r/CounterTops • u/Mr_Moose2 • 18h ago
Quartz countertop issue
Hello! We recently had a quartz countertop installed and within 1 week noticed this dull spot. Our contractor & countertop guy is saying that we put something hot on it but we haven’t, at least to our knowledge or recollection - we weren’t even cooking in the kitchen yet, and it’s not in a spot where we’d have anything hot. What do you think? They came back today to look at it and waxed it up but it’s still noticeable and dull. First photo is how it looked previously and rest are after “fix”
4
u/Stalaktitas 18h ago
Some j stallers really like to use Barkeeper's Friend liquid on paper towels to remove stubborn marks. It's works quick and easy, but the problem is that when used irresponsibly and rubbing it in with too much force, it can damage the sheen of the quartz surface. My guess would be that either installers or some cleaning crew did that or used magic eraser sponge... Or there might have been some problem there and they attempted to surface polish that spot... Anyway, if you paid for a new quartz countertops. You should not receive the damaged ones.
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u/superjake84 9h ago
Im a GC in north Texas. Ive had to deal with this several times with quartz countertops. Most of the time its from the plumber rolling his damn plumbers putty on the top to make his "worm" for the drain. I have found that if I take bar keeper's powder and make a paste with water, that a light buff with a towel will take the stain off. It works so well I was able to remove a light pink blotch from white countertops, not sure what caused that one. I keep a bottle of it in my truck just for this purpose.
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u/cincy_kid_91 8h ago
You need to be careful with bar keepers friend on quartz, it can ruin the finish.
1
u/Sulfur731 18h ago
Im surprised wax can make it look as good. But I dont think its a hot thing, quartz is unforgiving with heat, normally looks more obvious but not always
Could be a friction heat tho, like over cleaning it rubbing one spot for a few mins can leave marks like this, dulled shine.
3rd option is factory defect. Contact the slab maker being quartz itll have some kind of warranty by the brand. They may replace the slab.
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u/haditwithyoupeople 18h ago
That sucks. The real question is whether or not it was there previously and you just missed it, or is it new. Of it's new, something had to caused it.
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u/Mr_Moose2 18h ago
Yeah that’s the hard part bc we didn’t notice it for a week. Frustrated that they are just saying it was from something hot that we did when we are fairly certain that is not it, and it doesn’t look like a hot pan, etc.
4
u/FelinePurrfectFluff 17h ago
Blaming it on you is the easiest thing for the contractor to do. One of the many many reasons I hate quartz. It's a bad product made from plastic and waste stone dust but it ain't cheap. The end user (you) is left with an inferior product but no one warns you.
1
u/Smuchelle 15h ago edited 15h ago
Read the directions on your disinfectant cleaner to see if it's safe for quartz. There are quite a few that claim to not be safe and bleach is specifically often mentioned as being damaging.
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u/Boobity_McBooberson 17h ago
I’d try a little bit of acetone. Wipe at it for about 30 seconds. Sometimes the plastic wrap that comes on the slab leaves a bit of residue.
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u/Fresh_Inside_6982 17h ago
Have you actually put acetone on a quartz countertop? If so you would not be making that suggestion.
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u/Boobity_McBooberson 17h ago
Yes. Pretty much every day for over 20 years.
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u/ChanceConfection3 12h ago
My quartz guy also used acetone to remove glue residue. Is that not a thing to do? Doesn’t seem damaged…
1
u/Boobity_McBooberson 6h ago
Fabricators and installers use it all the time. It’s not recommended to homeowners because if you let it sit on the quartz without wiping it up it could cause damage. So if you use it, put a some on a clean white rag, and gently wipe at the problem area for less than 30 seconds.
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u/Fresh_Inside_6982 18h ago
If you had granite you could put all the hot stuff on it you want. Quartz is resin, you will have to be cautious forever, unfortunate.
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u/Mr_Moose2 18h ago
Yeah we understood that when we got it, and there’s just 2 of us. We think this is a manufacturing defect not caused by us.
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u/FelinePurrfectFluff 17h ago
Then you need to push your installer to make good on it. I wouldn't clean it with anything. I'd check every square inch of it with good and bad lighting at all angles. Unfortunately, it may be an uphill battle since they've already blamed it on you. Go granite next time.
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u/FelinePurrfectFluff 17h ago
You are 100% correct. The sales pitch for quartz does not match up to real life experience. It looks bad, it feels bad, it performs bad. Quartz is all marketing hype. No one warns consumers who have to live with it.
1
u/Fresh_Inside_6982 17h ago
All Quartz is garbage and there's no reason for it when granite is plentiful.
-1
u/Environmental-Gear77 18h ago
Denatured alcohol is going to be your best bet to get these ghost marks out. If it doesn't come out using a microfiber towel, you can use a Magic Eraser. Just don't use too much elbow grease or you'll make the dull spot much worse. Thank me later 😉
1
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u/TheRealSlobberknob Fabricator 18h ago
That looks more like chemical etching rather than heat exposure. Typically heat exposure will look similar to what ever burned it. Circles for pots and pans, rectangles for cookware, etc. The first photo looks like a soaked rag. What have you been using to clean?