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Design Dilemma
b3551164

Cracked Quartzite Counter Top Cracked

13 years ago
During installation when they cut out the under mount sink it left a crack down the middle. Now they don't want to replace it and sanded it but I don't think it is exceptable. I don't think I should have to stare at it every time I go into the kitchen to use the sink. How should I handle it, I've
Featured Answer
  • 13 years ago
    They are responsible to cut out for the sink without breaking the slab. They have not delivered the job you contracted for - they broke your piece before it was fully installed and tried to get you to accept it. There is no fix except a new piece of stone. I hope you did not pay them on installation day - leverage may make some difference, sadly.

    It is not an unregulated business, but different states have different requirements for contractor licensing. You can go online and damage his business by posting your difficulty, he does not want that. The owner will want to replace it once he sees it - absolutely he cannot charge you for this job - he can take that slab out and sell remnants / sell it for a smaller job but that is his problem, not yours.

    I would start out very nicely and take the approach it that you were sure his workers didn't report accurately since obviously this is part of their job to do it properly. When they failed, they knew it would impact his profit or their paycheck. They didn't want to come back from install without the money so they tried to snow you.

    Tell him you are sure he stands behind his company's ability to install a slab and ask him when you can come to the yard and pick out the next piece. Assume he will replace it / act as though he must have been misled by his guys about the size of the break. Tell him you know he would not want his company name associated with shoddy workmanship.

    If you did pay them on installation day, and he brings this up, tell him you paid in good faith knowing that he stands behind the quality of his work. You might go so far as to express that you were not fully aware of the extent as the installers misreported it as a small crack that they had fixed and it wasn't until they left you discovered they had broken the entire slab.

    If he balks in moving forward to replace it in any way, tell him you don't want to have to get lawyers involved to get what you paid for or take your business elsewhere but that if you do, you will certainly spend time online letting other potential customers know that you did not get your money's worth. Tell him you know he realizes that the loss of profit on one job is not worth the loss of his business' reputation for integrity.

    Comments (24)

    • 13 years ago
      You are right, that isn't acceptable. What does your contract say on liability for installing the sink?
      b3551164 thanked Laura
    • 13 years ago
      We are meeting with the man who owns the company that installed the quartzite Saturday again, I'm just not sure how to approach him and my husband isn't very assertive so it's up to me. There isn't any liability that I know about. From what I read online, it's a very unregulated business. My contractor wasn't part of the job.

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    • 13 years ago
      Oh, I'm sorry, I read the post wrong, you stated, "contract"... not contractor. Just woke up.
    • 13 years ago
      There isn't anything in the contract that states anything about liability, he's been in business for over 30 years, we just trusted him.
    • 13 years ago
      Do you think he should replace the slab?
    • 13 years ago
      last modified: 13 years ago
      I'm hoping some of the professionals weigh in on this one to give more weight to your argument when you confront the fabricator, but I certainly think this is not acceptable. That crack clearly runs all the way through the stone and could easily get worse and separate over time (not to mention just looking like you have a cracked counter!). I don't see any other solution than to replace the counter. I'm hoping this hasn't already been paid for, so you can withhold payment until you are satisfied. After all, you did not hire them to install a discounted cracked stone that you knew about ahead of time. You paid for them to install an intact quartzite counter, and they have not done this.
      b3551164 thanked feeny
    • 13 years ago
      Do you have any materials from the fabricator? Warranty? Items you had to sign initial.
      I think he should replace the slab. Hopefully they will make it right. If not there is always small claims court.
      b3551164 thanked User
    • 13 years ago
      I agree, we haven't paid him for the full amount yet. My only concern is that he already did the back splash in a matching slab and it's huge and I'm hoping he doesn't try to say he can't get anymore from the dealer. He said this was the last of what the dealer had, which was four slabs, hopefully he hasn't sold the other two or tries to day he has. I can't believe he left the other day thinking it was acceptable for as long as he's been in business. I'm going to tell him tomorrow, "how would you feel if this was your house?"
    • 13 years ago
      Mt husband just texed me from work stating we are protected, but we need the matching slab because of the back splash.
    • 13 years ago
      Thank-you all for your comments, now I feel better about how to handle the situation. I will let you know how it goes tomorrow.
    • 13 years ago
      Thank-you for your response. He came over today and worked on it for a while. My husband and I keep going back and forth on the turn out. We don't know if we are just staring at it now because we know it's there or if it blends in. I know you think it should be replaced but could you please look at the images and let me know if I'm being picky or if it is still not acceptable.
    • 13 years ago
      It feels completely smooth now and is even. My only concern is, does it look natural, or like a crack? That is why I attached images to show more of the slab. He has not received the rest of his payment yet.
    • 13 years ago
      The crack is still there, he needs to replace and he knows that too. Stand your ground, it's your hard earned money.
      b3551164 thanked RosemaryR
    • 13 years ago
      I know, thank-you for your reply. This is not going to be easy. I already suggested that to him and he has tried to make excuses. Thank-you all for your input, I appreciate it.
    • 13 years ago
      There's no reason you should have to "suggest" anything to him. The product is clearly damaged so Insist that it be replaced and expect him to resist. It's unbelievable what many contractors will try to bully you into accepting. This is why I don't pay the last 1/3rd of a job until it is finished to my satisfaction. Stand up for yourself.
    • 13 years ago
      Do not allow him to bully you into accepting an unsatisfactory job. Of course he doesn't want to replace it - it will cost him a lot of $$.

      Have you contacted the company yourself to see if they still have matching slab?
    • 13 years ago
      Do not accept it!! As a professional he is under an obligation to install a countertop in a professional manner - this is not professional job and he knows it. I only skimmed the above posts so sorry if I have missed something - but even if there is no written contract there is still a verbal contract and I would be surprised if there wasn't implied liability as to quality of installation. Believe me that crack feels smooth now but it is unstable and will open up and collect dirt over time.
    • 12 years ago
      That's horrible. Take them to court if you have to.
    • 12 years ago
      Report him to the BBB.
    • 12 years ago
      No way I would accept that repair. They cracked it on install...so they replace it.
      ....and no the repair does not look like a natural vein. It looks like the stone cracked and someone tried to repair it.
    • 12 years ago
      I'd love to find out how this was resolved. What a terrible experience.
    • 12 years ago
      As my soapstone counter was being installed in November, I was nervous that they had to use huge C clamps to make the seam edges meet vertically. I am pretty sure that the cabinets were not level, or that should not have happened. Since then, I have watched hairline cracks appear on most of the length of counter on both sides of the seam. Sadly, I can only watch and weep since our fabricator is our son-in-law's best friend. I can do nothing. In your shoes, I would never accept the cracked slab!
    • 12 years ago
      Mama…it is a pretty common situation that cabinets are not level. Fabricators are accustomed to dealing with that situation with shims etc. Clamps can certainly be used to bring things into alignment while shims are placed. Once shimmed there should not be ongoing stresses that are being applied to your countertop. Yours sounds like a pretty odd situation, and I am not sure why you could not involve your son-in-law to ask his friend the fabricator to come and have a look at what has happened. I am quite sure neither of them wants you to be unhappy with the work.
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