Builder's usually buy from big retailers; they should be on your side in this & at least put you in touch with their source, tho that might depend on if you're demanding they repair your floor for free..sounds tricky! A refund also sound's tricky; I got one, but my family has shopped ABT for 2 generations, going above and beyond to help satisfy me when I pressed for it was really just good business sense! You might just be an invoice to some faceless distributor that will tell you it's all on Bluestar to help you out. dunno...but it sounds like that might be where you're at. If so, you might want to switch to their french-door version. Single doors vs. french ones are not just different facades, but, in fact, the design & 'architecture' of the each version are VERY different, inside & out, which can only help in your situation! I found it interesting that Subzero's 36" non-"PRO" french & single-door fridges are so different, they're made in separate FACTORIES (WI and AZ), and If memory serves, Thermador's versions are made by different COMPANIES. If you get a refund, buy a SZ Pro36; don't think, just do it!! ;-) If limited to a replacement, a new version of your model might well do the trick; good mfgs make changes to fix flaws as a model's production run goes along & problems are found. Or if you can live with a french door, might have better luck with that because it's fundamentally different inside (hopefully in a good way!) Personally, I think it's great you have/chose a single-door fridge; having had both in a short span, I think french doors really kinda suck. you lose a LOT of storage space due to the gap in the door-shelves...something that doesn't show up in specifications which only measure the volume of the 'box', not usable storage space!! And they just look & feel less 'Pro', IMO...that's probby why SZ doesn't make a french door PRO model...or True, or any super-high-end/quasi commercial mfg in this space

Waterloo360t, Capacity is best judged on usable space. One of the things I looked at was if I could fit a 9x13 pan in front to back but also how the shelves/door compartments are sized and how they can be placed. Cubic feet can be misleading.

I think you will be fine with a 24" depth hood. If you did a poll on this forum, you'd find only a handful of people with a hood of 27" depth. They're less commonplace to find and expensive. Your budget isn't that big. I think you are very mistaken about the width of the hood. You won't bang your head on it more cause it's 42" instead of 36" wide. And, without cabinets on either side, aesthetically it will look skimpy to have a 36" hood over a 36" range. I am surprised at your KD, and am questioning his knowledge. Somewhere there is a thread on this topic of hood width aesthetics, and I will try to find it for you. Bottom line, get a 42" wide by 24" deep hood, installed 30"-36" above the range, and you will be happy with these dimensions. I would spend more time thinking about the ductwork. Why didn't you mention it. It needs to be 8" or 10" diameter. If not, that will constrain your exhaust capabilities far more than whether the hood is 27" deep. ETA: I searched Gardenweb threads, but anything on this subject was missing the photos due to Photobucket's new rules making you upgrade (curse you Photobucket) Also check out Costco for hoods. Make sure they have baffle filters. Some great deals on Costco, though the hoods come and go, and if you don't find something check back in a week or two.

I have a similar issue. What we decided to do was add an undercounter bev center (Liebherr has one for $1600) that gives us almost 4 cf of extra fridge space. Will put a lot of drinks/bottles in there - which frees up the 36" fridge/btm freezer. I love the BS fridge too but don't want to be the guinea pig, and honestly, it's pricey! The subzero 36" fridge has almost as much space but is tried and true and just costs about $1k more as the BS?