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kiwi_bird

Sink cutout all wrong. Now what?

11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago

Well our countertop install was today. Unfortunately most of the pieces were cut wrong. Some will be easy fixes, but the sink cutout might not be salvageable. I requested a 1/8 inch positive reveal. What I got was, on average, a 1/4 inch reveal. But that is just the start. The radius is on the corners are wrong. The front rail,which was supposed to be 4" is 3 3/4 on one end and 3 1/2 on the other. It's also wavy. They want to send someone out to fix it in the field, but that is going to leave me with a 3/8 inch reveal and a maximum of a 3 1/2 inch front rail.

Is this an industry standard acceptable level of variance?

Comments (37)

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I'm sorry for your aggravation--the quarter-inch difference on the front rail would probably bug me, too, especially if I'd paid a pro to do it right. However, you can make the wider reveal work for you. I deliberately left a wider reveal on my sink, to accommodate a cutting board. I don't find that it's difficult to clean--I wipe the reveal when I wipe the sink and counter. Good luck!

    kiwi_bird thanked mama goose_gw zn6OH
  • 11 years ago

    *ugh* I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. If they can't make it right, will you be able to find new slabs?

    kiwi_bird thanked Errant_gw
  • 11 years ago

    Thanks guys. Yes finding new slabs won't be a problem. The slabs in the lot were almost indiscernible from each other.

    I am trying to get a sense for how much imperfection is acceptable in the industry. The enlarged reveal (will be at least 3x what it should be, maybe more) bothers me , but the skimpy front rail drives me bonkers. It's especially pronounced because our counters are 27" deep, so the proportions are more noticeably off. Most of their mistakes won't be too hard for them to fix, but this one will be a substantial loss for them, and I'm afraid I'll get pushback.

  • 11 years ago

    At least the marble turned out mostly okay. They have to fix a sink corner.

    There are a few dings though. Is something like this acceptable and/or fixable?

    I'm sure we'll make our own dings, but that's different!


  • 11 years ago

    Sorry you have yet another problem to deal with. I'll bet you'll be glad to have these contractors out of your life! But I'm confused about your front rail depth problem. In other discussions here at GW, I was under the impression that narrower fronts made it easier to stand at the sink without having to be leaned over to reach things well. So I thought a more narrow front rail would be a good thing. Maybe someone can chime in here if I'm totally off-base.

    kiwi_bird thanked funkycamper
  • 11 years ago

    Hi, fc. I prefer the look of 4" and have always had that. I could be talked out of it for the sake of ease if it were the only sink, but unfortunately it's directly across from my prep sink which was done right. Having them not match is surprisingly noticeable. I feel like I could accept it if one mistake were made on the sink, but five! Corner radius wrong, reveal worn, out-of square with counter, edge polishing pad run up onto the face of the counters , AND too skimpy front rail? Too much wrong. Grrr.

  • 11 years ago

    Fori, I thought of you today as I contemplated changing my name to "Kiwi is not pleased."

  • 11 years ago

    Oh, for sure! Way too many mistakes in one kitchen. Didn't realize you had another sink done right and I would want them to match, too. Hey, even if they were both wrong at least they'd be the same. I think you should be "Kiwi is p#ssed!" after what you've been through.

    kiwi_bird thanked funkycamper
  • 11 years ago

    they need to make it right. No question.

    kiwi_bird thanked cpartist
  • 11 years ago

    That must be stressful on top of your cabinet problem.

    That island is sooo pretty though!

    kiwi_bird thanked nancyjwb
  • 11 years ago

    Nope , not acceptable on the sink cutout. The ding can probably be polished /honed out.

    And we don't allow major grinding or polishing or cutting to occur in place. Faucet hole drilling max, and that's with a dust shroud + vacuum or a water cooling ring. The rest occurs at the shop or outside if that's possible. Impossible when the house is 40 stories up or has no yard.

    kiwi_bird thanked User
  • 11 years ago

    Did they not use the DFX file (CNC) that the manufacturer provided for the sink template? Or, did they cut it by hand instead? Or is the sink the issue by being out of square or unlevel?

    For the rail, as long as they make it even, the smaller rail is actually preferred as more functional for most. I think you could get used to that. Just not an inconsistent reveal.

    What machinery are they using to fabricate? Not that you can't get a great fabrication by hand. You certainly can. It's just that the fabricator behind the tools here doesn't seem to be able to wield them correctly and may be inexperienced. I would be asking for the supervisor, and then asking about the machines and who the most experienced fabricator might be to fix this snafu.

    kiwi_bird thanked User
  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Hi, GreenDesigns. They had the template, but who knows what they actually used. Whoever did the soapstone was a complete hack. The powder room vanity is unsalvageable, but that's another story. The kitchen sink is out of square, wavy, corner radii are wrong, and the whole cutout is too big. Of course, it will be even bigger by the time the square everything up. I don't know if I should have to live with a 1/2" positive reveal. I'm also bumming about it being different than the one that was (mostly) done right.

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    Hopefully you've retained enough money to pay someone to fix it if they don't make it right.

    It is amazing how much of other "contractors" money I'm paid with.

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Treb, if you think it needs a do-over, I will walk in with full confidence and get one. I know you will defend the fabricators when homeowners are being too picky. Unfortunately our GC from hell hired them and has no interest in advocating for us. He thinks he works for the subs, not for us we have found. Which in this case is especially ridiculous given that the problems were first brought to my attention by the installers getting on the phone to the fab shop and saying "Who the hell templated this? Who cut this? This is crap! I don't install crap!"

  • 11 years ago

    Too many errors. The sink rail bit, if it was straight, I would encourage you to try to live with. Not straight, bad corners, etc. means take it away. And find a new fabricator maybe.

  • 11 years ago

    I think the 'ding' in the marble can be fixed easily with some sealer. My Fantasy Brown Quartzite had a couple of those and when a liquid sealer was applied - they disappeared, and are still gone 7 months later.


  • 11 years ago

    I think if the installers were mad enough to get on the phone and get to the bottom of it then you have your answer.

    Hopefully you can find someone else at least with the integrity and experience of the installers.

  • 11 years ago

    Do you have a written contract? Does it list the acceptable variance? The few that I have seen say quarter inch....

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    The reveal on the sink would kill it for me.


  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Seeing the two sinks in the same view makes a big difference--I'd ask for replacement, too.

    I have a few very small 'star' dings in my Carrara marble island top. The flat white of the ding seems to go deep--I have my doubts that it can be honed or polished out, without making a depression.

    I was excited to read my3dogs solution, so I tried putting some sealer (impregnator) on just the dings, using a cotton swab. The island is used for rolling dough, so I chose not to seal the surface. I let the sealer penetrate for a few minutes, then wiped away the excess. It didn't make a difference on my marble, but enhancer might work better. I hope one or the other works for you.

    ETA link to similar discussion on JB site.

    kiwi_bird thanked mama goose_gw zn6OH
  • PRO
    11 years ago

    kiwigem:

    Sit on your GC's money then. Talk, talk, contract, schmontract, he who holds the money makes the rules.

    kiwi_bird thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
  • 11 years ago

    Joseph is correct. Don't pay out any more money to the contractor until he makes it right. He sounds like a moron.

    kiwi_bird thanked cpartist
  • 11 years ago

    Praise the Lord, they are going to redo the whole job. They weren't even mean about it. Thank you all for your insight! I am so grateful.

  • 11 years ago

    Wow, praise Him indeed! :)

    kiwi_bird thanked beth09
  • 11 years ago

    It ended up being worse than I thought. They have to redo the island, too. It wasn't as colossally bad as the soapstone, but when they showed it to me with a t square, it was definitely off.

  • 11 years ago

    Would you believe that after the countertop people have already agreed to recut everything, my builder is asking me to change brands of sinks and modify cabinets so they can just cut a bigger sinkhole. Are you kidding me?! No thank you. I bought my cabinets according to the sinks I wanted. The sinks are carried and sold by the countertop company. I think they should know how to install them. Honestly…

  • 11 years ago

    "my builder is asking me to change brands of sinks and modify cabinets so they can just cut a bigger sinkhole"

    If you didn't think the builder had your back before...

  • 11 years ago

    I know. We're paying him to advocate for other people. It's ridiculous.

  • 11 years ago

    I think I know that builder !

  • 11 years ago

    Oh, and tell HIM to enjoy his new counters.

    Also, if he want to be friends with the top people he should find a new vendor that he doesn't have to babysit. That way he can have more time to play with his friends .


    kiwi_bird thanked User
  • 11 years ago

    " my builder is asking me to change brands of sinks and modify cabinets so they can just cut a bigger sinkhole"

    That would be a, NO. Wow.


    kiwi_bird thanked beth09
  • PRO
    11 years ago

    Getting a new sink could be very advantageous. Fabricators buy sinks from China by the pallet load to sell to unsuspecting consumers. You could get a very high quality C-Tech, Franke, etc. out of this deal.

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    ?? does not compute.

    I'm confused, Joseph. Which sink in this scenario is off a pallet from China?

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    kiwigem:

    "The sinks are carried and sold by the countertop company."

    kiwi_bird thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
  • 11 years ago

    Oh I get it. These they had to special order for me though; Blanco Précis Silgranits. Not the freebies you get with the install- though they sure tried to talk me into them!