I would not at all recommend Schlitzberger Stone Design. One true measure of a fabricator is its willingness to admit error and 'make it right' for their customer. SSD fell far short -- pictures tell it all.
In July 2015, we contracted with SSD to install quartzite counter, island and bar tops in our kitchen. The counter top was to consist of two pieces, joined by one seam. Despite SSD (Tommy and David Schlitzberger) measuring the space twice and creating two paper templates, the top installed in December 2015 was of very poor fit, due solely to cutting and/or measuring errors (i.e., our kitchen/cabinet configuration was not altered after their final template session).
After installation, I immediately noticed (and pointed out) several areas where the stone was cut either too much or crooked, leaving 1/2" (and larger) gaps between stone and wall/window frame -- the most prominent one at the ~ 5'-wide main window, the kitchen's focal point. David was at a loss about what to do. When I asked David if he could try pulling the tops to perhaps shift them closer to fill the gap, he said it couldn't be done; "it was too late" because the crew had already glued the tops down.
SSD lists on their website membership with the Marble Institute of America (newly named the Natural Stone Institute). A customer should, therefore, have reasonable expectations that specific standards will be followed. These gaps far exceed MIA's stated minimums. Further, it's not clear whether the very common-sense step (mentioned in the MIA consumer guide) of dry fitting the stone prior to glue-down was adhered to. DDS' fix was to insert slivers of stone to fill the gaps. So, instead of a two-piece countertop with one seam, I now have a four-piece jigsaw of a countertop and three seams. Very disappointing and frustrating that, during my first meeting with David, I explicitly stated my priority that the area at the window (from overhang edge/front to rear/window frame) consist of one continuous piece/plane.
Other issues with the installation included overhangs being cut wrong (in one 6' run alone, the overhang varied from 1-1/4" to 1-3/4"); tops were left un-shimmed in stretches that, again, exceeded MIA standards (I had to insert shims myself); their honing of the stone left an inexplicable grittiness to the surface, and SSD asked me to contact their various reps and post on the Stone Fabricator's Alliance forum to find a solution; surface out of level (in excess of MIA standards). I've already sent an initial, formal complaint to MIA, and I will send them a follow-up to complete the file on SSD, in case potential future customers inquire.
I have since consulted with other pros and fabricators in the business, and they have all told me the only acceptable remedy -- and the one they, as professionals, would have resorted to -- was to acknowledge the error, pull the tops, and redo at their expense. As one MIA fabricator put it: you can't grow stone.
(I wish Houzz didn't have a 4-photo limit so that my review might be more comprehensive. If possible, I'll post more pics as a Part II, so you can judge for yourselves whether you would accept this workmanship in your home.)
