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Remodeling Kitchens

Acceptable granite installation?

6 years ago

Hello

Please see this picture of granite countertop installed next to a microwave oven cabinet. In my opinion it’s not a neat job. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.

Featured Answer

Nidnay

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Nope....not acceptable. Not only was it sloppily cut and templated incorrectly, but what kind of caulking job is that??

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Comments (35)

S RATTAN
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you Nidnay. Your feedback is appreciated.
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"1. Is the match of the granite in the first picture acceptable?" If the fabricator can't collect, it's obviously unacceptable to the customer. "2. Is the repaired break at the sink acceptable and durable?" Since I didn't do the repair, I can't say as to durability, but it doesn't look too hot. Here's a few before and afters of mine, you be the judge: "3. We have paid them 50% down on a joint countertop and flooring job. Countertops went in first, and we put a hold on the floor when we ran into these problems. If this isn't acceptable work, what would you do?" You're going to be staring at these tops for a long time. When you go to sell, buyers are going to wonder what the hell you were thinking when you accepted this work and why you installed a stainless steel drop-in sink instead of an undermount. "Thank you for taking the time to reply, and if you happen to be a professional in this industry, would you please indicate that as well?" I am a licensed contractor in 2 states, write a column on countertops at www.countertopiq.com, a Certified Corian fabricator, a Certified Zodiaq installer, and have performed assessments and warranty repairs for many manufacturers, in addition to repairing stone and solid surface countertops for over 10 and 20 years respectively.
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Nothing looks good at that distance. Luckily that isn’t the distance you’re supposed to judge anything. Stand back 3’. It will be fine. People’s expectations have really gotten out of hand. Magic doesn’t happen. Stone isn’t Corian.
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jellytoast
6 years ago
Not acceptable to me.
beth09
6 years ago
I wouldn't be happy. But then, I've been told I'm picky.....
Lisa SW
6 years ago
Wouldn't be acceptable to me. Here's a picture of my granite installed next to a cabinet
worthy
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Unacceptable.

As noted above, the countertop should have been scribed, that is, the out-of- square cabinet edge transferred to the countertop from a template, then the granite ground down to match.

So sad that such a basic skill is a mystery to so-called installers!
oliviag55
6 years ago
though an object in the photo could give us a better idea of scale, this looks like a pencil width of brown , contrasting caulk. is that so?
if so, a very poor templating job.
I'm sorry for your troubles.
S RATTAN
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you all for your thoughts and inputs. Here are pictures for scale as requested. The third picture is front side of the counter top. And the last one is towards the back. Any solutions?
S RATTAN
Original Author
6 years ago
I guess the orderof picture gets changed during upload.
S RATTAN
Original Author
6 years ago
Also another issue I am having is the overhang on the island is less than the overhang on the wall base cabinets. See pictures please. The installation was done today. Any way this can be fixed? Will call my fabricator first thing tomorrow morning for both but not sure what can be done. Your advice will help immensely. Can granite be unglued and reinstalled? Thanks again.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
"Can granite be unglued and reinstalled?"

Yes. The best way is to gradually drive shims between the cabinet and stone and cut the adhesive with a Japanese pull saw.
Nidnay
6 years ago
What was the overhang you agreed to with your fabricator? If the counter (first photo in your post) hangs over more than specified, they can always remove it and cut to make it shorter (they also might be able to close that gap if the counter is open on the side opposite the gap and doesn’t abut to anything). But if the overhang on the island is shorter than specified (and your are unsatisfied with it), there is obviously no way to make it longer, you will have to get another slab.
S RATTAN
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks again. Only one counter meets the agreed upon overhang. The one against the wall is bigger and the other on the island was installed incorrectly leaving more on the other side of the island, the seating side. Sadly the one that is bigger overhang on the wall and has the gap on the side is seemed in behind the kitchen sink. But I guess could be made shorter to at least match the island. The gap will remain looming in my eyes because of the seem.
Nidnay
6 years ago
I would insist that they get another piece and redo. I had a part of my counter where there was a gap (and not nearly as large as yours) and my fabricators understood fully that it was their responsibility to make it right and were willing to get another slab. It turns out they were able to adjust it a bit and that narrowed the gap to an acceptable level. You should not have to accept such poor quality work.
kudzu9
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Are you going to have a granite backsplash? If so, you could have it wrap around to hide the poorly templated gap in the first picture. I would give the installer two options: 1. Rip the badly done work out and do it correctly at no charge, or 2) Do the backsplash wrap around I suggested, and give you a 50% reduction in his charges for the whole job. The latter option also avoids the hassle of a tearout and the concern of ensuring that the new material matches.
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Jackie Lopey
6 years ago
No, that's not okay. I'd ask the fabricator to remove and reinstall.
PRO
ST Stones Inc
6 years ago
Hate it when people do such sloppy work. I would definitely complain about it. The only problem with replacing it is that they may not have another slab from the same block to match. Make sure you look at the slab they are going to provide you with if you do choose on changing it to make sure it matches.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
Replacement may not be necessary. Depending on the layout, it may be possible to scribe the stone to fit.
S RATTAN
Original Author
6 years ago
I purchased 2 slabs and have left over that may be enough to redo the counter against the wall. But it is abutted to another piece.

Can granite be cut safely along the seem without damaging it?

The installer is exploring a solution for this issue. The good news he will be able to remove and reposition the island counter which is held by silicone.

My contractor told me today that the cutout for my rangetop wasn’t right either. The installer had the rangetop available at the time of templating. Not sure why he missed. My plumbing, back splash and appliance installation is stalled until he fixes the issues.

I am going to be patient and await his response for the resolutions.

Meanwhile thank you for guidance and advice.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
6 years ago
"Can granite be cut safely along the seem without damaging it?"

It depends. If the seam was made like this, with little adhesive, it will break apart with no problem:

Cutting a seam apart is risky business.
PRO
Filipe Custom Woodwork
6 years ago
This counter needs to be re-done. No 4" backsplash. Did he even do a wood template?? overhangs are about an 1" for the area you pictured or working area. Seating areas are 10-12" average...
S RATTAN
Original Author
6 years ago
Update on RESOLUTIONS: I am very happy now that all of my issues have been taken care of. Issue 1 - ugly grounding and caulking job fixed without cutting out a new piece. The crew that arrived today used fire power to soften the epoxy. They unmounted the piece and cutting the edge at 45 degree angles repositioned the counter. Then seamed again behind the sink. This time they used chocolate silicone to match the cabinets. Issue 2 was resolved by removing silicone and repositioning the island countertop to desired overhang. Issue 3 notches were cut out for the rangetop. Phew I thought kitchen of my dreams wasn’t going to happen.

THANK YOU to each one of you who posted a response and took the time to enlighten and guide me through this process. The help is priceless!! I understood what was doable or not. Trying to do my part by posting the resolution details in case others have similar issues. Thank you and God bless you all.
Nidnay
6 years ago
Hurray....I’m glad it all worked out for you!
PRO
Jackie Lopey
6 years ago
Much better!
kudzu9
6 years ago
Impressive. I frankly was skeptical that they would be able to remedy all of that. Thanks for the update.
beth09
6 years ago
Yay!!!!! Looks great, enjoy. :)
Lisa SW
6 years ago
So happy you had a satisfactory result. But after carefully examining your granite, I bet some of us would also enjoy viewing the dream kitchen ;)
S RATTAN
Original Author
6 years ago
Here it is Lisa ... work in progress...
Lisa SW
6 years ago
Absolutely beautiful!
kudzu9
6 years ago
That is quite a beautiful slab!
beth09
6 years ago
It's gonna be gorgeous. Love those beautiful cabs, and the counter too. Well done.
beth09
6 years ago
BTW, did they admit this was shoddy work? And "excuse" for it? Just curious, especially in light of how they came back and fixed it all.
S RATTAN
Original Author
6 years ago
Just sent them the same pictures as shared here originally and asked for it to be fixed by someone else with a better handle of the job. I did not want compensation... wanted just a fix on these slabs as it took me forever to find them. They were recommended by my cabinet company. They did NOT acknowledge / apologize. They simply stated they will try to fix it. In hindsight may be they sent undertrained crew and when I put my foot down, they sent their best guys out. Who knows? They did request me not to share this information with the cabinet company. I would have eventually if they didn’t fix my countertops. Everyone deserves a chance. Hopefully they don’t mess with more customers. They appeared to know what they were doing. I was very happy with the expertise of the crew that came in today.
Nidnay
6 years ago
Interesting that they actually asked you not to share it with the cabinet company.

So many unsuspecting customers are stuck with subpar outcomes because they don’t know any better and are told it’s “normal” by the people who do the work. It’s amazing what some trades try to pass off as acceptable. If I had a dollar for every time some one told me “that’s the way it’s supposed to look”, I’d be rich.
beth09
6 years ago
Well, I'm glad it went that easily for you, could have been a lot worse!

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