What is the industry standard for cracks in a newly installed quartzite top?

Q. Hello. I just received a new quartzite install, and there is a crack at the sink extending to the hole for the soap dispenser. The fabricator claims it does not affect integrity of the stone, since apparently it's not a full-depth crack. The fabricator wants to repair it, even though it affects the cosmetics, and I'm not sure what the down the stream issues might be. What is industry standard? This is a $20K job.

A. Our Technical Director, Fred Hueston, who is widely regarded as one of the world's leading experts in stone and tile troubleshooting and inspection, took a look at the images you sent. He does not see evidence that the crack will affect the integrity of the stone. He recommends that instead of asking for the countertop to be replaced that you ask for a warranty to replace the top should there be any problems with the fabricator's repair down the road. We hope this helps. Feel free to reach out again, if you have further questions.