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ashley_green63

Would you complain about this countertop install?

4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago

Our home we our building is finally almost complete. Last week the countertops were installed and I am so upset. I’m not sure if I’m being too picky or not? Either way I know that I will not be able to walk near the kitchen without my eyes going straight to the island countertop. We are building with a big-name builder but because of the market craziness of the last year big-name builders in our area are breaking contracts left and right and then turning around and reselling the houses to different buyers for a couple hundred thousand dollars more than the original price. The contract says that neither builder nor buyer needs a reason to terminate the contract. The contract does not state that the island will/will not be one slab or multiple. I actually called the manufacturer to make sure that there were slabs on hand and large enough for our island. They told me that yes in deed we can get a slab of courts that will fit our island without having to get multiple pieces.What do you think? Would you risk complaining and demand one slab? Or suck it up?



Comments (29)

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    What is the actual size of island? Having a seam in that direction with that much movement in the material selection would be something we would discuss with a client if they weren't able to do it in a single slab as there is there is generally no good way to make that look good (book matched slabs can work on natural, but quartz, not so much).

    Ashley Doblado thanked Bspoke Homes
  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Ashley:


    They are fabricators, not magicians. They can make beautiful cololr matched tight seams as they have obviously done for you. They can't change movement in the slabs. Get on over it please.

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    What is your island size and your estone color and manufacturer please?

  • 4 years ago

    You need to show the whole island. Is the seam running parallel to the long side of the sink? Hard to tell without a photo.

  • 4 years ago

    Unless you are specifying bookend seams, any material with movement will have these "floating" threads. After looking at this picture, I went to my kitchen and looked at my counters which are Calacatta Gold. I never noticed that my my counters look similar. I've been living here two years and never even saw it. When I'm in the kitchen I'm way too busy doing things to stand and look at the counters unless I'm cleaning.

    Ashley Doblado thanked Louise Smith
  • 4 years ago

    I’m sorry for you. That would bug me too. Hopefully you’ll stop seeing it once everything is in the kitchen. Otherwise, could you buy more material and switch it out to a full slab (even if it’s your expense…)

    Ashley Doblado thanked Jennifer Svensson
  • 4 years ago

    Aside from the question of too picky or not, if you fear complaining about this will result in losing the house, that may be the equation to consider. Cost of complaining and losing the house vs. replacing the countertop to your satisfaction after closing. Or, close on the house and sell it yourself.

    Ashley Doblado thanked H B
  • PRO
    4 years ago

    I assume the island is too big to be made with one slab of stone (as alluded to by others above) cost effectively. It looks as if it is a good seam and was matched the best the craftsmen could possibly do.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    I could not live with that mismatch especially knowing that the builder could have done the island with one slab. Clearly they were trying to save money. If you really are afraid of losing the house if you speak up, then I guess you should wait until you move in and replace the island counter. However, it seems unreasonable that a builder can do whatever he/she likes without being called to account.

    Ashley Doblado thanked cheri127
  • 4 years ago

    @Bspoke Homes the island size is 8’2” x 5’2”

  • 4 years ago

    @Joseph Corlett, LLC this island size is 8’2” x 5’2” Its calacatta gold by silestone

  • 4 years ago

    @chispa Sorry! this is my firat time posting, and ItIt wouldn’t It wouldn’t lIt wouldn’t leIt wouldn’t letIt wouldn’t let meIt wouldn’t let me postIt wouldn’t let me post multipleIt wouldn’t let me post multiple pictures It wouldn’t let me post multiple pictures fIt wouldn’t let me post multiple pictures foIt wouldn’t let me post multiple pictures forIt wouldn’t let me post multiple pictures for someIt wouldn’t let me post multiple pictures for some reasonit wouldn’t let me post multiple pictures for some reason. Here is one though!

    I just feel like they should have told me that it was going to be in multiple pieces and they would try the best they could to piece it together. Had i had know this in the design room when they showed me the model, we most certainly would have gone with something easier to match or at least cheaper, knowing we wouldnt like the mismatch

  • 4 years ago

    @Mark Bischak, Architect The thing is, they told me they DO have a single slab that big. they also told me that if it became out of stock, they could readily order it. :/

  • 4 years ago

    @cheri127 Thank you for your opinion! Its so frustrating bc i really believe it is a case of them saving money. They have already made countless other mistakes, like installing the complete WRONG cabinets, making our guest room with a shower-instead of tub/shower combo, etc.

  • 4 years ago

    @cheri127 So i know they are losing money, but 100% no fault to us and they have admitted all errors were their own.

  • 4 years ago

    Looking at the wider view, they did a pretty decent job at lining up the movement. But there should have been a clear discussion about whether you could do it in one slab or if there would be a seam. When we went through the process we were careful to keep our island within the size of a standard slab to avoid seams altogether.

    Ashley Doblado thanked amodernmountainhome
  • PRO
    4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    I think my first assumption was wrong. My next assumption is the two "slab formats" they offer (standard and jumbo) are made of multiple pieces of material.

    Ashley Doblado thanked Mark Bischak, Architect
  • 4 years ago

    I wouldn’t be happy either if I was told it would be a single slab. My other concern for is if there is an overhang on the left side, is it properly supported since it appears your seam is in the middle running lengthwise

    Ashley Doblado thanked User
  • 4 years ago

    Doing it seamed saved them about 5K. Doing it out of 1 slab would cost you about 6.5-7K. And add another 3-4 weeks.

  • 4 years ago

    I've never seen an island seamed through the middle of the long dimension ... usually they are through the shorter side and through the sink, to minimize the look of the seam.

    It looks like they gave you 2 prefab counters back to back ... which would certainly save the builder money.

    Ashley Doblado thanked chispa
  • PRO
    4 years ago

    In looking up the silestone jumbo slab, it’s right at 5’2” wide if I’m doing my math correctly. That gives them essentially zero tolerance for fabrication based on the stated island size. Most fabricators in my experience aren’t looking to be that close with a slab prior to fabrication. Would appear more lack of communication rather than specifically trying to save money.

    Ashley Doblado thanked Bspoke Homes
  • PRO
    4 years ago

    While I haven't checked exactly, it appears your island could have been fabricated from a jumbo slab.

    Ashley Doblado thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
  • 4 years ago

    @User Thank you for bringing that up. i havent even thought about that. ill have to check the supports

  • 4 years ago

    @User We paid 7500 for the whole kitchen, so my guess is that is right. If we had been givwn an option to even ”upgrade” to one slab, we would definitely have paid the additional. :/

  • 4 years ago

    @Joseph Corlett, LLC We had a meeting with the site managers supervisor. He agreed and called it an ”unfortunate situation”. They said that they had already lost $400k on our house due to market changes and a retaining wall they decided to build. I couldnt believe it.

  • 4 years ago

    I think you have your answer then.


    To me, it's not worth potentially losing the house over. I agree it's not ideal, but hey - I've yet to hear of someone buying a new construction house and not finding fault with something that was done.


    If it's structurally-sound, then I'd accept it considering the circumstances.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    My island is almost that wide and there was no problem providing one slab.

    This is what I would call an excellent seam. It's in the U-shaped portion of my kitchen.


  • 4 years ago

    That looks AMAZING!!!!! excellent work!