Tile not matching sample

[Alasdair]

Hi

Had 85sqm Crema Marfil polished delivered 9 months ago, not checked and stored away due to delayed building works.

Now the packs have been opened to lay we discovered that the tile has loads of veining compared to the beautiful sample.

Our tiler is fantastic and agrees that the tile does not look like the sample but we're not sure where we stand with the supplier....

Would appreciate any advice on whether we can get the stone refunded or replaced..

Thanks,
Alasdair

[MICK the Tiler]

This is what can happen with NATURAL stone products. Colour shade and veining can vary considerably from a sample. It is important to check all natural stone products upon delivery to make sure what has been supplied is acceptable.

As 9 months have passed I doubt whether you would have a claim for faulty materials, but you could always ask. If I was the supplier of the stone and 9 months had passed then I'd certainly assume all was good.

[365drills]

Yes this is the typical "fit for purpose claim" and muddied with the length of time it took to spot it.

Your only way out of this is to go on a charm offensive with the tile shop. Variances in natural stone are not called faults but "features". And the shop will tell you the sample is only a small representation of the actual end design.

It might be that once laid you come to love those little imperfections. Other than that its a grovel to the tile shop. But dont expect them to be too sympathetic.

[R Montgomery]

Exactly what Mick and 365 said.Personally I like heavy veining and a more interesting looking tile the years have made me bored with standard stuff.I definately have a beef with how suppliers show samples.They pick plain pieces to show instead of a range seeming to be scared of showing the full natural beauty of the stone in question.Clients will continue to have issues with variation in stone until the suppliers more fully explain and visable show the variation in there product.One day I hope there will be much less confusion.
I wish you luck Alasdair.Maybe you could look at the stone again without thinking of the sample.

[Dave Ramsden]

I had a sample of slate that had a silvery sparkle to it but when the consignment arrived they looked exactly the same but minus the sparkle, Luckily I got in touch with the supplier as soon as the delivery was made and he accepted there was a massive difference and restocked them.
Nearly every supplier I use work on a 30% re-stocking charge based on special orders but we got in early enough to have this waived...

[Alasdair]

Thanks for the replies. I design and build gardens and know that samples do not always match the supply of natural stone and I try to be careful showing clients too perfect a sample.

However, we're trying to go down the route of Grades within Crema Marfil as we were told that there was only one grade of Crema but we have subsequently found that there are around 3 grades. Obviously the lower the grade the more veining and the batch that we've had is definately not a high grade as we were supposedly sold.

We'll keep trying.

Thanks,
Alasdair

[365drills]

I know its confusing. For example check out the WICKES website who have just launched a range of tiles called:

Crema Marfil "Marble Effect" as a product. Web Page

I think the words above are used to describe a lot of tile ranges. And to muddy the waters there are now replicas of the finish.


Wickes have launched a "replica" Crema Marfil tile. (Crema Marfil Marble Effect)

Its not answering your question but its showing that many companies are using the Crema Marfil wording to mean different things. I guess at least this post is giving people information about Crema Marfil....