Terrible Arto Concrete Tile & Service
As you can see from the photos, Arto's Cotto Gold concrete tile purchased and installed in 2021 was a huge disappointment. The color wipes off the surface, even on uninstalled concrete tiles, and continues to fade two years after installation.
Unfortunately, Arto (the tile manufacturer) and Buena Tile + Stone in Santa Barbara (the supplier) were about the worst companies for customer service that I have worked with in over 30 years - as a Project Manager and as an ABC licensed contractor.
After my contractor and I called Arto in Oct of 2021, Arto sent out a Rep in late December 2021. Arto's rep said he never saw color wipe off their tile like ours did, nor did he ever see spalling to that level on tile unless it was 10-30 years old. He didn't offer any answers, help, apologies, take any responsibility or offer a way forward - except to tell my contractor to work though the supplier. That was the last we heard from Arto.
Trying to work with Buena Tile + Stone was infuriating. Messages left for the owner to return phone calls from both me and my contractor were never returned. I finally had to go to their showroom and see the female owner/partner face to face in order to get any attention from her. She did finally come out to site in March of 2023 - and brought her forensic expert. They both acknowledged that they had seen the color come off Arto's concrete tile at least once before. They thought the efflorescence was excessive. They didn't want to discuss the spalling.
After that meeting, we had an understanding and hopes that Buena Tile would work with Arto and us to find some solutions. Again, we received no empathy, no apologies for what happened, no ownership or responsibility for the failed color coat and no answers or help actually resolving the issues.
I took Arto and Buena Tile to small claims court, but I didn't convince the judge on the day that the color failing alone was enough for them to be held responsible. Arto and Buena focused on the efflorescence which had nothing to do with the color fade. Discussions regarding sealant were interesting, but still did not address the color issue on uninstalled tile. I still received no apologies or acceptance of any responsibility.
I will never use another product from Arto nor do business with Buena Tile + Stone - as neither company cared for me as a customer. They ignored me and my contractor, did not return phone calls, dragged out responses, and did not take enough interest in their own concrete tile product to try and help understand and then resolve the color and other issues Overall it was a terrible experience working with these companies and the Arto concrete tile is the worst product I have used or seen in 30 years in the business. read more