No, it's not acceptable, not by ANY standards. But I don't think it needs a complete rip out to fix it, unless there's more you're not showing us. At the phone jack, the pieces should be removed, and proper cuts installed. If he doesn't have a glass blade, that's not your problem Those cuts are not that tough. At that corner, that's pretty gross. that would have to be removed to about a foot back, so that the tiles can be adjusted upward to line up with the tile on the other side. They would also have to be spread some toward the top of the backsplash so that they account for the out of plumb corner. Also not a real big deal (woulda been alot easier if he'd done it to start with, though!). As for the grout holes, those can always be patched with a little more grout. The joints might have to be dug out slightly with a utility knife, but again, not a big deal-- more time consuming than anything else. One way or the other, this isn't a complete loss, but no way should it be allowed to pass as it stands.

suburbanjuls: "It's like Linda Evangelista, only with a tool belt" - LOL! NorCal rates are always higher than SoCal's - we have friends there and they say I'm 'lucky'. (!) lascatx: I think you're correct - especially regarding the ceiling area. sanjuangirl: Your price is in the mid-range of what I was quoted - however, my prices are for tile installation only. The demo and hardie backer are being done by a drywall guy and my tile design is the most basic ( white subway with thin grey grout). Thanks for your good luck wishes - I'm going to need it. I feel so frazzled already and all these price variations for the same apples don't help! linelle: thanks for your input - it helps me to know what others paid.. plus I have a better ( more balanced) perspective of both "sides" , mine and the installer's. dilly_ny: Aw, sorry, I think you have me confused with someone else. I did post a pic of my cooktop area in its pre-demo days but no work has been done yet to the ceiling which used to be white. julesl: Wow! I didn't know prices could be so high in the Twin Cities :-( . Isn't it crazy to pay so much less for the tile than the actual installation? A large part of our kitchen budget has been consumed by labor costs. I know how you feel - I, too, just want it over and done with but it also bothers me that I have no idea of what a "reasonable" price is unless I call in several estimates - and that is such a time-consuming process in itself. We understand that people have to make a decent profit on the work they do and we think we are pretty generous, generally speaking, but when I get hit with such wide price swings, I feel kinda taken advantage of. ( Okay, I ended that sentence with a preposition... sigh).

These are my pics of my countertops placed Friday June 22, 2018. I cried looking at these seams. It looks so cheap. Fabricator explains that's the way it comes. I explained that I shouldn't be able to see the seams so clearly. It looks so unprofessional. They ended up taking them back to their warehouse. In hopes they say if it is quality control will try and fix it just to make it look better. Otherwise I will have to pay an additional fee for them to come out again to install. I just don't know what to do and if still looks the same. This is the first time I've replaced my counters in 24 years. I don't and can't live with it. looking at this for another 24 years. It looks so cheap and it really was not it's a lot of money to me. I hope fingers crossed that they will fix this problem. They never told me that there would be such seams. I thought the edges were done by a machine and it would be all one piece. I have read up on this and now understand there are seams. But now I do know that they should not look like this. If they are good fabricator you shouldn't be able to see them so clearly. I will find out next week what happens.

The photos are very hard to see detail for sure. Uba-tuba is generally a stone that can be spot polished on -site. Repolish the entire piece-no way. First -off any fabricator who says a type of stone will be the same or cookie cutter doesnt know stone. Every slab I have ever seen is a unique piece period.I never call features on a stone defects but for example a fabricator friend of mine who regularly gets in containers of slabs examines each and every one that comes thru the door. He notes any marks(eyesore)(damage) with a wax marker.He documents every single feature on every slab. In your case he probably would have rejected this slab or tryed to refinish it if it wasnt resined(dyed). To me and again it is hard to see the details in your slab. I see some marks that look like someone tried to repair the marks or scratches on the slab but couldnt match the original finish. Maybe the slab was purchased from salvage but it doesnt look good even in the blurry pics. If the damages on the slab are not all over the place and the slab hasnt been resined a bonafide stone refinisher that is familar with polishing granite on site could probably repair this including the holes. A good refinsher will use a clear adhesive that will not be noticeable after the repair. A color matched blob of polyester epoxy will stand out if not properly done. Go to another fabricator and take a look at their slabs and you will see the difference. Talk to them and I think you will see a difference again. If you arent happy let your present fabricator or installer make it right. If you could send in better pictures that would be great. Stu Rosen www.mbstonecare.com www.stoneshine.com