I think that looks bad. They may be able to fix it so that it isn't showing but maybe not. And since it is just installed I would think that they should install a piece that is intact. In my opinion the repair they are offering is something that would be acceptable next year if something fell on the slab and broke off a section.

Post this over on the kitchen forum and you will get a lot of support and opinions of how to approach this issue.

Best of luck to you and a satisfying resolution.

plumb creek:

Have them apply Tenax Pectro for dark stones. It will make it nearly disappear, but won't make the surface smooth if it isn't.

There is no epoxy with ground material that is going to be stuffed into that crack. This makes me believe your fabricator shouldn't attempt this repair as he is clueless.

This post was edited by Trebruchet on Thu, Nov 28, 13 at 11:58

Cracked sink rail before Pectrol: (note the magic marker)

This post was edited by Trebruchet on Thu, Nov 28, 13 at 11:57

Cracked sink rail after:

Plum_Creek - If they can't repair it so it is almost impossible to see I think you will always focus on it. I can understand they don't want to replace the entire piece but it would be nice if they would offer a discount along with a great repair job. I had a situation with the fabricator/installer of our granite counters and finally got a discount. The counters weren't what I selected or paid for but I didn't feel taken advantage of after I got the discount. The fabricator was not happy giving me a discount though. You have paid a lot so please do whatever will not cause regrets. Good luck.

We just had what seems acres (actually around 120 sq ft) of Cruz Azul Soapstone installed in the new kitchen and master bath. Given the size of the slabs there were a couple cracks that had to be repaired in fabrication. There is so much action in the stone that the very thin black lined repairs disappear.

In your case the fabricator may not have been hamfisted and it could simply be the grain of the stone. That said, the repair has to be well done.

I've got soapstone counters all through my kitchen............large expanses of it. I chose a soapstone dealer that only deals with soapstone and therefore is an expert at it. My counters are flawless.....well, except for the patina I'm developing, which I was aware of happening with use and doesn't bother me. The installation and quality was (is) absolutely perfect. No cracks, no chips, no ugly repairs, and the veining is matched perfectly from counter to backsplash, to windowsills.

I would not accept what these people have done to your counter. Good luck dealing with them. You have my sympathy.

There's no way I would accept a repair. That gorgeous sink is a statement piece and should not be installed in a hack job of a counter.

I had issues with my quartz counter top installation in my kitchen last year and what an ordeal. The seams were completely botched and there were visible chips and scratches in the countertop deck. I do not have any experience with soapstone however...you are paying full price for a supposedly professional installation. Do NOT accept shoddy workmanship!!!! You have the right to have your vanity top installed correctly and without issue. Tell your fabricator that he can attempt to fix the problem, if it is not up to your specifications then you require a full refund...or whatever makes you happy.

I am a business owner and simply cannot fathom the way some contractors feel they can bully clients into accepting below par workmanship.

Educate yourself and make them responsible! I ended up taking my installer to BBB for remediation and won the case...but I used the good people/other fabricators information from the kitchen forum to help educate myself.

Good luck and don't back down.

Were you able to come to a resolution on this? We had a soapstone countertop in our bathroom installed two days ago and are seeing similar issues. The fabricator epoxied in the flakes/chipped and they almost look like water spot marks around the edges. I told them I was not happy with the look and they are supposed to sand these areas down and rework them. They noted that it was a slab issue and some areas are more prone to this than others.

Where did you get you soapstone from? What variety of soapstone is it. Ours is from dorado and soapstone type noire. We also had the noire installed in our kitchen without any issues at all. The kitchen slabs were from the same bundle, but the bathroom slab was a remnant.

Hey dextru,
Can you share what part of the country you are in? We have been to a Dorado yard near where we are and have had some issues, too. Ours were not with the yard, but the fabricator they recommended.

Thanks,
LT

I am in north Texas.

Thanks, Dextru!

What is that? Why is that so white? When soapstone chips shouldn't there be dark soapstone underneath, not white powder? Shouldn't sanding and oiling restore it back to normal?