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New build kitchen cabinets chipped

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

Our cabinets arrived, and our contractor’s subco tractor put them up right away. Several of the cabinets were chipped/had finish issues. We are meeting after the Holiday to remedy this. The cabinets took over 3 months to get here, and we are supposed to close in 2 weeks. We NEED to close in two weeks. What options do we have? I’ll take pictures and post, but it’s mainly at the bottom and in between where the frame meets the box. Two cabinets may need to be completely replaced. I dont know why this guy installed them to begin with, but not only did he do it, but he installed cabinets of various height all at the same height so the staggering was the distance between the cabinet and the countertop rather than between the top of the cabinet and the ceiling. 🤦‍♀️Any advice is appreciated. Again, we HAVE to close in two weeks since our other house has sold, and our interest rate lock will expire.

Shouldn’t the company have to rush order new cabinets? I am beginning to feel we made a huge mistake moving our family if we can’t even use our kitchen. I am sure we cannot get granite or a backsplash or even plumbing until new ones are ordered.

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Comments (5)

dan1888
2 years ago
Start your documentation. Realistically you'll be waiting until sometime in the future beyond your move-in date to complete a solution to this mishap. To me, logically, that takes the closing date out of the negotiations. My goal would be to have the undamaged cabinets installed at the correct heights. With provisions for repair and replacement within the timeframe the manufacturer estimates for sending new pieces. I'd retain my 10% holdback until the job was completed satisfactorily. Whoever handled the cabinet order should contact the manufacturer.
Ms H thanked dan1888
Ms H
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you for the suggestion. They did already hang them correctly, but now there are so many unnecessary holes in the wall, and almost every upper cabinet has issues. A few bottom cabinets have issues.
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Andi, thanks for getting back. I'm so sorry about your cabinet, and your island leg. It makes me feel really bad for you, I can imagine how you feel. All that money spent, not even in there yet, and this. I hope the kit can adequately cover the chip, and one of those stain pens can help the island leg. And that you and your kitchen live "happily ever after". ;) My goal in this thread was never to prove myself right or someone else wrong. The whole goal here was to get to the truth of the matter. I am going to be buying cabinets in the near future, and was considering painted ones. When faced with a several thousand dollar purchase, I feel it is my due diligence to question everything pertaining to that. It was not meant to offend anyone, that is never the intent in my questioning. Only to try and get to the truth of something. And I think the truth of the matter is, painted cabinets I would purchase today would not hold up like mine did.
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I'm having the exact same problem too. I refaced my cabinets in 2018. The door frames are maple and the panel is MDF. No clue about any of this. The chipping started less than a year into it all, but it seemed like fairly immediately. The installer did come back and re-paint the doors that were chipped. Now, in 2021, the kitchen is so chipped, it's pretty embarrassing to even see. I wouldn't even be able to sell my house like this. I'm so sad. I'm wondering if they can be repainted by someone else, or are they irreparable. Is this a common problem?
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All cabinets chip with normal wear and tear. Sharp 90 degree edges will always show that first. Sharp 90 degree edges should be avoided if at all possible. Edges should be slightly rounded over. Painted cabinets show normal chipping far worse than stained. If the project is not finished, touch ups have not yet been done. Those are normal wear spots for chipping to occur. Whether or not that is normal chipping depends on the processes and materials that were used. Site built and finished with house paint? Normal. Conversion varnish? Less normal, but not unheard of with those sharp edges. Learning how to touch these up is in your future as they will need that every so often. This is a teaching that your cabinet maker or installer should provide at the end of the project, along with how to adjust your doors and drawers to account for seasonal movement.
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Depending on the cabinet construction it definitely could be attached, or (preferably, in this case) just attached to the wall. If the cabinets are attached it's likely just a few screws, you'd just need to patch and paint the holes (or replace the panel which will be next to impossible), though your results may vary. Are your cabinets going to be painted or stained? If painted, would they be prefinished or painted in place after installation? If they're painted in place you'd open up another can of worms with an unfinished spot. Could you ask the contractor who's building your house, or the cabinet supplier?
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strategery
2 years ago
You close with a holdback. Discuss with your lawyer.
Ms H thanked strategery
Ms H
Original Author
2 years ago
We paid for a reputable local company to design and order all plywood, dovetail construction with soft close doors. We knew they would be box cabinets but thought we were getting higher end box cabinets. I believe they are Midcontinent Cabinetry brand. My parents’ Menards cabinets that are seven years old are in better shape than some of these.
K B
2 years ago
This sucks. I am sorry. No advice as I am not a professional, but I would definitely be calling all professionals in that others have advised. This is unacceptable. It doesn't matter if it was the cabinet makers or the subcontractor or both. Your GC needs to find a way to get it right.

Also, what are the dotted lines on that corner cabinet? That doesn't seem right either.
Ms H thanked K B

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