I think you should wait for what you want. Too bad if the contractor doesn't want to wait - he should understand that in this kind of business, there are delays like this all the time.

Good luck! :)

Anytime you have to "patch" filler (or, in this case, an end panel), it shows. How do I know, b/c we have it. Everyone said, "you won't be able to tell the difference." But it's very obvious to me.

However, if you give in to your contractor's "wants", then I would have them put the extra 1" or 2" (it was 26" for my refrigerator, btw) in the back where it will be less obvious.

One BIG question...what are you going to use for the patch? Do you have other full-height, 3/4" finished end panels somewhere else that will be cut down so you'll have something to work with? If not, the answer, then, is a resounding....no!!! Anything else will definitely be obvious!

Melanie is correct, if your contractor has spent any time in the business he knows these things happen.

But, remember...this is your kitchen, not his. You have to live with the patching, not him. He'll be walking away and probably never see your kitchen & that patch again...but you'll see it every day.

Like the others, I see little chance that you could fill at the front and have it look OK, especially after installation. --Unless he has solid wood of the same species, and it all has a clear finish, so there are no stain matching issues...and it'd still need to be done before installation. The other obvious answer is to install the fridge cabinet so that it's 24" and even with the panel, but I'm guessing you had some strong reasoning for wanting it all at 25". Have them do it right, for your long term satisfaction.

Hi Thanks for the replys.

I wasn't thinking of a patch filler. I thought that he could install some type of narrow decorative molding/trim piece to the
front of the panels to give me the extra inch. I could have it ordered from the cabinet place, everything else would be able to be installed and the contractor would just come back to install just the two pieces of molding when it comes in.

Another option would be to recess the refrigerator in the wall a bit, but I hate to open the wall for just an inch or so. I wanted to avoid this, that is why I paid $1000 more for a CD refrigerator, so I could have the look of a built in.

We are already behind schedule by about 3 weeks, waiting for the electrical inspection. (inspector went on vacation for two weeks, and it's a small town, he's only here one day a week). The contractor has been great, but he has an out of town job coming up. He would come back to do everything in a few weeks,but the condo is across the street from the beach and if I don't have everything completed by Memorial Day, there is absolutely no place to park for the workers. That and the fact that I'm in a one bedroom condo, with hugh cabinet boxes, no refrigerator and just a toaster an microwave.

I really want to get this done so I can get my appliances delivered, and granite in. Right now there's barely room to walk never mind trying to find somewhere to put a 36" refrigerator.

So I'm trying to find a quick workable solution.

I'm confused. If he has to come back to do the strips of molding, why couldn't he come back to install the new end panels. Can he do everything else and you can just plug in the frig or is starting the cabinet install contingent on getting the refrigerator installed first?

I would imagine that he wants to finish so he can get paid. If you pay him for most of the job, if he gets busy he may not ever come back to finish yours for what might be a small amount to him. Risky situation.

I'd hold out for what I wanted, and hold back a large amount of money to make it more likely that he'd return, or that you have enough to make it worth someone else's while to finish the job if he doesn't.

Anne

Back before deeper end panels were standard, my installer once 'biscuit joined' 3" to the back end of the panels. To this day, I can barely tell...and this display is one of our older ones now (10+yrs).

However, they make them deeper now and that's what you wanted. I would wait for the new panels...and hold back the amount of the install for the panels and ref. cabinet. Don't hold back too much....as he should get paid for what he's done. Afterall, it's not his fault the order was messed up. He also may charge you a trip charge unless he had planned to come for a second trip for other things. You could ask the KD to pay for the trip charge.

If he doesn't come back to finish, you would still have held enough back to pay for another carpenter to finish it. But if it were me, I would ask my KD to supply me with a back up person to finish the job. It might be hard to find someone to come finish the work of someone else. And being a small job....it's hardly worth wasting a half day for some guys. Drive time, unloading tools, loading tools, clean up all take time too.

kompy,

I will be talking with him on Monday, when he comes to start the install. He usuall has some pretty good ideas so maybe he can come up with something.

It seems crazy, but It's only 1". I'm also going to go to an appliance store to actually measure the refrigerator. The specs say 24" + 1/2" for venting in the back + room for the water line. The place I purchased it said to allow 25", but they didn't have one on the floor that I could actually measure.

Will he be able to install the over the refrigerator cabinet and crown molding without the panels? Also I need to get the template for the granite. Will they be able to do it without the end panels in?

I was hoping to find a solution, so I could get on with the finish of the kitchen. Like I said we had a big delay with the inspection, and I need to get this done before the summer season get here or I will have to wait until October to finish. There is absolutly no parking once the weather gets warmer. When my kids come to visit, they park their cars about 7 blocks away and I go and pick them up. I don't think a contractor would want to do that. I only have one small assigned parking space that a contractors truck or van will not fit.

i can't see that looking good, truthfully. your cabinet co. messed up--you think they would put a RUSH on it!

Other option, instead of trying to 'fill' in the space, you can use some kind of molding or decorative (routed) flat stock to cover the gap. I guess it depends on how much of the area you can see. Only you can decide if YOU want to wait....or if YOU can live with the panels as is.

nola, a rush order probably is in place. Rush orders still take 10 working days with most cabinet lines.

Yes, it seems like a pain right now...all those boxes, mess, dust, etc. But after the job is done and you've been living in the finished product for a few weeks, you'll forget all about the delays, mess, etc....you'll be enjoying what (1) you paid for (the 30" panels cut down properly) and (2) your vision come to life!

Cutting corners to get done faster (and that's what's happening here) may seem like a great idea now...but you have to live with it for the foreseeable future (until you sell or remodel again). You also don't know if 25" is really deep enough. 1" of trim or molding on the front will, look, IMHO, like you're covering up a mistake...which you are. What if you really need 26" like I did? 2" will look even worse.

Wait. Get it done right. In the end, you'll be happy you did.

I'm not a designer, but I agree with buehl - you may want more than 1" of extra depth. I'm not aware of your layout, but if your countertops are going to run into the refrigerator wall, then it will work best if you have the wall long enough to catch the entire overhange edge of the counters. Otherwise, you will have an odd corner of countertop sticking out infront of the refrigerator wall by 1/2" or so. (I hope this makes sense).

Also, you can look-up the spec of your refrigerator online. Be sure to remember that unless you have a true built-in, you will need 'cooling' space behind and beside your refrigerator to allow air movement. I wouldn't get too caught-up in the actual measurements of the refrigerator itself - you don't want it force it too close to the wall and have it overheat!

Good Luck!

gayle

Sorry you are going through this - I remember the painstaking efforts you went through in the planning stage.

I have to agree with the others especially given the specs on the refrig - I understand the desire to get to the finish line, but don't let that cloud your vision. GCs are professionals and are trained to overcome obstacles. The parking issue is a minor one in the grand scheme of things. Trim molding that has nothing to do with the other elements in the kitchen will "work" but is it what you want?
Push on the KD/Cab place for the panel - I'd rather have 5" of wiggle room then to have an outcome of black sides showing or trim that is not related to any other part of the design.
The panel is a quick install - so don't let the parking thwart efforts there

I posted your previous link

Good luck

Here is a link that might be useful: CD fridge & panel