Quartz waterfall edge cracking/separating, guidance.

last year

We went through a kitchen remodel that finished approx 8 months ago. Our quartz waterfall island is cracking on one of the joints. The countertop installer had fixed the same issues once before, on the right side of the joint but it is now happening to the left side. The countertop installer is saying this was caused by the kitchen remodel company when they moved the countertop after install. This occurred approx 8months ago because the island was not straight. The kitchen remodel company is telling us it was from their installed. Looking for guidance on why this is occurring, who fault is it, how to repair if it comes to us to fix it. Thank you

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Comments (15)

Fori
last year
If the fabricator fixed the other side before, why not have them fix this side now?

It doesn't matter so much who caused it. But this is not the type of thing that should be moved after installation so I'm inclined to agree with the fabricator. When they heard it had been moved, was their response something like, "You did what?????????????!!!!!!!!!!"
millworkman
last year
last modified: last year
It looks to me like the top needed some serious reinforcement in the way of steel and I see none. Lucky it is only cracked and not fallen on any one.
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Bryan
Original Author
last year
@Fori So the original response from the countertop installers was, "We know what happened, when they moved it, they damaged it but still fixed it." The Kitchen remodel companies response was "well we moved it because you did install it straight." So the countertop installers came out once and now are trying to was their hands of it.

@millworkman Yeah there is no reinforcement under the countertop, it is about a 7 inch overhang on each side.
Fori
last year
I'm not sure I understand the sequence of events but I would expect to pay the countertop installers to fix this. If you're concerned there might not be enough reinforcement and don't trust the original guys because of that, perhaps use a different fabricator to do the repair/rebuild.
millworkman
last year
"it is about a 7 inch overhang on each side."

Which on its own "should" be ok, but you are using vertical stone which needs something solid besides a mitered edge to attach too. Its not the top that if failing (yet) it is gravity pulling the waterfall ends away from the top. Only a matter of time before the entire magilla collapses. I could be completely off base but that is what it looks like to me.
Bryan
Original Author
last year
@Fori. Sorry, prob not coming across well for you. This was the below events.

1 - The countertop installers installed the countertops.

2 - We noticed that they were not straight, slightly off.

3 - The kitchen re modeler company adjusted them to make them straight.

4 - The left side developed the same issue about 2 weeks later.

5 - The countertop company came onsite and stated cracked because of the kitchen company moving it incorrectly but they still fixed it.

6 - Fast forward about 7 months or so the other side is now damaged. The countertop company will not resolve the issue since they stated it was because of the kitchen company. The kitchen company is stating that if it was straight in the first place they would not had to move it.

At this point, we just want it fixed, I do not know this type of work, if you want me to rebuild a engine on a car, lets do it but I do not have any knowledge here LOL.

I am just looking for guidance on how to proceed, if that is, we have to fix it, we should press the kitchen or countertop company, get a new company in to resolve etc.

I do not know if it need additional reinforcements, i differed to the contractors at the time to make the call.
PRO
User
last year
Where is the steel? Who designed the installation as a whole? Was there a kitchen designer or general contractor to coordinate the trades, and all of the elements of this?
Bryan
Original Author
last year
@User No reinforcements, I brought that up but was told that they were not needed. We contracted a Kitchen remodel company in the area that has in house designers, construction crew and GC the job for us. The kitchen company sub out the countertop install to another local company.
PRO
User
last year
It may not have been straight because it was already coming apart because of the stress of not being supported. That is conjecture. The vertical support leg of the waterfall appears to have no support. No cabinet panel. No steel. Can you pull back and show the whole installation for context to see if that is the case? As well as the overhang?
Bryan
Original Author
last year
@User
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
Bryan:

Place a straightedge across the cantilevered edge of your top please. If there is a dip, gravity is probably causing your tops to self-destruct. You aren't gluing your way out of gravity. This isn't the first time I've seen this design flaw.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
More here.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
Fori
last year
Ack. Well, I hope you can save it. It's very VERY pretty stone.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
last year
He said it’s only a seven inch overhang (sounds uncomfortable?) Counter people need to fix it but cabinet / kitchen contractor should pay for it.

Quartz waterfall edge cracking/separating, guidance.

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