Granite problems- dissapointed

14 years ago

OK. So I quickly found the granite I wanted the first time out. The granite yard only had one slab. This is a relatively rare granite in my area that is called Monte Bello. They were able to fabricate my kitchen using just the one slab.

HOWEVER- they made the following mistakes:

1. I requested granite be flush with the cabinet at the exposed edge of the 18" cabinet that sits next to my oven. They made the granite too small for the cabinet. It is 1/4" too small on the side the oven is and it is 1/4" too small on the other side and does not cover the trim piece at the rear of the cabinet.

2. I requested no bevel on the returns that go to the wall on both ends of my "L" shaped kitchen and they put a bevel there instead. Problem??? I intend to add a pantry cabinet at one end and now we have a weird looking crumb catcher created by the bevel edge. Please note that I told them several times that I intended to put a pantry cabinet there and I also put in writing via email my specifications (no bevel, granite flush with cabinets at ends, etc...).

3. The granite on the other side of the stove goes at a pronounced angle as it returns to the wall and goes from having practically no overhang to having one that is about 3/4". Luckily this problem is masked by our slide in stove. However, what if we want to replace our stove??? Yet another problem.

Problem: they got rid of any scrap granite and- although they probably could have fabricated a new piece of granite to fit my 18" cabinet on the other side of the stove, they cannot since they did not save any.

One person argued with me that they did follow my directions regarding the granite on the 18" cabinet and that flush did not include trim pieces (these have always been on my cabinets- I did not add these). Also of note is that the depth of the countertop was 1/2 " smaller on the 18" cabinet than on the counter on the other side of the stove.

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Comments (5)

jlcorp
Original Author
14 years ago
OK.... so in the process of doing my backsplash I decide I do not want to live with granite too small for one of my cabinets. Several calls to my fabricater have not resulted in any offer to fix the problem. So I take it into my own hands and call the granite yard. They get me in touch with someone who had fabricated some of this granite in the past as the may have some granite scraps.

I go to the new fabricator and locate two small pieces. OIne pieces is a very close match for my countertops. The other is considerably darker. I tell them I would like the lighter to be used for 18" cabinet countertop and I would like the darker (non-matching) piece to be cut for my window sill. I figure since it is on a different horiozontal plane, one would not notice the difference in color and the sunlight would also make it look lighter.

First, they are two hours late. Next mistake: they did not bevel the window sill. So I looked at it briefly and they said they would fix it. I did notice that the countertop was darker and did not seem to be as light as I had thought . I noticed the window sill was lighter than I had remembered.... Then I realized that they had fabricated them incorrectly and reversed the light and dark pieces.

How can I get these fabricators to do things correctly short of standing right on top of them as they work???
BTW- I am now stuck as the piece they used for the window sill was the last piece that would have matched my countertop.

Sorry... just very frustrated and disappointed. My kitchen does not look bad but does not look nearly as nice as it could have. My bubble has been burst. They are charging me 425.00 for these two pieces of scrap granite. Any suggestions??
3mutts
14 years ago
If they messed up, there should be no additional charge. You should ask to speak to the owner and tell them how terribly disappointed you are and that you need them to make it right without any additional charges to you. Kindly tell them that you are confident they will want a happy customer and not one that has to contact the Registrar of Contractors or Corporation Commission or Better Business Bureau or the local consumer news person who helps people air out their problems with businesses on TV (presuming you have these types of folks where you are). If you haven't paid for the extra two pieces, don't.

Hope someone else has some thoughts, too.

Can you post pictures?
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Fori
14 years ago
Don't pay. Stop payment if you have to. Cancel credit card maybe? You need a new slab and they need to start over. Or, better yet, you need them to take it away and refund your money.

Maybe it's not as bad as I think it sounds...but yeegads! Good luck!!
babushka_cat
14 years ago
it might help to post some photos.
3mutts
14 years ago
JLGC, any update?