Kitchen Cabinet Disaster

2 years ago

We’re finishing up a major renovation including a kitchen gut. After pricing solid white oak cabinets w/ a few companies our contractor convinced us to price out the kitchen with a “custom” cabinet maker he had a long standing relationship with. We met, the guy made us a sample door. It was exactly the wood type, color, and style we wanted for 2k less. Fabulous! Cut to the install — the cabinets are not at all the grey/blonde white oak we’d approved. They are orangey/ yellow. We contacted him immediately to say we were unhappy and not accepting them. He agreed to meet with us and after some persuading by our contractor he agreed to make a sample of a different stain to try to achieve the color we wanted on the sample door we’d originally been given.

When we got the sample back (which was much closer to the original color we’d approved) we took it to the house to look at it alongside what had been installed. We noticed pretty quickly that more than color was off on the doors we’d received when comparing them to the sample we’d been given. The sample was solid. Heavy. The doors we had installed were not. We unscrewed the hinges on a door to see if we could look at the inside and low and behold—the doors we received are not solid white oak at all. They are MDF. We were sold and paid for solid white oak cabinets and what we have is orange MDF. The trim on them is also the wrong size to boot.

We’ve told the cabinet maker we’re not paying him a dime more as this is blatant fraud and now are stuck with cabinets we absolutely hate.

Has anyone dealt with something like this before?

Is there any kind of report we can make to someone regarding the fraud?

Is there a world where we can have just cabinet doors/drawers and fascia replaced? Or are we just going to have to live with this? I’m beyond irate and have no idea where to go from here.

Featured Answer

just_janni

2 years ago

What does your GC say? this is his guy... he needs to in your court and advocating for you - he has future business that is in jeopardy.

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Comments (13)

courtneynolen
Original Author
2 years ago
To be honest he’s kind of throwing his hands up and saying “this is between you and him now, I just introduced you.” We are beyond upset and so frustrated and what really sucks is this has actually been a surprisingly pleasant renno experience until now. All of his other subs have been amazing.
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lucky998877
2 years ago
Do you have pictures that show the approved sample door and what you received?
anna_682
2 years ago
What does your contract say regarding material?

Push back on your GC to get involved on your behalf due to the fact you are not getting what you paid for. He has probably referred a lot of business to the cabinet guy over the years and should stand up for you.
PRO
PPF.
2 years ago
Pictures of all of this would be helpful -- your cabinets and the samples.
colleenoz
2 years ago
Did you have a contract in writing specifying white oak?
PRO
Lomo
2 years ago
White oak veneer is what the popular rift sawn white oak slab cabinets are made from. And that is the desirable option. Over MDF. Because it is the superior and required stable substrate for veneer. That is how you get that continuous striéd pattern so pronounced.
lucky998877
2 years ago
Courtney, I just had a white oak bathroom vanity made. It is like Lomo said, a white oak rift sawn veneer over mdf, and then custom stained like I wanted it.
ci_lantro
2 years ago
No pictures and not a clue as to the cabinet style.

If these are slab fronts, of course they are going to be veneer.
clt3
2 years ago
My brand new white oak vanity is not MDF with veneer.

Here is the back of the door that show a reverse raised panel , and the front.
PRO
DeWayne
2 years ago
Reverse raised panel is narrower pieced wood strips, joined together. That creates a different type of stability. Like narrow strip flooring. It still shrinks enough in winter to have a "halo" of unfinished wood around the edges of the panel if it's finished after assembly.
HU-918119203
2 years ago
Your GC is responsible for the cabinetmaker's work. Selection and management of subs and quality control is literally what you are paying him for. He needs to step up, and you need to convey that in a firm but nice way.
lucky998877
2 years ago
It's interesting that the OP starts with a dramatic headline, provides no pictures of the "disaster" and now has disappeared.