Engineered Quartz - Common Issues on New Installs

Engineered Quartz (ES)

By Mark Ortiz, Stone Restoration Specialist

This months subject is awareness of the common issues of engineered quartz, also called engineered stone (ES),  right after installation. Realizing I'm speaking to a wide audience I'll keep my explanations easily understandable to the newly acquainted.  I've been giving my perspective and sharing my experience of Engineered Quartz here in Southern California for the last 10 years. It's important to note that I don't sell or install engineered quartz, or ever plan to, therefore if I seem to step on your toes a little and thought we were friends, well, we're still friends but I will always do my best to give the facts and carefully consider my opinions.

 

My personal quote is that, "One can make better decisions for themselves once they have the truth, even if the truth is not always pleasant to hear."   So let's get on with some truths about engineered quartz!

 

Here are some of the truths about man-made Engineered Quartz. It's a mixture of hardened resins/plastics  and other additives such as natural stone, glass, metals and whatever else they can recycle.

 

Not all engineered surfaces are the same yet there are some similarities.  Most don’t easily scratch, most don’t stain, most don’t etch from acidic liquids, and few can be restored. “What do you mean, few can be restored?”

 

I want to be real here 'friends'. ES is not bulletproof no matter what the creators of quartz or marketers may claim and now allude to. Problems happen to ES just like any other countertop surface. Due to its composition the repairs are difficult and surface polishing rarely matches the factory finish like other tried and true products such as marble and granite.

Inconsistencies in Reflection

 

ES is not blemish free. Customers should be aware that blemishes such as streaks, dullness, scuffs, pits and color contaminants are common on  newer installations. ES is basically a mixture of 93% stone aggregates and 7% resin polymer (by weight, not volume). It is mixed together like a pan of rice crispies  and buttered marshmallows.  The mixture is pressed down and heated until all the air bubbles and voids are removed, cooled and refinished  to a high polish. So if you are being intellectually honest, do you really expect it to be BLEMISH FREE?  Let's look at some common issues for new installations.

 

If you look closely at the picture you will see dull blemishes in the reflection. Hard to see both in pics and in person. 

 

 

Lighting reveals the blemishes

 

After installation we often see blemishes on the surface via natural lighting. It's very difficult to see blemishes, this is why fabricators could not see it prior to installation. Lighting changes everything! Outdoor lighting that reflects off the countertop reveals inconsistencies more than any other lighting. Sometimes homeowners will turn off their artificial lighting to see the blemishes more clearly. This is why the counter looks 'as expected' before sunrise or after sunset. Because outdoor lighting is the primary factor, most of the complaints i get are in kitchens. The picture shows dull rib like shadows.

 

This is not an excuse but a fact... Inconsistencies in factory finishes are common and are to be expected! 

 

Sometimes it's not factory blemishes, and this is where it gets, well, sticky and people start to point fingers.

 

 

Large rings or circles

 

When we get a call about large rings on ES the first assumption from customers is that it's from 'suction cup rings' used at the factory. It's true that the factory and some  fabricators use suction cups to lift slabs but that isn't always the case. To help see this, the photo to the right shows what factory circles look like on the back side of the slab. These are circles on the plastic protector yet similar markings on the front. They are evenly spaced, approximately 10 inches in diameter and throughout the slab. Red lines point to circles, blue lines are spaces in between. The best reason explained to me why this occurs is that the slabs may not have been completely cured prior to lifting because suction cups do not harm the surfaces.  Sometimes the rings can be cleaned off but if it is more than skin deep, it may be permanent. 

 

The poor fabricator.

 

Stop right here....and accept the conclusion, that until now, the blemishes had nothing to do with the fabricator. 

 

Fabricators are the whipping boys of the stone industry. They handle the material more than anyone else. They drive it to the shop, unload and move them, lay them on a bridge saw table, re-lift and place on lamination tables, pick up again and place in their truck. Drive to the job, carry it in and sometimes walk up 3 flights of stairs, set it on cabinets, level as best as possible and fill joints. Sometimes a slab may require up to 6 strong men to move these around.  These guys deserve an applause!

  

 

One piece of advice and consideration...do not initially put the blame on fabricators and installers for every issue on the surface of engineered quartz and natural stone.

 

Get the facts before unpleasantries come out out your mouth or a bloody showdown ensues. Stuff happens (chaos) and solutions follow (order).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Installers can scratch the surface

 

 

Installers are not out of the woods in all cases because 'stuff happens'.  The most common issue is scuffing the surface with their abrasive diamond pads to finish the edges off or remove a scratch. These diamond pads scuff and dull the surface pretty easy and if the material is wet, it's impossible to notice until it's dry or the light reveals it.

 

Some fabricators have the skill and patience to remove these blemishes but most don't because the products and techniques are not available to them and because it's so darn difficult and usually impossible to restore the factory polish on ES! 

 

Sometimes the installer is convinced he can remove the scratch or other issues without realizing the problems that he'll discover. Yes, I did say "he" because a "she" would stop and say, "Hey, let's get PGS out here to fix this." (You know I'm right.) 

 

The picture is an example of a surface sanded by the installer. PGS is able to restore the polish but we never claim we can make it match perfectly. This time I don't think the flowers lessened the blow. 

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

 

“Engineered Stone is an excellent choice for counters yet it’s not bullet proof and needs to be cared for properly. It is common to see light blemishes immediately after installation depending on the lighting in your home or office. Try to keep high heat away from it. It hasn’t been around as long as natural stone therefore any repairs or polishing is difficult, according to the professionals.” 

 

I didn't have time to go into all the issues or concerns regarding engineered stone, but over time I will.  PGS has been repairing engineered quartz since its inception to the industry so call ☎ (714-999-2961) us if you have any questions or run into an issue.

 

Please let me know what you would like to see in our newsletters.  Thank you for referring Perfect Granite Solutions, the stone and quartz restoration experts.

 

 

Pass this useful information to your staff and everyone associated with the stone industry. Let us know if you want to be added to our Monthly Education Newsletters by entering your email at the bottom of the home page

 

Do you have a topic that the industry needs to know about? Email it to me: mark@perfectgranitesolutions.com

Write a comment

Comments: 34
  • #1

    Tamara McCray (Sunday, 30 August 2020 15:19)

    I have LG Viatera quartz in my kitchen. On my island in the lighting, I can see all kinds of imperfections. I see what looks to be a liquid spot that ran to the opposite side of the slab. There are smaller spots around the entire countertop. I kept worrying that I did something to it, but all I've used on it is dawn dish soap and occasionally Windex without anomia.
    I would just like to know if this is normal.

  • #2

    Kiran (Friday, 18 September 2020 13:27)

    Hi
    I have had ceacerstone quartz installed they were installed with surface issue like little tiny chips that you can feel when cleaning the surface, is this a fault product with defects also has a yellowish/stainy base colour in most of area and a some little area a white base colour is this a defect?

  • #3

    Mark J Ortiz (Saturday, 26 September 2020 10:30)

    Kiran,

    The surface can feel rough due to the quartz minerals being slightly raised. This can occur from a chemical or exposure to sun. One way to smooth this off is to rub a fine sand paper on it. The grit I would use is about a 500 grit 'dry' sand paper. DO NOT PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE. The goal is to slightly smooth off the raised surface only... not to sand and polish. I would then apply Granite Gold Polish to increase the smooth feel.

  • #4

    Mark J Ortiz (Saturday, 26 September 2020 10:34)

    Tamara,

    The engineered quartz surfaces experience the spotting and blemishes like any other surface exposed to foods and liquids. I would use a light application of Barkeepers Friend cleaner with water and scrub with non scratch scrub sponge cleaning a 2 foot by 2 foot section at a time. This will remove any contaminants and not dull the surface. If the surface does dull a lot its because you scrubbed to hard. Do a small test spot first.

  • #5

    Tricia (Friday, 05 August 2022 22:09)

    My newly installed quartz counter has a red dot on it. Is this normal for quartz or a fabricator error?

  • #6

    Mark (Saturday, 06 August 2022 10:50)

    Hi Tricia (cool name by the way…. Thanks mom!)

    A red dot � is either a marking pen or a factory contaminant.

    I would try to use a single edge razor blade first to see if it comes off. If it’s a wax pen it will. If that doesn’t work, rub it with mail polish remover and soft rag. . If that diminishes it then keep doing that until it comes off.

    If the red dot has the same reflection as the Quartz at an angle then it may be a factory contamination. Most are no more than an 1/8 inch.
    I usually pick it out and then fill it with a colored epoxy.

    Let me know how it goes.

  • #7

    Jen Hancock (Thursday, 18 August 2022 04:36)

    Hi. Any idea what’s going on with my counters? They were installed yesterday. They feel smooth, but the entire surface looks like there is dust all over it. I don’t know if it’s a poorly fabricated piece or what. In the showroom it looked like highly polished glass.

  • #8

    Mark Ortiz (Thursday, 18 August 2022 07:21)

    Hi Jen,

    You may have a Quartz that didn’t have a high factory reflection. If it is truly dull and intended to be polished, call the supplier where you picked it out and have them inspect it. Do this before you install your back splashes, just in case you need to replace it. There’s also a ‘low’ chance that your slab is a honed factory finish. What did the fabricator say about this? Usually they either concur with you or have a reason.

    Polishing can be achieved, yet results vary depending on the restoration company. I only know of a few guys out here in Southern California who would do a good job. If you have pictures, you can send them to me for review. Send to info@perfectgranitesolutions.com. Thanks for the message and I’m hoping your counter top issue gets resolved soon!

  • #9

    Pat (Sunday, 02 October 2022 15:24)

    I got quartz installed last Wednesday, Sept 28, 2022. Some parts of the counters feel real smooth like the sample I have, other parts feel sticky, not so far as gritty but like they have some kind of residue on it. I have washed all of the countertops with soap and water. What could cause the non-smooth feel?
    I've heard to use a Mr.Clean and and barkeepers Friend to make it smooth feeling again. Is that good?

  • #10

    Mark Ortiz (Sunday, 02 October 2022 19:40)

    Hi Pat. Thanks for the question. Yes, you can use Barkeepers friend lightly! Dry little powder with water. Scrub with little pressure and a non scratch pad. DOAb inconspicuous area first. Rinse and dry. Check and see if that helped. Lastly, use Granite Gold polish after cleaning it all up. I promise you will get that smooth feel back.

    Mark Ortiz

  • #11

    Amanda (Wednesday, 01 March 2023 08:04)

    Hi Mark! We had quartz installed, this is now our 3rd slab. We had scratches on the first, chips, weird bright white line marks. And now what again smudge white line marks that won't come off and also circular thin lines all over the slab. It has been an absolute nightmare! We don't use anything on our quartz except for microfiber cloths and water.

  • #12

    MarkOrtiz (Wednesday, 01 March 2023 19:09)

    Amanda, I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Hang in there! Your descriptions are clear, but I'm most concerned about the circular thin lines all over the slab. If it's all over the slab, then it could be fine scratches. I'm sure you have contacted the installer and asked them, but maybe they are at a loss what it could be. And since it's your 3rd slab...! They don't want to know.

    The best thing for me to do for you is have it inspected. There is a cost to that, but maybe it's your best approach to this issue. If you are in Southern California or Colorado, we can inspect. If not, we may need to FaceTime you. Call my office at 714-999-2961 and let's see if we can help. Mark Ortiz

  • #13

    Amanda (Monday, 27 March 2023 07:26)

    Hi Mark, thanks for your input. So the lines are not visible at any other time other than when the sunlight hits perfectly at a certain time of day. (We get a lot of natural sun). I can't feel any of the scratches? With my nail? I did reach out to the company and I can't remember what she called it but said it could be some sort of machine they used? I don't know if I'm making a big deal about this considering you can only see it in special circumstances. Otherwise the slab looks fine. Sometimes the lines almost look etched into the stone? Like maybe they cleaned it with something and the circular motion is from wiping with a rag? I'm really not sure at this point.

  • #14

    Cari (Friday, 16 June 2023 15:00)

    Hi, the side of my island has a bump. and i can see a line. i was told this was due to the machining process. this is the second time it's been replaced (first time was due to another defect). I didn't notice a bump or line on the side of the last one, so i am skeptical when they tell me all islands have this.

  • #15

    MarkOrtiz (Sunday, 18 June 2023 19:03)

    Hi Cari - I can't visualize a 'bump' that you are talking about. Send me a picture to info@perfectgranitesolutions.com and I'd be happy to help you. Mark Ortiz

  • #16

    Steven mihovich (Friday, 30 June 2023 11:23)

    our new house has Montreal countertops put in. the bathroom countertops were cut for three holes but we have a single lever Fawcett ordered. have do they fix the holes in the quartz

  • #17

    Mark Ortiz (Saturday, 01 July 2023 15:30)

    Hello Steven. The solution is to have the “plugs” of the same material cut out from the remnants. The fabricator uses a core bit slightly larger than the actual hole. Then the plug is grounded until it fits nicely. A colored epoxy then glued the plug into place. (I use a 2 part epoxy because it gives me about 60 more seconds before it sets). It must be very flat. Do not attempt to sand the plugs flat unless the specialist is an expert on Quartz polishing. That should do it.

    If no plugs are available to match, then an expert in epoxy color mixing can patch it.

    Hope that helps!

  • #18

    Vonita (Monday, 24 July 2023 16:53)

    My quartz kitchen counters have dull circles and some dull streaks. Can this be repaired?

  • #19

    Dorien (Monday, 21 August 2023 14:13)

    I had my quartz countertop installed last week. In natural light I can see what looks like a waterspot under the resin. What is this and what can I do about it?

  • #20

    Mark Ortiz (Tuesday, 22 August 2023 14:50)

    Vonita, sorry I didn’t respond quicker. Dorian, you and Vonita may have the same issue. It is difficult to give a solid answer but I’m thinking both of you need to have it professionally inspected and polished. Not sure what state you live in, but let me know and I’ll try to help here in Southern California or Colorado. If in another state I may have a referral.

  • #21

    Barbara (Thursday, 26 October 2023 11:01)

    Hello! We had quartz countertops installed in our kitchen and a half bath last week and there are visible small pink dots throughout (8-10 at random). They look like a dot from a fine point pink sharpie. The installer claims they are part of the natural process and that they could resolve it with a method of drilling a small hole and filling it in, etc. and are treating the issue like it's not a big deal and these spots are inherent properties. The showroom sample and the samples we checked out did not have this type of issue. We didn't pay $9K for new countertops that have bright pink spots and need fixing or altering. Is this a common issue??

  • #22

    Hi (Wednesday, 01 November 2023 12:28)

    Hi, my countertops are extremely gritty due to prolonged cleaning with cleaning vinegar (months of excessive use). I know that the acid can wear away the luster and top of the quartz, leaving them with a terrible feeling/look. I can't even clean them anymore! Is there a way to fix this without completely replacing the countertops? Is there a DIY epoxy resin I can use to get a smooth finish again?

  • #23

    Mark Ortiz (Friday, 03 November 2023 06:44)

    Barbara, It is common to see colored spots which are most likely contaminants of other colors in the processing plant. If the repair specialist can drill out and refill so it blends in with the surrounding stone, then it truly is not a big deal. Quartz finishes usually allow spot fills to blend well. Allow the repair to be made and then evaluate again. Don’t replace it yet… allow them to make it look right.

  • #24

    Mark Ortiz (Friday, 03 November 2023 06:51)

    Hi “Hi”. I like your name. Is your last name Bye? Couldn’t guess your middle name �

    I’m guessing you have a Quartz with calcite stone that is dulling from the acidic cleaners, or there is a cleaning product leaving a residue on it.

    First clean with Barkeepers Friend powder and a green scrub sponge. Do it lightly , rinse and dry. If it looks better then do the whole surface. Do not scrub hard, it might permanently dull it.

    The only product I recommend is Tuffskin Surface protection. Go to my main page and click Colorado. Click Tuffskin. Email me if you have more questions.

    It can also be repolished by a professional only. Email me pics and your location, and I’ll try to help.

  • #25

    Hi (Sunday, 05 November 2023 08:20)

    Thanks for your help! The whole surface is completely gritty (there is no smoothness to it at all) now. Will the Tuffskin Surface protection make it smooth again? I basically just want something to make cleaning easier/protect the surface from spills/further damage. Right now you can’t even wipenup water because there is no outer barrier on it left.

  • #26

    Mark Ortiz (Sunday, 05 November 2023 08:27)

    HI,

    Yes! Tuffskin will make it smooth and beautiful again. If you are in California or Colorado, email me at mark@ortizstonerepair.com If you are in another state, contact Tuffskin, Nevada and they will connect you with an installer.

    Thank you for participating in the comments... Mark

  • #27

    Hi (Tuesday, 07 November 2023 08:51)

    Thanks! Can Tuffskin be installed yourself or do you need an installer?

  • #28

    Angie (Monday, 27 November 2023 09:20)

    Hello!
    We just moved into our new build and the builders have installed quartz countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms, called Bianco Tiza. From the get go I’ve noticed that the countertops feel rough and almost like there is just a layer of dust or sand on it- even right after cleaning. There are also some spots that just feel more rough and bumpy than others- I can visibly tell there are some raised spots but I’m not sure if it’s from paint the workers accidentally put on there if they painted the walls again after installing.
    I’m not sure if it needs to be sealed or if there’s a product I can use to get it to feeling smooth! Super frustrating, I have reached out to the builder as well to see if there’s anything they can do but as I am waiting to hear back thought I would try here!

  • #29

    Melissa (Wednesday, 13 December 2023 05:19)

    Hi Mark! I’d love some advice about our quartz countertop. When it’s not in direct sunlight, it looks perfect, but once the sun shines on it, I can see circular marks in different places on the island slab as well as seemingly streaky water marks? The circles are unusual because they have a pattern inside of them-additional symmetrical lines extending out from the middle and more circles. There are also several half circles-one around the faucet, and one on the outer edge. We only clean it with very dilute soapy water with microfiber towels. I have once tried to clean a small bit with a touch of baking soda and water and a non scratch sponge. You can’t feel the water streaks or the circles. We live in upstate NY, do you have any recs for us?

  • #30

    Mark Ortiz (Wednesday, 13 December 2023 09:49)

    Melissa,

    Email me pics at mark@perfectgranitesolutions.com
    I’ll review and give you some directions.

  • #31

    Denee L (Monday, 12 February 2024 15:59)

    Hi I just moved too my new apartment in January and I have Quartz countertops. This morning I’m cleaning the counter and there are these fine crystals along the edge of the countertop. I’ve never felt them before and I wipe the counter tops daily. I’m not using any harsh chemicals just a dishcloth and warm soapy water. As I’m wiping I thought it was sugar but kept feeling it and I noticed it’s all along one edge. Should I be worried?

  • #32

    Melissa Strickland (Monday, 11 March 2024 11:02)

    Hello,
    We had some small chips repaired by the company that installed our counters and the area now looks cloudy. What could this be? Also, in general lots of inconsistent reflection as we have a lot of natural light. I’m guessing this is normal. I also noticed today when I moved a decorative tray off my island that I can see the outline of it. It seems you can’t put anything on quartz counters. We got Pental so it’s not a cheap brand and I’m extremely careful and picky. We don’t even put glasses on the counter without a coaster!

  • #33

    Terri (Thursday, 14 March 2024 19:23)

    Hi. I just had quartz installed in a kitchen renovation last week. The counters looked fine for a few days, but today, I noticed a straight gray line right over the wood separating the two cabinets below it. It looks like adhesive seeped into the quartz. We just had the tile backsplash installed today, so I’m pretty concerned that I didn’t see this sooner. It may have been there for a few days, but the counters were covered up due to all the other work going on, so I didn’t see it. It definitely wasn’t there for the first few days. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Of course, I will show our contractor and he will contact the quartz guys to see what they say, but I’d like an independent expert to weigh in, in case they try to tell me nonsense. Thank you very much.

  • #34

    Mark Ortiz (Friday, 15 March 2024 17:18)

    Hi Teri. Based on your description, I can’t determine what exactly is going on. Email me mark@perfectgranitesolutions.com
    A few pics and I’ll give you my best advice. Thanks!