You are not being picky. For $100,000.00 I think you should get a premium product. I think you definitely have a case, especially if this is something you have already discussed with the builder and/or it was shown on the plans. It's not your job to make sure everything is built according to plan, that falls on your builder. That's what you are paying him for. Let me repeat; it is your builder's responsibility to maker sure everything is installed correctly, not yours. Also, that toe-kick is an easy fix. They do not need to remove the granite or move the cabinet. Insist that they put the toe-kick on.

You could take some time tomorrow and go over to your house with a roll of blue painter's tape and a pad and pencil. Really scrutinize everything in the house and if something isn't right, place a piece of tape on it and then write down the problem on your pad. Then next time you meet with the builder, put on a big smile and inform the builder this is your punch list of items to be fixed or remedied. Then walk away.

If your builder claims his "premium" subs are the best, then it's time for them to walk the walk and live up to the claim.

$100k?!? This is primo. You get *everything* you want and settle for nothing less. You're not there to make friends. Call in a kitchen designer to comment if needed.

Do what suru said and hold back final payment until it's all fixed to your satisfaction. You are not being too picky.

Do what suru said and hold back final payment until it's all fixed to your satisfaction. You are not being too picky.

Oh my Lord, Cpartist. I feel badly complaining about anything after following your build with it's many dilemmas. Mine are easy peasy in comparison.

Also, that toe-kick is an easy fix. They do not need to remove the granite or move the cabinet. Insist that they put the toe-kick on.

Do you think? The cabinets are Brookhaven and they are probably set on 4" bases, not legs with a toe kick cover. I'm not totally sure. If it's set on a base, can that be cut away with the cabinet and stone in place?

Call in a kitchen designer to comment if needed.

The KD was hired by the builder and does many of the kitchens in area. I will definitely get him involved, especially since his plan clearly shows the toe kick.

You could take some time tomorrow and go over to your house with a roll of blue painter's tape and a pad and pencil.

That's what we did today and it's when I noticed the toe kick.

The house seems to be very well built built but it's a little disheartening when so little care has been taken with the finishing touches.

Thanks for the pep talk. I'm ready to do this!!!

cheri127....It’s painful to read your post. I can see my own situation mirrored in much of what you expressed....I could have written it myself!

I agree with others that you should hold back payment until everything is done to your satisfaction. The toe kick is in the documentation, so there’s really no argument there.

I fully understand about not wanting to sour the relationship with your builder and feeling badly about it. Standing your ground somehow makes you feel like you’re being a complainer. You’re made to feel like you’re being unreasonable because other parts of your house are terrific and well built. You are told you’re too picky, and really, it’s just not that bad etc. All that puts tremendous pressure on you to just accept things the way they are. I would say....plant yourself very firmly and stick to your guns (calmly...almost matter of factly). You can apologize, and at the same time let your builder know that these things are not unacceptable to you and you are not budging on this. I don’t say this flippantly because I fully understand how difficult this entire scenario is (going through it myself right now).

Although there are no pics to look at, I don’t believe it’s at all unreasonable to expect your cabinets to be straight and plumb and pleasing to the eye. My builder had to redo some crown on my cabinets because things were not straight. Something was off. I didn’t know if it was the ceiling, or the cabinets or the way the crown was installed or what, and I really didn’t care. My only concern was that they did whatever they needed to do to make it look normal. After they fixed it, I never got up there on a ladder with a level and tape measure to check it out...as long as it looked straight to the eye (even if it wasn’t), I was happy.

I feel for you...I really do. I know how hard this is.

Thanks so much for the support, Nidnay. I emailed the builder and copied the KD. No threats. Just expressed what needed remedy and asked if they would feel comfortable adding my kitchen, as is, to their portfolio to show prospective clients. I understand their heads are in other jobs now as mine is all but finished but I but I believe they’ll make this right as long as I don’t cave.

The thing that’s so disheartening is that you just know they can see the errors but are hoping you won’t notice or complain. I don’t try to write smaller checks and hope they won’t notice. (I think I’ll use that line when I talk to them. Lol). I’m so glad this forum exists! Thanks again to all who share their journey here.

Keep us posted!

The toekick issues is owned by the KD. It's an upgrade that has to be chosen in the software, and she didn't choose it. Normally not a big deal. With stone on there, it's a bigger deal. But not a deal breaker, with the right cabinet installer.

The oven cabinet, that's much trickier. If it is indeed racked and out of square (measure the diagonals from one corner to another) that whole section of cabinet and crown will need to be uninstalled, and then they can see if the cabinet can be squared up. It may mean ordering a new cabinet.

If the cabinet itself is square, and one of the doors is slightly different sized than another, then that's a simple door reorder.

None of this is unreasonable. These are items that the installer should have caught. I wouldn't expect a GC to 100% notice, but once brought to his attention, they should have been corrected before the stone and molding went on. Now it's that much more difficult to correct, and will cost them a lot more. That should be motivational to take care of issues as they arise on future jobs!

Does this mean that the base at the bottom is attached to the cabinet. I though with frameless cabinets that wasn’t the case, that the installer had to build a base for it to sit on. I couldn’t find any construction details on Brookhaven’s website.

The toekick is attached, But, it's not incredibly difficult with a multitool to carefully cut it away. Go slow, and be careful. You never see the bottom of the cabinet after all.

Thanks for the explanation!

edenchild, love that line

I did a $25K kitchen remodel with a custom cabinet builder. He kept telling me "I just want you to be happy", and to that end he quickly and cheerfully fixed everything that was not exactly as it was laid out in the contract. It's frustrating to see your builder not taking that kind of pride in his work.

That toe kick looks ridiculous. I don't care who is annoyed - that needs to be fixed.

A racked frameless oven cabinet is a big deal. Be sure that is actually the issue. Do a 3,4,5, measure on it. And measure the diagonals.

Never apologize. You aren't married to these people. (Even though it may seem like it.) You are doing business with them. While compromise is often part of the building process, nothing you have described is so far off of reasonable expectation as to be apology worthy. While I like a convivial working relationship, when comes down to writing the check, I stiffen my spine and get what I want.

Even though you have done a walk through with DH, set an appointment to do a walk through with the GC. Tip: Bring a flash light. Turn off the lights in every room and use the flashlight along the walls and trim. It will pick up finish flaws that you wouldn't otherwise see until after you moved in. You GC, if he is really interested in the product he produces, will pick up on things that you miss.

Never apologize when you are paying for it. Always be polite, but don't apologize. And, keep the last check until you are satisfied.

The toekick issues is owned by the KD. It's an upgrade that has to be chosen in the software, and she didn't choose it.

Thank you so much, Cooks Kitchen, for this info because you saved me from totally embarrassing myself!!! I swapped the two cabinets on that side at the last minute so the order was likely correct but there were "unintended consequences". I'm so glad I realized this before I contacted the builder and KD about it or I would have lost all credibility. So, for this item, the fix is on me. I'll probably install baseboard trim.

A racked frameless oven cabinet is a big deal. Be sure that is actually the issue. Do a 3,4,5, measure on it. And measure the diagonals

That's the plan, but I think it's just the face frame that isn't square. The frame is attached in the middle of the cabinet, above the bottom drawer and below the top doors. At the crown and the floor the cabinet appears level, however, we will be sure to confirm that.

I sent the full punch list to the builder and he seems ok so far. We're meeting tomorrow to walk through together and he has already scheduled a meeting with the KD. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again!

You are not being picky. My only suggestion is to put ALL requests, agreements, etc. in writing with dates to be completed and once it is completed for your builder to send back ' Completed Change Order'.

Not change order, these are punch list items, not change orders.

And there should be a written, comprehensive list of all punch items. Needs to be documented in a way that a contract might demand. Which means you send the punch list, registered mail return receipt. Things that have been done can be one color- things yet to be done in another. Anything that is a disagreement/dispute needs to be in bold red.

Builders/GCs aren't bad people, but some will run roughshod over a client who does only the basics, and nothing else. An email/text/phone message provides nothing but plausible deniability for them. Not as easy to get out of return receipt hard copy mail.

As others have said- this isn't a marriage or a friendship, but a business relationship. Your money is at stake. Treat it as such,.

Brookhaven /Wood-mode doesn't make junk. They would want that to look right...and it doesn't. Who in their right mind would think it would be ok to leave off that toe kick?

I don't know if it's a matter of standing up for ourselves as much as it is just plain getting worn down and exhausted. You start to question if you should just let things go or make poor decisions based on exhaustion.

Even though you made the cabinet change and there were "unintended consequences", you'd think someone would have said "gee, somehow that doesn't look quite right", especially at installation. Not that it transfers the responsibility, but still.

Bpathome, I couldn’t agree more. I will mention that to the KD when I see him. We could have cut down the base before installation if he’d been on top if it.

The meeting with the builder went reasonably well. I got the impression the KD was left with the cost of repairs even though the majority of the errors were the builder's carpenters. I'll leave that to the builder and KD to sort out. There were a couple of shady things done to cover little mistakes that has left me feeling a little concerned about the quality of the finish work but overall a good outcome. Thanks again for the advice and support.