Coping variation

[HR1405]

Hello!

This is our first pool build and so far the process has been looong. Coping and tile were started today and I realized two things 1) the water line tile was not the same colorway we had requested (but yes, I didn’t notice the slight difference in color number when I signed the contract so I take responsibility and 2) the coping we selected and that which was installed are wildly different. The PB has cited “natural stone variation” but I think this is a little extreme - am I crazy?!? We selected the Silk Road vein cut.

Attached are the pictures I took in the showroom, from the fabricators website and what was installed. FWIW all of the installed tile is dry. Do you think this is “normal”?

 

[kimkats]

The PB has cited “natural stone variation” but I think this is a little extreme

I get variation BUT that is not just a variation. It is a total different color!!! It is more orange/brown (hard to tell with computer screens being so different) where what you picked is white/light gray with darker gray going through it. I would go down to the stone yard and look for YOUR color and point it out to them!

 

[Auburn02]

Were you left with any extra pieces at the house that you could take with you to the store to compare how stark the difference really is under identical conditions (different lighting, indoor vs outdoor, etc)?

 

[Turbo1Ton]

I hate to not be on your side, but that to me looks like the same thing, however this particular lot/cut has a lot more veining to it than the sample and the photograph. However, I do agree that it is waaaaay different than what you picked, so possibly you can use that to your benefit. I hate that tile/stone places use one sample piece of natural stones and don't change them out every so often.

My mom had the same thing happen to her with granite tile countertops. The granite tiles she picked looked nothing like what was delivered. Fortunately they agreed that the difference was extremely significant and she was able to return them.

--Jeff

 

[Sparks22]

See if you can go to the stone warehouse and actually pick out your pallets of stone. This was a condition that we put with our PB because of concerns about variation, so we required that they let us come with them to select the actual stones that will be used.

 

[HR1405]

Thanks for your feedback! Super appreciated!

 

[HR1405]

Were you left with any extra pieces at the house that you could take with you to the store to compare how stark the difference really is under identical conditions (different lighting, indoor vs outdoor, etc)?

Great suggestion!

 

[HR1405]

I hate to not be on your side, but that to me looks like the same thing, however this particular lot/cut has a lot more veining to it than the sample and the photograph. However, I do agree that it is waaaaay different than what you picked, so possibly you can use that to your benefit. I hate that tile/stone places use one sample piece of natural stones and don't change them out every so often.

My mom had the same thing happen to her with granite tile countertops. The granite tiles she picked looked nothing like what was delivered. Fortunately they agreed that the difference was extremely significant and she was able to return them.

--Jeff

Thanks for your honesty - I’m just convinced they accidentally gave me the bellafonte vein cut instead of the Silk Road.

 

[Sparks22]

Thanks for your honesty - I’m just convinced they accidentally gave me the bellafonte vein cut instead of the Silk Road.

Based on those pictures that seems to be a plausible explanation. Good luck!

 

[Desert Dog]

Looking at those two pics, I think you got the vein cut. IMO.... it looks great! But it's your pool. If it isn't what you wanted, show that to the builder and ask to see the delivery sheet. See what that has on it. If you decide it isn't that bad, ask for a discount and keep it.

 

[JJ_Tex]

Have you talked to your builder again?

I think you have been given good advice on how to handle, so I'll just offer up a couple more points:
- Regardless of the coping being right or wrong, it is the only finished product you are seeing right now and the only thing to look at. As you get tile, walls, decking, plaster, water, and eventually furniture, you will have a lot more to look at and you eyes will not immediate go to the coping.
- Whatever you decking material will be will have to coordinate with your coping. Have them drop off a fairly large sample of like 10 pavers or so, so you can look at them and make sure it is all going to coordinate.

Good luck.

 

[Newdude]

As you get tile, walls, decking, plaster, water, and eventually furniture, you will have a lot more to look at and you eyes will not immediate go to the coping.

..... people laughing, eating, getting hit upside the head with a flying beach ball.... no one will ever even see it.

(that said we still all want you to be happy about your big investment).

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Thanks for your honesty - I’m just convinced they accidentally gave me the bellafonte vein cut instead of the Silk Road.

Now that I see that picture, I agree with you. That looks almost dead on for that bellafonte vein cut. That one wasn't in the sample chart you shared previously.

--Jeff

 

[jimmythegreek]

Yeah they sent the wrong paver. It's really close just a tad more color. As said once it all goes together its gonna look good. On the plus side ita gonna fade with UV exposure so you are better off in my book. Its gonna end up right where you wanted it in a few years. I like the look myself

 

[HR1405]

Were you left with any extra pieces at the house that you could take with you to the store to compare how stark the difference really is under identical conditions (different lighting, indoor vs outdoor, etc)?

I loved your suggestion so I hurried over to the showroom today with a scrap piece from my yard in hand ... unfortunately they were unable to find the samples (hence the missing line). The sales man excused himself to try to make a call to find them - after 15 minutes I asked the receptionist where he was. They looked for him for 10 minutes. I tried texting him. Went to the receptionist again. As I was asking for the sales guy, another worker walked in and said “he’s not here - his car is gone. He had left. For a meeting. Um, ok.

 

[Rossterman]

I loved your suggestion so I hurried over to the showroom today with a scrap piece from my yard in hand ... unfortunately they were unable to find the samples (hence the missing line). The sales man excused himself to try to make a call to find them - after 15 minutes I asked the receptionist where he was. They looked for him for 10 minutes. I tried texting him. Went to the receptionist again. As I was asking for the sales guy, another worker walked in and said “he’s not here - his car is gone. He had left. For a meeting. Um, ok.

Sounds like he already knows they screwed up and sent the wrong tile.