like larger pebbles and the Stellar series of Silestone has mirror pieces to add to the reflection. Cambria is the only company at this time that is made in the USA. All the others have to be transported after manufacture overseas.

has anyone noticed problems with Silestone and seams along the edges. Since it is not as thick as other quartz products, they have to use laminate around the edges... thanks

We have had Caesarstone Black Honed for 5 months in our kitchen now and it has been one big mistake. Íts turning into a vague shade of blue and you see stains whenever you touch it with a fingertip. It seems the polished ones are better and I really regret not having chosen it.
We were told by our kitchen store (in the Netherlands) the honed black would be perfect, instead of Belgian hardstone. Well, it's not.

What is the average cost per SQ. Ft. for Caesarstone? We are about to start shopping. Thanks.

Has anyone heard the rumor that Caesarstone, the company, have you sign a disclaimer when you buy their Lagos Blue stone because of problems with dulling and, more importantly, easy scratching? We scratched a store sample and it took no effort at all, really worrying for wear in a kitchen. Anyone had this experience?

Marlene

Anyone have experience with Granite Transformation where they go over existing counters (no tear out)??? It is 93% or so granite & doesnt need to be sealed ever. One issue might be there are more seams?? The other option we have is Granite or Silestone which after reading here I still don't know which is better, THANKS for any assistance

My grandparents currently have Silestone countertops in their kitchen. They were installed in the fall of 2004. Within the last month, my grandmother dropped a tea saucer at the edge. The edge chipped and the dish broke into many pieces. We assummed the dish hit the edge just right. Last week, a juice glass fell out of its packaging as she was picking it up. The glass fell on its side. The glass did not brake but the Silestone chipped at the edge. The glass did not even hit the edge. We called Silestone and were told it does not warranty against impact. I do not consider either of these instances abuse or unusual use of the product in the kitchen setting. Read the warranty carefully. At this rate, my grandmother's counters will look like someone went down them with a chisel before the 10 year LIMITED WARRANTY runs out.

Speaking of Caesarstone... can you guys tell me how much you paid per sq ft? I have 7 bids so far and all of them are over $100 sq/ft. I was expecting around $70-$80 sq/ft. Mind you I dont want a backsplash and I want the cheapest edge option. Im becoming very discouraged!!
Thanks,
Diana

CHINA TWOWIN STONE COMPANY EXPORT Granite Counter Tops,Kitchen Granite,Bathroom Counter Top,Granite Kitchen Island,Bar Counter Top,Bathroom Counter Tops,Vanity Counter Top,Granite Tiles & Marble Tiles,Granite Tiles,Marble Tiles,Granite Slab & Marble Slab,Granite Slab,Marble Slab,Tub Surround ,Bath Tub Surround,Stone Wall Panel,Stone Wall Tiles,Window Sills,Window Stool,Stepping Stone,China Stepping Stone,Paving Stone,China Paving Stone & Cube Stone,Curb Stone & Mushroom Stone,Mosaic Tile,Mosaic Tiles,Mosaic Table,Medallion,Floor Medallion,Granite Table Tops,Granite Table,Marble Table Top,Mosaic Table,Stone Fireplace Mantel,Marble Fireplace Surround,Granite Fireplace Surround,Cultured Stone Fireplace,Decorative Column,Roman Column,Marble Column,Tombstone & Headstone,Tombstone & Gravestone,Stone Carving,Garden Stone Sculpture,Marble Sculpure,Granite Sculpture,Slate Tiles,Floor Slate Tile,Roofing Slate Tile,Pebble And Stones,Pebble Stone Tile with good quality! http://www.china-stone-export.com

Diana!
I'm a certified fabricator instructor of caesarstone and i also do install kitchens for my own custumers, I have more than 10 years of experience all over the world in stone industry. I'm positive 100$ per s/f is too much. But it all depence on shapes and edge l/f of your progect.If you need quote please fax me your drawing.You can find fax# at my web site.
Best Regards
Sergey.
FoxStone.

Can anybody tell us how 'big' or noticeable the seams are in silestone? I've heard they can be an eight of an inch wide.. Why so big? Can it be 'hidden'? We're having it installed in a couple of weeks. Does the installer make a difference how big it is??
Ray

Hi, I'm about to have caesarstone installed in my new kitchen here in Perth Australia, and I can't find an unbiased view on the true diferences between caesar and sile???

We are about to have a kitchen make over.
Son is a shopfitter and swears by ceasarstone and told me I must get it in preference to granite. Friend is in the granite industry and he said he could not guarantee that granite would not scratch or be non pourous or that I could put a hot pot on it.Check out www.ceasarstoneus.com

I just had 'Copper Abyss' Ceasarstone installed in my reno'd kitchen. It is black with copper and gray coloring - they are bigger than flecks. There are also shiny flecks in it. I loved it and didn't find a Silestone or Zodiac that compared. I fell in love with it before I learned what it was going to cost. It also took 6 wks from bid approval and was $1000 more because it was not a stock color. I was a little disappointed because I think I was expecting the shine of granite, but I think I will like it. I enjoy the sound of setting a plate down on it...I would attach a picture if I knew how to do it. I am a little bothered by the seams, but thankfully there are only a few and mostly because of some custom features of my kitchen design.

We had Caesarstone in our previous home. Copper Canyon was the color. Looked great, behaved well, shined nicely, No problems at all, ever.

Note: All the quartz countertop manufacturers say that their edges may chip from impact. Otherwise it's pretty indestructible. And the prices seem to have gone up in the last year or so.

We decided to get real granite in our new home. Just for the look. It's called Amazon Star (red-browns, blue-gray, and black, with a little ivory and greens), and is supposed to be good for countertops. We hope so.

Alan

We are Certified Silestone Installers serving all of Massachusetts and Rhode Island and I can tell you that the differences between Silestone and Caeserstone slabs (or any of the quartz products for that matter) are insignificant. The biggest difference is in the fabrication and installation. Silestone controls its fabrication at its own state of the art, computerized waterjet facility. Only certified installers can template/install. Seams are 1/16" and STRAIGHT. No jagged edges or wide spots. The other quartz products are cut in shops which do more granite than quartz.

I just installed Caesarstone and I love it (well, my wife does...). However, they didn't tell us at the store that the island was so big that would be a seam right in the middle of the food prep area.
Does anybody know what's the biggest size of Caesarstone one can have without needing a seam?
Thx.

My wife and I have granite in our kitchen and both bathrooms. Our kitchen color is Amazon Star just like the above poster. We absolutely LOVE it. It's shine and depth of color simply cannot be recreated by Caesarstone or Silestone or any man made surface. It's very durable. The only thing that scratches granite is granite, or a stone harder than granite. Metal pots and pans have no effect. You can use the counter as a cutting board and the knives do not scratch it. Knives actually get dulled by the counter tops so you have to sharpen them more often. Red hot pans can be set right on the counter with no problems. Staining does not occur with our kitchen tops. We can leave water, wine, whatever on it's surface and it will simply dry up. Maybe leave a water spot like what you get when you wash your car, but that wipes off with a rag. In one bathroom water will seep into the top making a slightly dark spot if you don't wipe it up, but that's the color type and it doesn't hurn anything. In an hour though it dries out and returns to normal.
Granite is the best countertop material by far. I'd never go with anything else.

I have granite kitchen counters. Love the look, HATE the stains. Oil is the worst, and absolutely impossible to clean. Forget the "poultices" and other home remedies, they simply don't work. Someone recently spilled a can of tuna oil, and left it over night. I now have an oil stain the size of a cat. Never again.

I spent lots of time mulling over countertop choices. I live in Chicago and Caesarstone was not really an option. I almost did Corian, but then every display I saw at the home improvement stores looked all scratched up. I had considered marble and granite, but when I started comparing to silestone, they seemed pretty high maintenance and high price. I even considered the countertop material that you find in chemistry labs. I ended up ordering silestone countertops through e-counters.com. I SWEAR BY IT! I love my countertops. I have tea leaf. And my kitchen walls are even painted a green that goes well with the green in the tea leaf. It's been through a lot. It always looks clean, even when its dirty. I just use glass plus to clean and it's absolutely gorgeous. I've even slipped with the knife a few times & no scratches. I suspect my counters will outlast the frame bungalow I live in.

I've been planning on getting Caesarstone Lagos Blue honed (after realizing that concrete, my first choice, is not durable enough) but all this discussion is freaking me out. How about stainless steel counters? Not crazy about the way they feel but I like the look. Anyone have them? Or does anyone have Caesarstone Lagos Blue honed? It looks a bit like concrete mixed with corten steel.
Thanks!

I've been in the foodservice business for years & you won't find granite in a professional kitchen except in an open concept where it's used because the public likes the look. Granite is a porous material which means it absorbs anything spilled on it including bacteria from meat juice. It needs to be sealed to keep bacteria out, the sealand is toxic & acid like lemon juice stips the sealant. It also sucks heat out of hot dishes, noise bounces off it & glass breaks easily. I won't have anything but stainless steel. People think it's too industrial looking but I had it in my Shingle Style home & stratches gave it patina like old pewter. There's a good reason why you find it in professional kitchens, it functions better & looks great.

Does anyone have an experience with Caesarstone in Misty Carrera? I'm considering it for my cottage-style kitchen countertop. I liked it because it is supposed to look like marble, but without the maintenance problems, i.e., staining, ect. I've only been able to see a small size sample so far. If anyone has seen it or has it, I'd really appreciate your opinion.

Thanks!

We are just starting our kitchen remodel and on a tight budget. We have three small children and are hard on our countertop. We are leaning toward using large granite tiles with very small grout lines (1/16"). Mostly for budget reasons....My husband can install the tile. Any words of wisdom?

I have had cesearstone counters for 3 years. I am unhappy with the appearance. Can anyone tell me what product to use on it so I can bring back some of the shine. It is very dull, and looks like it has not be cleaned. My husband is always complaining that it doesn't look clean. Please help.

Donna.
Usualy to clean Caesarstone you just need a soap and warm water.
If you used some kind of stone sealer or enhanser it gives you white spots or film on counter surface, and it will not come off when you clean with water or other usual cleaners.
you can have this problem if you using Windex or 409 cleaner thouse do NOT remove food ar bacteria from your counter.
Also you can have this problem becouse of the "hard water" in your area.

Please provide more info for future asistanse.
Best regards and good luck!

I just went through the same mind boggling experience of which kitchen countertop to buy. I have a few friends, interior designer ( who has the granite and hates it. Faded shine and look after a few yrs, she regrets not getting the quartz) and contractor who sware by the quartz, so I did plenty of "homework" and research on both granite and quartz. Long story short, I went with the ceasarstone. I believe the quartz is a better product and no sealing. And frankly I dohn't see how once a yr sealing is going to make a big difference with the granite. I also picked Ceasarstone because I liked their Absolute Noir (black) the best, strickly personal preference on color choice. I am sure they are all of the same quality with the same 10 yr warranty. We just had it installed 2 dyas ago and it is absolutely awesome. good luck with your decision.

After much research on countertop options while I designed and completely re-built my kitchen, I chose Dupont's Zodiaq in "celestial blue." It is gorgeous! I only used it on the island because it is very expensive (roughly $100/sf, installed, including selecting a medium-priced edge). The flecks in the product that shine when the overhead light is on it is nothing short of magnificent. I have had it in my kitchen for 1 year, and it has worn beautifully. I have not sealed it at all, and don't need to. I merely wash it with soap and water and use silicone pads for hot pots, just in case. I want to protect my investment!

After I chose the Zodiaq, I had to decide what to do with the rest of the countertops. The dilemma was what to choose that would "hold up" against the Zodiaq and not look cheesy. I decided on butcher block. The combination is excellent, and everyone who sees it loves it. The cost was roughly the same as what solid surface would be. Of course there's a bit more maintenance with butcher block, but it's worth it. In fact, I use silicone mats for pots, clean up as soon as I can, and don't leave water lingering on it. I will probably lightly sand it and then use the oil provided for it in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, the patina from a year's worth of gentle wear is worth the look.

Hope this helps.

make cost a non-issue - then ask urself, what would u choose?

We sell engineered stone, or quartz countertops. One of the biggest complaints is fading, which has already been mentioned. The black was so bad that some of the manufactures pulled it from the market. The advice about common household cleaners needs to be followed to avoid spotting. Other complaints have been occlusions, thickness of slabs being inconsistant, loss of shine, scratching and slight bowing of the sheet stock which won't allow a flat seam without lippage.

We use the manufactures sign off sheet to warn consumers of the shortcomings of these products. Many companies give out the warning sheets after the sale, during the template process, but we feel that is unethical, so we provide it during the sales process. These sign off sheets rune two to three pages of fine print and you lose many sales because of them, but I wouldn't consider selling a e-stone top without providing one. Be sure and ask for one before you put up the deposits.

Granite still looks the best for the long haul. The "sealing" is so exaggerated it makes me laugh. It isn't needed as often as people say and it is very easy to do yourself and inexpensive if someone does it for you.

Non granite applications are faux/fake and the people who put them in no it is fake as well as visitors

We put in the Caesarstone about a year ago. We wanted the honed dull look which we like alot. My wife has been having some problems with stains near the sink and we are wondering if its more from the harder water than anything else. The water causes etching on our glasses in the dishwasher. She was wondering what household or other products she should use on the counters.

Has anyone had any experience with Caesarstone - the Ebony Reflections color which is black with flecks of mirror mixed into it. When direct light is NOT on it - it has a stunning "Midnight stary sky" appearance. The problem is, I've only had it for about 3 mos and about 1 mo. ago I noticed some of the mirrors have dislodged from the surface. The more I look, the more I find. The company is coming out to replace and swears this has never happened before. I want to know if I should trust them, and replace it with the same product - or just start over and choose granite. I want the black with reflective particles in it somehow. I am also a bit dissappointed in the dull appearance the Caesarstone gives when light shines on it. I want that midnight sky look all the time but that's just not so.

what about seams between pieces?
were they noticeable
i know tha they clored with epoxy and resin

Scott, It is my opinion that the seam quality has EVERYTHING to do with the installer. I have compared seams on this product at different home shows and design stores. Just make sure the installer you choose does a great job (before you hire them). I've also been told that you have more leeway with the quartz product in that it doesn't need as many seams as granite due to the way the product is made. But, I do have one seam in mine that is a razor blade in thickness and colored black so you have to be right on top of it to notice it. I've been told the black is the easiest color to hide.

I am getting ready to install Silestones Stellar Sky Blue on my counter with sink and use the Stellar Marine on my island as an accent piece. Does anyone have this and how is the shine with the stellar flecks. I have heard absolutely gorgeous in light or darkness?? How are the seams with silestone, pretty tight?? In my area most everyone I talk with prefers the Silestone over the other quartz products.

I too am on the fence. I have done so much research - granite vs quartz, etc. I was surprised to learn that the Cesarestpne loses its sheen. My contractor quoted me $1000 difference between the granite and Cesearstone. Does anyone know which is the best product for resale? How porous is the granite compared to others>

Regarding Nancys granite vs. quartz, i have always heard that granite is the better seller for resale, but it is a porous product needing resealing every yr. or so depending on usage and wear in spots I have heard, i was quoted just about the same price for granite as the Silestone quartz, have heard the granite does not seam as well as silestone and it is really all in the look you are looking for. I personally am choosing the silestone because i want the blues and the blue pearl royale has too much black and gray in it for my kitchen & not enough blue color. Nothing will get through the silestone and it is treated with microban and is the only product that is & now it carries a 15 yr. warranty.

for what it's worth - I've been told by more than one company that ALL the Quartz is processed the exact same way by "one rich guy" and just stamped with a different brand name on it. Judging by the latest dog food contamination...where the cheap store brand AND the name brands are both being recalled by ONE manufacturer, I tend to agree. So it boils down to customer service on warranty. So far, Caesarstone seems to be okay but I'm still going through the process of dealing with the mirror chips coming out and whether it's "repairable" or replacement.
However, to GAIL -- the Stellar Night is the Silestone version of what I have in Ceasarstone and if you are looking for a brilliant sparkle affect - it will be AS LONG AS THERE IS NO DIRECT LIGHTING ON IT. The counters look stunning with the lights off but milky with the lights on. That is 100% because of the way they combine the polyester binding with the Quartz. All manufacturers do this process the same way and it will look the same. In the stores, they know how to shine the lights on the samples to keep them brilliant - once you get it home, forget it. Unless you do like I do whenever possible and keep my kitchen dark! Good Luck!

I had two ceasarstone countertops installed in my kitchen. One of the surfaces is honed and the other shiny.

They had to be reinstalled as there was a defect in the stone.

I am very unhappy with the surfaces. They pit, chip and scratch. There are only two in our household and we are gone six months a year. I barely cook.

Customer service is terrible. They rely upon their distributors and the distributors are busy selling.

I would not recommend purchasing the product.

You can't beat granite, one of the main things to consider is how to fix the counter when it gets scratches... and it will, I don't care what any of the " fake " stone fabricators say. It can't be restored as a natural stone like granite, marble, limestone can. Ask them what to do if you get a big scratch in the ceasarstone. Because they are epoxy, polymers and some actual stone, they can't be diamond honed and polished where as natural stone can be restored over and over for years and made to look like new every time. If you buy countertops like women buy shoes ( for the looks ) no offense, then go synthetic, if you want it for ever, get granite.

I have just read all 48 posts and now I'm more confused than ever!I have ordered the caesarstone Absolute Noir 6100 because i liked the consistancy of the pattern. I don't much like the veining in the granite and the uncertainty of not knowing what your exact piece will look like as they are all individual. Now I am wondering if i have made a mistake, i was unaware that the product could look "milky" as someone put it. Also I have been looking at samples in various store and found them all to be slightly different, some has lots of reflective shiny bits (which are not to my taste) and some had hardly any with gray dappeling. I just don't know what to do! Can anybody tell me how they found the Absolute Noir to wear and look over time? I am also concerned about resale value of my home in the long term.

I have had my Silestone countertop (coffee bean) for almost 2 years. I HATE it! Some of the problems are our fault, some are not. First, the edges were unbelievably dull. They almost looked like there was a white film over them. We had the manufacturer (Pacific Stone Designs) come back a couple of times and they just kept telling us "that's the way they are suppose to be". Finally after a year of looking at them and being totally annoyed that I paid $5000 for something that looks dirty, I called the head maintenance man who came out and said that is not the way the should look. He sent a guy out who "wet sanded" the edges and they now look okay. Second, I had the head guy come out because it seemed that the top of my island (where I do most of my cooking and therefore is cleaned more often than the rest of the countertop) was starting to develop small discolored spots. From most angles it looked like I needed to clean my counter (even though I just did). He saw what I was talking about but just said that it was the way the light shined on the dark counter. Since that time, the spots have spread all over the island. My counter always looks dirty even though it's clean. I am still fighting with them over this. Lastly, I set two double A batteries on my counter for about a day. When I picked them up, they had completely taken the color out of my counter. The batteries were NOT leaking! However, it does clearly state in the paperwork to stay away from alkeline. So how can I argue that? Because of how many times I have had to call the company back to my house, I now seem like the high-maintenance B**** who just wants a new counter. The last time the head maintenance guy came out he was unbelievably rude and tried to make it seem like I was crazy and my counter looks fine. It does not and I am not the only one who thinks so. It's pretty bad when your cleaning lady asks you "what wrong with your countertop?" The manager is now involved and is sending someone else out today to look at the counter. Who knows what will happen.

I recently had my ceasarstone installed onto my window seal but noticed a shallow chip that's 1/4-3/8 wide. How do I go about address the chip with epoxy? Will the stone deteriorate over time?

I am a countertop fabricator/installer in the midwest. Over the past 14 years I have found the following to be true:

Craftmanship can effect seams, edge finishing and gaps along walls, etc. Check references before choosing an installer, and ask how long the company has been in business. There is a big learning curve in this industry and a company that has been around for just a few years may not have the expertise to do a decent job.

Squared edges are more prone to chipping compared to rounded edges. I would strongly recommend at least a 1/4" bullnose edge in a kitchen.

Black polished quartz and granite products can show dust, dirt, fingerprints and grease smudges more easily. Black honed products will show fingerprints and grease smudges even more so.

Darker granite colors don't need sealed as often as medium or lighter colors. We seal every granite job that leaves our shop and I strongly recommend consumers to reseal their lighter colored granite. When using a spray on sealer, it is about as difficult as cleaning your countertops, it really is not a big deal.

Hard water and soap deposits around faucets can be carefully removed with a razor blade. NEVER use abrasive scrubby pads to clean your countertops. Also, do not use a razor blade on softer types of stone like marble, slate or travertine.

A highly skilled craftsman can fix many accidents but it can take a lot of time and money. Most shops just have average workers who do not have the years of experience to become a highly skilled craftsman. This does not mean that they will not do a good job, it just means that when a specific problem arises, they may not have the skills to fix it.

All countertop products have limitations. Companies that claim their product is "scratch/fade/chip/stain resistant" means that their product is difficult to scratch/fade/chip/stain. However all products can scratch, fade, chip, or stain. Some are more resistant than others. Different colors of granite have different mineral content that can affect the hardness or porousness of the stone. Quartz products have different pigments and other minerals in it that can effect its performance as well.

Laminates can crack, chip or get burn marks. Solid surface can crack and stain. Granite can stain, scratch and chip. Quartz can fade, etch, scratch or chip. No product is perfect, but some are tougher than others. Having a complete unbiased understanding of the product will help a consumer choose and live with the right product.

Caesarstone is about as hard a surface as you will find. It does have a semi-gloss surface and is not supposed to be as shiny as granite. It will scratch if you try to scratch it and as it doesn't have the mottled, speckled look of many of their colors, a scratch will show. Caesarstone also comes with a lifetime warranty, unlike any granite slabs. I have Oyster in my kitchen and cook a lot, as well as have an espresso machine on my counter. No stains, no scratches, no worries. I have bumped the counter with an 8 qt dutch oven full of water, hard enough to crack the enamel on the pot, and hit the counter right in front of the sink, where there's a small seam, and nothing happened to the counter. Granite would surely have crumbled...

I'd have to ask what people are doing to their counters where they are "dulling" the surface. It's a countertop, not a work bench. There is a lifetime warranty with Caesarstone, and if contacted, they will send authorized people to fix or repair, but they also have the right to say the countertop was abused and not cover replacement or repair. I would think that after paying for new countertops and going through the inconvenience of a remodel, most would have an appreciation for their new counters and take care of them, like, say a new car. But I know not all people do.

I get a lot of customers that think counters are supposed to be bullet-proof, and none are. Granite is porous and can stain, and with effort will scratch. if the surface if granite is ruined, not much can be done to polish it back to original shine. Any attempt to do this will show. Stainless steel counters scratch like crazy, also they dent. And they discolor from heat. And if cheap material, one without a high nickel content, is used, they can rust. I've seen this, and it's was a disaster.

Caesarstone can be "shined" up using Softscrub. Here in the West, wiping your counters repeatedly with water will leave a film of calcium or lime, which dulls the surface, Softscrub solves this. I recommend Softscrub with bleach, for those who are less than tidy, as it kills bacteria growing on grungy counters too. Waterspots in general come off quartz products with Softscrub, but can permeate some granites, and shows on anything black. I have seen where granite was eaten away by water in a kitchen. I had some nice customers who were kind of slobs and the counter next to the sink was wet all the time and it eroded the granite over the course of 3 years. So not only does granite need to be sealed, it should be dried off after every use. Sealing only makes granite stain resistant at best.

No countertop is indestructible. Some are better than others, but all require some upkeep and common sense when using them. Casarstone Lagos Blue has been a hugely popular color and with that kind of popularity, comes nay-sayers. Caesarstone is the original quartz surface and was the first to offer a lifetime warranty. there will also be a few who will push the envelope and be dissatisfied. Imagine what they'd be saying if they has purchased granite or marble instead.

BTW, I design kitchens and bathrooms for a living, and routinely specify Caesarstone products for their beauty, ease of maintenance, consistency in color (important when seams are required and multiple slabs are needed), and general value-added-ness.

I had Concrete color Ceasarstone countertops installed two weeks ago. I just went to put a vase on the counter, hit the edge and it made a fingernail size chip. I am heartbroken. It was just knocking the edge of the counter, not banging it with a hammer--definitely within the range of normal use--and it damaged it. It is a kitchen counter for goodness sakes, how are you supposed to treat it like an eggshell? That is crazy. I don't cook at all but cannot imagine what it would look like if someone really used their kitchen often. I do not recommend it. (PS As a side note, I also had Blizzard color installed in my bathroom. I didn't notice a spot of Listerine that was left on the counter and when I went to clean it (within 24 hours) it will not come out. I would definitely not recommend this color if you have kids.)

I am a "green" kitchen designer in the DC region. We avoid Silestone because they add an anti-bacterial agent to their sealers. So, they are adding a toxin to a product that is inherently non porous and therefore anti bacterial. Also, because of this added agent, the product cannot be sustained in the future. Instead, we prefer Cambria or Caesarstone. Over the past 15 years, we have had only one call back on a quartz job, but over 50 call backs on granite. Here are the facts: no sealing over its life, no loss of gloss, absolutely bomb proof, very consistent quality, and fair pricing. Granite shops always push granite because they earn much much money on stone over quartz and they also carry an inventory of granite, while quartz is ordered on an as needed basis. So, their carrying costs for stone is much higher than for quartz. Over 90 percent of our jobs are quartz.

I own K2 Bath Design in Minneapolis. I have dealt with all of these products in my career. I have toured the Cambria plant, seen it made, heard the pitch and dealt with installations first hand.

Here is the scoop. Zodiac, Caesarstone, Silestone, Hanstone and Cambria are all exactly the same from a perfomance standpoint. The only differentiators are color and design. Cambria is the industry leader in these categories. Every year they come out with new colors and the rest of the companies imitate them. Cambria is also much more expensive.

No quartz countertops are warrantied against hot pots being set down on them. The head is evenly conducted through the material until it hits the edge and then it is released all at once and often causes cracking. They are about 60% harder than granite but not indestructible, they are totally pourless (thus anti-microbial), they will scratch if a knife is run over them aggresively (not a cutting board), they are all particularily susceptible to damage around the edges (which is true of any fabricated material: stone, metal, plastic, bone, you name it), and almost all dulling of the finish and discoloration is due to improper cleaning products.

Cost? Cambria sells their products to their distributors (not direct to the customer) for around $100 per square installed. A consumer can expect to pay margin to the contractor on top of that.

The other quartz products have been largely commoditized and can be played against eachother if you are looking at more than 30 square feet. If the install is less than 30 sqf you can expect to pay 100 to 150 per lineal foot.

Quartz products are significantly superior from a durability perspective than natural stone. However, granite is perceived to be a greater value by prospective buyers and is at the end of the day perfectly suited for a countertop application. You could argue that the durability advantages of quartz are unneccesary.

Quartz is less expensive than mid range granite and approx. the same cost as low priced (aka, readily available) granite.

Bottomline: Whatever you get, the decision should be made based on the way the countertop looks.

Note: sealing stone should only be done every 5 years or so. Don't over do it. Most issues with discoloration or damage, as with quartz are related to abrasive cleaners or bleach.

I had granite in my previous home for 13 years and it still looks like new. The apartment I just moved into has caesarstone and its only 2 years old but looks terrible. It is a light cream colour but is dull in lots of places and looks terrible in the light. I would choose granite every time. Granite is a worry-free investment. We brought up 4 kids in our granite top kitchen and it took all the rough treatment without a hassle. I am positive caesarstone does not stack up to the natural product.