I've got no suggestion for exact dollar amount, but would urge you to think about how this is impacting you financially to come up with your expectation. Are you eating out more because of no kitchen for an extra several weeks? Did you have to switch to other trades because of the delay? Start to add up what you will actually experience financially from the wait and go from there.

Thank you Kathryn, that's good advice.
We prepared well, with plenty of freezer crockpot meals and grilling (yay summer!). DIY means no contractor costs or rescheduling fees. We planned to be thrifty, so there's limited actual financial impact.

I would say the impact is more emotional - the perpetual construction state, the seriously stressed out cats, having to wash dishes in the bathroom sink, rooms dedicated to construction stuff and storage, ... I'm having trouble quantifying that. :-)

I have found that the big box stores are quite generous when they make a mistake. I know someone who bought a garage door, had it installed by someone affiliated with the BBS and then the homeowner and installer noticed a dent in it. They asked him if he would take it for 1/2 price or if he wanted another one. He took the discount.

Another was with a dishwasher for a rental. Bought the cheapest one. Well accidentally they brought one that was several hundred dollars more (same color) and said if they took it, they would only charge them for the cheaper one they originally bought.

I had a bathroom remodeled by a BBS. Had ordered a rectangular sink with a quartz countertop. It came in oval--twice. They said they would give it to us free if we took the oval one. I was very nice and said I really wanted rectangular. (We had two other baths so it was not really a big deal timewise). So the third time it came in correctly--and they did not charge me for it due to the inconvenience.

As for the timeframe--I've been through a lot of contractors/remodeling, etc and whatever timeframe they tell me--I triple it. As long as they are doing a good job, I've learned to be ok with delays.

"An end panel shouldn't impede installation at all, so I'm confused as to why that hasn't been scheduled?"

Me too.

The installer is supposed to check the design against reality before it is ordered, as the required second QC check against the designer. That pre construction conference obviously didn't happen. That isn't anyone's fault but the installer's. Also, if you are just missing an end panel, and everything else is correct, there is absolutely no holdup of the work necessary. You can install boxes without doors. Without Face frames even. Exposed cabinet sides that have some damage can be upgraded to a decorative door end, applied later, and the box still be installed. If the major players are there, there is no reason to hold up any work for the minor small pieces. The goal is to always get the counters templated as quickly as possible, so function can be restored.

Getting the correct product for the job is all that anyone is owed, especially since there's no reason for the situation being described other than their own DIY unfamiliarity with standard construction procedures. Which doesn't bode well for the other finer details of a filler being scribed to a wall, or the cabinets being leveled in all six dimensions before being joined and fastened to the studs.

Thank you all for your relevant input, and I certainly appreciate the interest in the minute details of the story - I think it's likely that without seeing the design, understanding my background in construction, or reading the post completely, that it is difficult to pass judgement on what can and cannot be installed, and what is and is not 'designer/installer' error. But thank you for sharing your expertise.

As the end panel holds up the over refrigerator cabinet, and I have yet to figure out how to defy gravity and have it float, it is required to continue installation. If you have suggestions on how to do that - I'm all ears.

It was a 2020/part description error which was discussed, and thought resolved. It's a bit of a convoluted story, which is why I focused on the result and a specific question - that the part which was supposed to be ordered, was cancelled and not re-ordered.

But for those concerned, there was not supposed to be a reveal on the end panel. Obviously you cannot have a reveal on a full-height panel and a reveal on upper and lower cabinets. The upper cabinets will never line up with the panel. Assuming, of course, that the cabinets are leveled in all six directions before being joined or fastened....

Um, the over the fridge cabinet is NOT ''held up'' by any end panel. It is attached to the wall through the hanging rail, attached with blocking to the ceiling, and the end panels merely stabilize it for long term. A skin after the fact can flush out that panel reveal, no problem, and the only cabinet that couldn't be installed would be the wall cabinet next to the end panel. And that could actually be installed with the proper shim and a bit of scribe molding. It is done all the time on cabinets that do not offer flush sides as an option. You don't even need the skin next to the base cab other than to minimize the gap of the counter against the side panel, which gets covered with scribe in many lines as well. All of the base cabs can be set, and the template for the counter can occur without any refrigerator panel being there.

Totally a minor issue that should never hold up a whole job, or delay a project at all. The delay is by your choice. Not by necessity. You don't deserve any compensation at all. Your issues are of your own making.

Hey folks, this lady was only asking a question about fair compensation. She is not an expert like the pro's who are commenting. How about a little empathy? Speculating that she was the one holding up the job is a bit overreaching. If the home center felt they could not install, they are the ones holding up the project. Unless I misread the question, we don't know who held up the project.

"As the end panel holds up the over refrigerator cabinet, and I have yet to figure out how to defy gravity and have it float, it is required to continue installation. If you have suggestions on how to do that - I'm all ears."

You buy a piece of MDF the same thickness as the end panel and install it for replaceability. The counter top man can scribe to it, heck, you could live with it for a year or two. When the proper panel arrives, you pull the stand-in and install it. The cabinet above the refrigerator does not budge while the panel is pulled if it is properly installed.

As Sophie and I have said, there was no reason to hold up the job. A 2' x 8' piece of MDF is all the compensation you deserve.

Racheile Custom Sinks:

V has told us in her first post this is a DIY project and of her background in construction in her third. Since she didn't know that the panel in question is not necessary to have the job proceed, her ignorance has held up the job, not Home Depot.

Information, much more than empathy, is what's needed here.

Thank you for all this... vehement input.

Perhaps my lacking and vague description of the design, the part, and layout, which were not part of my question, is not complete enough for a clear description.

I believe it to be necessary to continue. The designer says it's necessary. My (experienced, kitchen-specialty) contractor friend we're working with says it's necessary. Kraftmaid says it's necessary.

Again, the question I am requesting assistance with is not the design, or the part, but in fact that the part was not ordered. I thought I was quite clear that the concern with the part had been resolved, and that I even offered to pay for it?

It would be most helpful if the conversation could be limited to the actual question. For myself, and people in a similar situation seeking assistance. But thank you for all this installation advice.

Sorry, V, but you, the designer, contractor, and Kraftmaid are wrong if this is an end panel at a refrigerator. Most people would agree that substituting a $50.00 piece of plywood to keep the job going would be a good value. If you're asking the wrong question, we would be remiss if we didn't tell you so.

Perhaps posting your design to add context would be helpful to the discussion.

Your issue as posed by you is: I would say the impact is more emotional - the perpetual construction
state, the seriously stressed out cats, having to wash dishes in the
bathroom sink, rooms dedicated to construction stuff and storage, ...
I'm having trouble quantifying that. :-)

This project should never have been started without proper inventory and inspection of the proper inventory.

In any remodeling project you should expect inconvenience by construction stuff in rooms. Having to do dishes in a bathroom sink and the perpetual construction state should be a none issue if the proper steps were taken before any demo.

The issues appear to be normal rookie mistakes. DYI is not for everyone. You should not be rewarded because of your mistakes. The blame game only goes so far.

I've had some experience w/big box stores messing up orders or breaking on delivery, etc., and they've always been great about it. I would expect them to give you the replaced part for 50% off or perhaps free. No one is compensating you for 'pain and suffering' as it were. Delays, even avoidable ones such as this, are part of almost all renovations. And as Joe and Sophie suggest, perhaps a more skilled 'family friend kitchen contractor guy' would have thought outside the box (pun sort of intended) and figured out a way to keep the job going. At any rate, once it's all finished up you won't even remember the delays - you'll just love your new kitchen :)