Ive spent the last 4 hours in quite an emotional state. My face is still hot, but my chest is less tight than before. By principle, I feel like I should bail on these people. What should I do? Background: My kitchen design place has been handling my countertops. I was sent to a stoneyard in NJ, about 5 hrs round trip from where I live in PA. I was told I would need 3 slabs. The stoneyard was only willing to show me 2 of the 16 slabs of the white macaubus they had, which by the way had circular brown coffee stain looking deposits on them (I posted pics previously). Disappointed with that experience, I told my KD, and he was going to send me to another stone supplier. At that point however, I was told that my job would only need 2 slabs. In the mean time, I discovered Corteccia quartzite/marble, and asked my KD the pricing. He said his fabricator didnt have a supplier with that stone. I found a fabricator in NJ willing to come out to where I live and put it in. This guy was going to do everything with an ogee edge in the Corteccia for the same price as I was quoted the WM by my KD. Corteccia is about 15+- sq ft more expensive than WM. If I went with the fabricator I found I would have to pay out of pocket. If I went with my KDs fabricator, it would be taken from my allowance. I didnt want to pay that much out of pocket, since we've already done so much outside...and I decide to let go of the Corteccia. I went to the other stone supplier my KD said to go to, chose my slabs of WM. I emailed my KD this morning, as, now that one of my islands is in, I wanted a little more overhang, and an ogee edge. I had also asked him that he initially said my job would take 3 slabs then he said it would take 2 slabs, but there was no adjustment in price...if he could explain that. My understanding was, I pay for the slabs, the templating/fabrication, and installation. By default, if I am using less slabs, I should be paying less. At this point, I was just trying to get my edge and extra overhang in the price of the extra slab. I also mentioned the other fabricator that was going to do the edging on the pricer stone for just as much. I offered to talk to his fabricator, as I didnt want him bargaining for me or put him in an awkward position. This is the reply I get: 'Regarding the kitchen tops, please print and sign the attached change order that will amend our contract by stating that ____ will not be selling you the countertops. At this point I need to cut my losses and tell you “good luck with the outfit in New Jersey.” I’ve already got too much time invested in something that clearly will not be profitable for our company.....We make very slim margins on selling stone tops to our customers; we generally do so only to make the process convenient for our customers. It takes time and resources to do this and my time and effort must have value [as well as everyone at (fabricator) and the distributors I’ve been contacting for you]; that is not the case here, so ___ will not be involved in providing you counter tops.' I really am livid. What should I do? Should I fork over the money and go elsewhere, or should I just have someone else to handle things? Going out of pocket is decent money, which I can do...but would rather not. At this point though, Im not sure if its just a matter of principle. Thoughts?

If you don't like the slabs you've been shown, then pick slabs elsewhere. If you don't like the fabricator's policies that you've been dealing with, then pick another fabricator. Caveat emptor though. The reason your builder chooses to do business with the KD and the fabricator you've been dealing with is they don't give him headaches. That's VERY important to a builder. Delays and mismeasures cost him money and you aggravation. If they didn't do a good job, he'd use someone else. A lot of builders wouldn't allow you to go elsewhere, so if yours does, then you have someone fairly flexible as far as your allowances go. However, your allowance may not go as far with someone else as it does with his people, as he may have negotiated prices with them that are lower than someone else would charge you. If that doesn't seem to be the case, then it very well could be a case of apples to oranges as far as quality of stone, and certainly quality of fabrication. Just because you can find a stone at multiple yards doesn't mean that it's equal in structural integrity or in desirability for it's uniqueness. Some stone yards have better wholesale wranglers in the field to snatch up the better stone, leaving the dreck to the rest. And no, the less desirable won't cost as much as the prettier stuff. If you choose to not use "his" people for products or services, be it stone or flooring, then it's up to you to vet both the product that you choose and any trade that you might choose to use yourself. That means interviewing them and viewing their work and doing all of the due diligence that your builder has already done with his people. And, anyone that you hire direct will not work "for" the builder. They will be your responsibility to deal with if they screw up your stone. Or drop it on your new cabinets. Or your floor. Your builder won't be responsible for the suitability of your product choices or your direct hire's actions. That's the risk you take when you hire trades people directly.

Are you saying no one knows what grade of studs were used or that they refuse to tell you? It is the responsibility of the builder to prove that he met the contract spec, not yours. This is where I would be explaining how to be sure the next requisition for payment will be approved. I don't understand what the concern is about the beam in the window opening. Obviously the exterior face of the opening is covered with plywood sheathing and I assume that will be covered with some kind of weather/air-barrier and/or cladding. I don't see anything in the photo that suggests that work won't be completed properly but you should follow through to be sure. As for bracing, the end of any beam must be prevented from rotating when loaded. I suppose it's required by code but any experienced carpenter should know to do it. Offering blanket criticism about the quality of work from a few photos isn't helpful. Until someone tells me the grade of the lumber, I can see nothing wrong with the work other than an absence of more conservative connection detailing and, of course, nailing at the post. Counter-sunk Timberloc screws from each side would be fine if they are 4" or longer. I've seen the best carpenter's I know make worse mistakes.

Well it's a done deal! However I am going to have to be in on the layout of the template on the stone. I reserved enough stone for my island and they have that set aside but have only ONE slab left. And that one has a 2 x 4 ft chunk out of it. There were at least ten from this lot left in January. So...I guess it will be what it is. Beth, I know, that small piece is a chunk out of the lighter part of the slab and in the lighting in the LR it looks much lighter. I do love the swirls of the darker gray however and on the last slab its going to be touchy getting it not to look like a black and white cookie ;) The lighter parts have a little tan color and it just looks dirty, so... Anyway thanks again for cheering me on and I am so glad to have made the decision. With GW help! They should have it installed by the end of the month so I will post pics when its all finished.