Here's a second pic, so you can see what the inside of the drawers look like.

Should I say something? What should ask for? Really appreciate all advice.

Well, whoever installed the pulls didn't do what should have been done, which would have been to brace the backside of the drawer front with a wood block to prevent tearout when the drill bit came through. Why someone making nice cabinets would fail at this point to take a simple, standard precaution is beyond me. However, having said that, it is on the inside, and after a month you will probably never look at these little flaws again. And I don't know what you can do to make it less noticeable (wood filler will look worse in my opinion).

If it were me, I would mention it, if for no other reason than to make the cabinet maker aware that he let something sub-standard happen (or he has a sloppy worker). And, depending on the reaction to this, you might see if he will reduce the price $100 ir so in compensation.

It would bother me...

kudzu9
would wood filler really look worse than tearout?
Rina

rina-
To use wood filler properly would involve removing the handles, filling the tearout (might need two coats due to shrinkage), sanding it smooth without damaging the existing finish, and refinishing each small patch. And then the tone of the patch might not be a perfect match,especially with variable aging over time. That's why I think it wouldn't be worth it. Alternatively, over-sized, stainless steel washers could be used to hide most or all of the tearout, but that might look worse than doing nothing.

Yes, it's bothersome, but, realistically, how often do you study that backside of your drawer fronts?

This post was edited by kudzu9 on Tue, Jan 13, 15 at 22:32

kudzu9

Thank you for the info...it would bug me mostly because somebody didn't care about 'my cabinets' enough & I probably would think that every time I open them - (my mother was seamstress & always said that "inside of the garment should look as good as outside"...I know, old school. But people used to take pride in their workmanship.)
Rina

It would bother me too. I'd want the drawers fixed or replaced. Point it out to the cabinet maker & see what he says.

It would bother me too. If it was on the outside of the cabinet. It doesn't compromise the structural integrity.....and seriously....how often does one look at the inside of your kitchen cabinet?

rina-
That kind of stuff troubles me, too. But I have lightened up about things like this over the years. In this case, if the quality of the cabinets is otherwise good, I don't think it's worth losing sleep over. And replacing the cabinet fronts over this would likely mean not getting a perfect match of the fronts in either the grain or the finish, which would mean a bigger appearance issue than this is.

Is it possible to get a respectable washer that would cover it? There is absolutely no excuse for more than one looking like this.

Oh, definitely, ask them to fix it, no matter what they have to do. That is unacceptable, YOU will always know it is there.

Thanks everyone for the input. From looking at the drawers, the fronts could be taken off and reinstalled with no problem. But replacing that front piece of plywood where the problem is would involve taking the drawer boxes apart, yikes!

Maybe we just use extra large washers, which would limit further splintering?

I don't mind the pulls coming off and wood filler being used, but if it may not look good, what's the point.

Also, I'm hoping these folks will do more work for me, and don't want to alienate them.

Thanks.

"Also, I'm hoping these folks will do more work for me, and don't want to alienate them"

Then I would simply point it out to them see what his reaction is and maybe he will offer a couple of bucks or a discount off future work but ti insist on replacement or a major repair for the inside of a drawer box that as kudzu pointed out in 3 weeks time you will never even think about will alienate him. JMHO

Let it go....when they come back to fix this, they will mess up something else.
Trust me, I know from experience.....

" ... my mother was seamstress & always said that "inside of the garment should look as good as outside"...I know, old school"

I learned to construct garments this way and have spent countless hours with a seam ripper fixing mistakes that would never be seen by anyone but me. IMO, having something look just as good in the areas that can't be seen is the difference between excellent craftsmanship and average.

I would definitely point it out to the cabinet maker, let him know that it annoyed me, and ask him if there is a way that he can make the mistakes less noticeable. Maybe he has a trick up his sleeve. In any case, he should take steps to prevent it on future jobs.

I would point it out and then let it go. In my bathroom, the vanity knobs needed the drawer fronts to be routed on the inside because of screw length. The first one my GC made a balls of because he didn't have the right drill bit. He apologized and stopped and came back the next day with the right one. The rest of the drawers are beautiful inside. It didn't affect the looks of my vanity or the drawer's integrity. My GC was wonderful and I told him not to worry about it. I do not even see this minor flaw anymore.

He apologized and stopped and came back the next day with the right one.

At least he recognized his mistake, stopped and took the time to get the rest right. In my previous home, the insides of the cabinets looked like RChicago's, and it continued to bug me as long as I lived there!

jellytoast - so glad that somebody agrees...you could have worn anything my mother made inside out & nobody would know.

linelle - your GC did the right thing, rather to stop & finish with proper tool than mess up whole bunch of them.

Sorry for 'sticking' to it. In the long run, it is only inside of drawers, probably not such a big deal. But it shows lack of caring-disrespect for others property. I understand a mistake & everyone would make them. But not so many. Just my rant. Rina

Mine are like that and I stopped noticing after a few weeks.

I would mention it to the contractor and then let it go.

Thanks all. I mentioned it to the cabinetmaker. Not sure what they're going to do, but it'll probably be very little.

They have such attention to detail in so many places and are working hard to make things right. I don't want to get stuck on this.

My GC wasn't the one who should have drilled the holes anyway, but it was the weekend and he was trying to help because they had fallen a week behind (to me it was no BFD). He was mortified that he messed one up. I liked the guy and everything else was done to a T so I told him not to worry about it. Sometimes you need to give a little, especially when they feel bad about it and acknowledge their mistake.