Looks like faulty laminate to me. Yes, complain!

Looks like it's poorly done. Be prepared to hear some crazy reason as to why it's like that...don't accept it. Insist on a reinstallation.

Looks like he used plywood as a substrate and water based adhesive. Partical board or MDF is the only manufacturer approved laminate substrate for a reason.

Absolutely would not accept. You're justified.

I agree looks like a plywood substrate, maybe a cheap board, like sheating for exterior walls. MDF or particle board is smooth it would not be wavy like that, unless somebody went a little overboard with the beltsander.

Here is the underneath view.....I'm guessing this is particle board? ;)

{{!gwi}}

live_wire_oak and mcr,
I was thinking you had said that the particle board was the *wrong* substrate but after re-reading your posts, I see this should be OK? I'll still have them look at it and see what's going on with the rippled surface. You all have given me the support to do this! Thank you.

Yes, that's particle board. Maybe too much glue, unevenly applied glue, not enough glue or something went wrong when it got rolled down. Shouldn't be like that and you need to have them replace it.

very strange, the substrate is fine. When you tap the ripples do any sound hollow. It must be something with the application of the glue. I can not imagine on that top you would have to belt sand to much before you laminate. Wilsonart tends to show more if something is wron1gq because it is thinner than formica. There should still not be ripples in the top. Maybe they were trying to give you that honed natural stone look.(JK)

So what has happened with your countertop? I hope the problem has been resolved. That countertop should definitely be replaced. I am still waiting for mine to be installed.

mcr1, nope, there is no hollow sound under the ripples....just checked. It will be interesting to see what's going on with them.

maet,
I have talked to the company owner. His office peron is on maternity leave, he just moved week before last, etc. I'll get back with him at the end of this week if I don't hear from him by then. He moved about 300 yards from me so surely it can't be inconvenient for him to come by and look at it. ;) It's not the end of the world, but I definitely want him to redo it if that's what it takes. I do love the counter tops, though, and am really enjoying them.

Do you have progress on yours yet?

Pam

I'd say something - doesn't look right

Pam, We still don't have the countertop installed. Hubby called the installer today but he wasn't able to get him on the phone. We are waiting for him to call back.

Well it looks like its going to be after the 19th of this month before my formica countertop is installed. Still washing dishes in dishpan. 'big sigh'

maet,
I am excited to see your countertop. It won't be long now. :)

I have called twice and spoken directly to the owner once about my rippled peninsula...guess what?....excuses of being very busy and no response yet. I'm going there tomorrow and insist he make an appointment to come look at them. Sigh.

Oh my I was hoping that you were posting that it was all corrected because you definitely deserve a proper countertop installation.*( Your kitchen is really pretty by the way- and when the countertop is corrected it will all be perfect). I would say, though, that since you have called more than once and don't have more of a commitment or acknowledgement from them, that it would be prudent to put something in writing. You don't have to be fired up or pushy in the letter but I think you need to document it and perhaps when they get it in writing they will be less likely to blow it off.
Good luck and keep us posted.

I'm posting a follow up on the visit from the counter top fabricator. First off, I didn't tell him, but the ripples seem to have smoothed out *somewhat* since my first call to him 3 weeks ago.

He came this morning and at first told me that's "just the way it is". I said that's not acceptable. He said it's rippled because it's fabricated by hand instead of machine. He said there's nothing he can do about it except make another one that will be just like it. I told him if that's the case, then I'm very disappointed in his work and that he should have told me from the get go that they would be this way. I smiled and said that the countertops weren't given to me, I did have to pay for them, after all, and why would I want to pay for something that was flawed? I asked him why the perimeter counters were smooth and this one wasn't? He blatantly disagreed they were smooth. Huh??? I told him of course they are...I can see that they are. I commented that because I chose to give business to a local company that I'm penalized for it by not having the quality I could have gotten at Lowes?

After we talked for a while, he said that they were fabricated in a cold room at their warehouse and that in time, he felt they would settle in and smooth out when the adhesive had a chance to be absorbed by the fiber board beneath it.That lends credence to my noticing the surface had smoothed out somewhat from the time they were installed. However, that still doesn't jive with why the perimeter counters are smooth. We finally agreed to give them six months and he would fabricate this top again in warm weather to see if we can get a better surface. I'm not happy with the outcome but he did change directions from the beginning of the conversation when he said "that's just the way it is". Time will tell.

Make sure you get that in writing. He sounds rather shady to me (changing his story and all). Sorry you're having to deal with this.

Wait six months??? IS HE FOR REAL??? He'll probably be out of business in six months. I have had plenty of formica over the years, including custom made wall units, bedroom furniture, dinettes, countertops. I've lived in New York and Florida, with extreme temperatures and I've never heard of such a thing. Part of the appeal of using laminates is that it is made made with NO IMPERFECTIONS. (Sorry, I didn't mean to yell.)

I would bring in a specialist and get another opinion about your guys' excuse.

Your counters will only get worse with time. I had counters installed years ago that had faulty glue and even with the fabricator coming back to inject glue under the laminate, it never stuck down properly. Get him to tear them out and replace them now.