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thoosier32

Gap between countertops and cabinets?

10 years ago

I am a new homeowner to a custom home. I have a gap between my bathroom countertops and cabinets. I asked my builder about it and she explained that it normal since the ground may not have been level? I do not feel like it is normal, does anyone have any advice? Thank you in advance!!!

Comments (12)

  • 10 years ago

    It would be good to see a photo of the larger space to get some perspective, but something doesn't sound right.

    It's true that the floor might not be perfectly level (why?) but both the cabinets and countertop should be level, with shims if necessary. There can be some minimal space for adhesive, but typically not noticeable.

    There has to be clearance to allow doors to open, etc, so again, a broader view would help.

    But her response is as strange as the gap. I'd push for a better answer, especially if she installed both.

    (just a homeowner here, just through both kitchen & bath renovations, so I've been involved in these issues.)

    Good luck -


  • 10 years ago

    You can see that it is level on one side, then separates on the other. There is visible adhesive in the gap. I can put my finger into the gap, it is that large. She said she could add more adhesive, but that the gap is a normal occurance.

  • 10 years ago

    That is not an acceptable amount of gap. It looks ridiculous, too much for caulk to cover the error. The floor wasn't level and then they didn't level the cabinet with shims when it was installed, so the counter installer used shims to level that. Looks like the cabinet has feet, so that could be why. It is so far off, he should have waited to install the counter until the cabinet issue was fixed. Now you've got a back splash and plumbing installed.

    I don't know if they can shim the cabinet up at all to lessen the gap now that everything is installed. I think they like it that way. Done and you're stuck.

    You could try a dark brown caulk.




    thoosier32 thanked Vertise
  • PRO
    10 years ago

    You have a "plop 'n run" cabinet installer. I see this all the time. Cabinets must be shimmed to level and plumb and not "racked" (pulled out of square) when they're screwed in place.


    Pull the top. Place the shims under the cabinet where they belong or scribe the cabinet to the floor. Reinstall the top on the leveled cabinets.


    Insist.

    thoosier32 thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
  • 10 years ago

    Thank you very much, thankfully we do have a 1 year guarantee on the home. I will readdress the issue with the builder this week. Thank you!

  • 10 years ago

    Good luck... Do you still owe them any $. If not, might be a struggle...

    thoosier32 thanked Aletia Morgan
  • 10 years ago

    I do not owe them any money, but their office is two block away from my house. So they can't dodge me forever. Lol

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    And if you can't do what Joseph said. If that is a new cabinet you should be able to find/buy a flat piece of scribe (with the same stain/finish) wood molding to cover the gap. Since you have quite a distance from the top of the drawer fronts to the bottom of the countertop, the change in reveal probably won't be that noticeable. It is the least intrusive fix. It opens a whole new can of worms if you are going to try to get the counter out and reset the cabinet and reset the counter. I've seen if before that what seems like a small repair turns into something the creates more damage to other parts of your bathroom.

    But it's really on the builder to accommodate you to fix this. They should have checked the work before it got to this point.

    thoosier32 thanked User
  • 10 years ago

    It would not surprise me one bit if the builder tried to throw 'act of god' out there, lol.



  • PRO
    10 years ago

    MongoCT - Love your explanation! Reminds me of a book I had as a youngster - Unfortunately (Remy Charlip)

    I can see your words added to appropriate drawings and made into a booklet every remodeling contractor could share with clients. Just an amusing thought...

  • 10 years ago

    She's full of crap.

    She's also ignorant at best and an idiot at worst. The fellas here have told you about the level issue - that's why home depot sells levels and shims - because the ground is rarely level - the builder has to make it so.

    One thing that hasn't been mentioned here that could also be causing this is your sink. If it has a thick rim and it sits on the cabinet sidewalls , that will cause the gap you see too.

    thoosier32 thanked User