Charmane:
If I were you I would take your fabricator butt to court so hard and fast that he won't even know where it's coming from.
But maybe it's just me…
What can I tell you? I never let anybody get away with taking me for a ride and over some nice piece of change to boot.
That said, read on:
Let's start by saying that the only black mercantile granite that has the legal right to be called “Black Absolute” is the one coming from South Africa. However, in real life, when one mentions “Black Absolute Granite” one's talking about a huge variety of stones coming a little bit from all over the planet, each and every one of them not a geological granite by a long shot, and each and every one of them with different characteristics. If that wasn't confusing enough, each and every one of them are processed with even if so slightly methods – which again can make a difference.
There used to be three possibilities to explain the problems that you are experiencing, which are here listed in order of probability (the first being the most probable):
In the last couple of years there's been a change in the scenario above. Another possibility has entered the scene:
4.
Certain manufacturers apply some sort of protective wax to the slabs. It is not actual “doctoring,” since there's no alteration to the color of the stone, but
the result is the same as if the slab had been “doctored” with the “shoe-shine.”
Finally, case 3 above is not as rare as it used to be anymore. At least a couple of “Black Absolute Granites” allegedly from India and China entered the scene recently and are terrible “mutt” stones. Since they are cheap (to the importers) they push them like crazy at full black absolute granite prices.
Having said all that, the remedy to the points 1, 2 and 4 is to remove whatever it is that's sitting on the stone surface, by either stripping it chemically by soaking it with a solution of water and phosphoric acid, or mechanically, by rubbing on the stone surface a polishing compound for marble (NOT for granite!) with a little bit of water.
Case 3 is terminal.
From a legal point of view, cases 2 and 3 are full-fledged consumer fraud and could be prosecuted by the law. If you want to go for this, you will need an expert on your side and we could help you at no charge.
All things considered, black granite – which should be considered among the most enjoyable materials as a kitchen countertop – has made it out my own list of recommended stones.
Until the industry will not straighten its act up by becoming serious about the classification of all the different “granites” on the marketplace and dictate strict rules and guidelines about their characteristics and implied guarantees to the consumers, my position is going to be that from now on.
You can help! Actually, as a consumer-to-be of stone you're the best qualified to make things happen! Will you now please read and sign our Statement of Purpose by logging on at:
http://www.marblecleaning.org/purpose.htm
? By spreading the word about this valuable site among your friend & family and the stone trades' people you've been dealing you will be rendering everybody a valuable service!
Thank you.
Ciao and good luck,
Maurizio Bertoli
Article ID: 773
Created On: Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 7:48 AM
Last Updated On: Mon, Nov 12, 2007 at 12:00 AM
Authored by: Maurizio Bertoli [mail@mbstone.com]
Online URL: https://marblecleaning.org/knowledgebase/article.php?id=773