black zimbabwe: advice needed before suing

[gnadna]

hello,
I just had a black zimbabwe countertop installed. Direct light reflexion shows greyer area all over the material as if the polishing was not uniform because of softer zones. before I come back (agressivly) to the shop which sold the piece, i would like knowledgeable persons to confirm that there is indeed a fault.
I did the lemon juice test, no white or darker stain appeared.
not 100 per cent sure whether my problem is a doctored stone or just a low quality slab or just the way it is.

your feedback is very welcome!

here is a picture of the top. in real the issue is more obvious:
http://img183.imageshack.us/my.php?image=imgp1836ch1.jpg

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[Davestone]

I can't tell myself,but if they did use a selaer it wouldn't be absorbed by the stone and may very well be sitting on top.The lemon test wouldn't do much on a granite or resined stoned, you might try some acetone and a white rag and see if it removes any dark gunk when you wipe it.If it was a water base sealer an acidic grout cleaner may uncloud it.Maybe someone else has some advice, but i don't know what it is. :bow:

[gnadna]

thank you anyway for your comment. I will try some acetone or white vinegar this evening and see how it goes.
if anyone has some ideas...

[ob1kanobee]

Most of the Black Zimbabwe that I have seen has some grey in it because it is not a true black like Black Absolute. Did you inspect the material before it was cut and sign off on it?
Black Zimbabwe is kind of a Knock off of Black Absolute for some fabrication shops and clients. Also it can definately look different once it is in your home with lighting.
What is the fabricator telling you or whoever you purchased it from?

[ceramictec]

i see nothing wrong with it from your picture:

some Granites have a clustering effect of colors and that is the beauty of it.
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/1610/imgp1836ch1.jpg

[gnadna]

I tested the piece with vinegar and the granite did not turn grey so it is a good sign.
I was not able to inspect the piece before it was cut off because the top was fabricated in Portugal...
the seller is coming home on Saturday to inspect this.
let's see what he says.

the granit I have might not be doctored but it may have more grey zones than usual hence my doubts.

Again thank you everyone for your comments!

[Renron]

Not meaning to be snyde, but, if you were expecting a deep black you should have purchased Absolute Black Granite. If you were not able to inspect the slab prior to manufacture (due to it being cut in Portugal) then you get what color you get. Must have got a good price? Granite is not uniform in color, as you are aware, nor is it uniform from slice to slice. Perhaps the sample you saw and then decided to purchase was from an earlier cut or from a different quarry. Hard to tell. If the fabrication and installation show quality workmanship and not hacked-in, then enjoy your granite. Again sorry if I sounded snyde, it was not my intent.
P.S. I recently installed (3 different jobs) Uba Tuba granite tiles purchsed all from the same wholeseller, and they all had enough variations in them to be unsuitable for interchanging between jobs. Hey, its rock, not manmade.

Ron

[gnadna]

understand what you mean and I am not offended. :)
My main concerned is about the quality of the stone.
the seller came home yesterday and he has no certainty about the cause of my problem. he is arguing random nature...
beside my black sponge, I also noticed some grey stains around the joints where cleaning products has been used by the contractors.

all that looks very suspicious to me and my fear is to have ended up with a doctored stone.

some pictures for illustration:

image1 (http://j6kfmw.tuk.livefilestore.com/y1pStcaZexWIEts1h6mF-9tXkyjjaPhgfNmDssjmWMPNHYuoWNAxVu9HClEn16W6rUxJgcVit6aB7s/IMGP1862.jpg?download)

image2 (http://j6kfmw.tuk.livefilestore.com/y1pStcaZexWIEtFaoXEakWHdSVB-c6lYmUj_0jHGdW5p7SiMTfoYvzmKWqOtp3d7myqQYvCJvF0Y-4/IMGP1858.jpg?download)

image3 (http://j6kfmw.tuk.livefilestore.com/y1pStcaZexWIEsjUU4xiwVS6Qe19SRm6aCIPhS0Bk6FTyDg0KAldicP-ycNQTpkMzstDjfqbaLZrCg/IMGP1865.jpg?download)

image4 (http://j6kfmw.tuk.livefilestore.com/y1pStcaZexWIEsUZJ92Tq6l5jiKFXzxlbegrA6kAqdswTBMtNU49kbD2ZXCrnmJ1QmgN-chhCGjxXI/IMGP1867.jpg?download)

[david bassler]

That seems to be a terrible seam and polishing job from the pictures you shown.

That black in the water could be black wax or a dye. Laqucer thinner or acetone may reveal if it has been waxed or dyed by the installers and distilled vinegar left on an area for 15-20 min. showing a lighter area; it may have been factory dyed.

[Theold--scottyb]

any updates?

[I like Tile]

...in absolute, is possibly the best black granite in the world. Most American importers do not even see enough of ti to properly classify the material correctly. This is partly due to the poor economic and cultural ineptitude of American society. Japan is the largest importer of the fine/dense granite due to the monumental works that they honor their dead with!

[gnadna]

the seller confirmed me that the stone was treated with a "bath of oil". they told me that it is common practice...
does not sound very natural....
I have treated since the top with some color enhancer which improved slightly the aspect but still not 100% happy.