We used them for dekton and they did a fantastic job with zero chipping. i think they can have decent fabricarors but i’d be concerned about slab selection - can you see it before putting money down or get refund if you dont like it.

Don't just see it. Photograph the slabs and determine your layout and seams. Keep photo records and communicate with the fabricator. Inspect before you let them deliver and install. Be on site at the install.

"Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope."

People who say this have absolutely no knowledge of how the big boxes operate. The big boxes are always the lowest price because of the leverage they have with manufacturers, suppliers, and fabricators. Everyone wants to have the big box account.

I've seen three top Michigan fabricators create a separate company in order to accommodate Lowe's who wanted to give the state to a single entity. There are no mom-'n-pop fabricators doing work for the big boys. If you pick a big box, your tops will be fabricated and installed by some of the finest fabricators in your area. If you aren't satisfied, BB is going to force the fabricator into a do-over because they can. These fabricators can't afford to endanger several million dollars worth of work a year over your $10,000.00 kitchen. One time, we tore out a Corian kitchen because the customer changed her mind on the color.

The BBs have huge leverage over manufacturers and get prices that local slab yards and distributors can't touch. Impossible. They pass those savings onto their customers. Same with the unsubstantiated myth that BB faucets are factory seconds. Absolute nonesense perpetrated by the little guys.

This is capitalism. Deal with it.

I’m using HD for our Cambria counters. They use the same fabricator that I would have used anyway. HD was 20% cheaper than going directly to the fabricator. Fabricator said buy from them since they are doing it anyway. She had no idea how they could offer it for so much less, but she said go for it. I purchased the material and will deal with fabricator for the rest of the project.

I considered using Home Depot but went with an independent shop after researching the fabricator HD uses. Lots of complaints about installation problems and difficulty getting repairs. The complaints were long and detailed, not just "they're bad, don't use them" kind of thing.

In addition, I was not going to be able to communicate directly with the HD fabricator which was essential because of the sink (Karran Edge) that I chose (I got Corian solid surface, not quartz or stone). I wanted to be sure the fabricator knew exactly how to install.

I certainly get Joe's point about HD being motivated to make sure the job is eventually done to the customer's satisfaction but I just wasn't willing to take the risk. Of course if my job had gone bad, what recourse would I have had as a small one-off job? I dunno. YMMV.

"She had no idea how they could offer it for so much less,..."

Because HD told Cambria, "We're going to buy 175 boxcars of Cambria this year", that's why. They also said "For doing so, you will give us the lowest price you give anyone." Cambria complied.

This isn't just the big boxes either. National homebuilders and major restaurants like McDonalds cut deals with manufacturers for lower prices. I fabricated a McDonald's Corian years ago. The distributor sold me the material at a much lower price than I paid regularly.

Good luck. Sorry but using HD for an installation is a cr*p shoot.

True. Home Depot did my counter tops ... well, it's close to 20 years now, and it was a s***show:

- They came out and measured, and they said, "Yes, we can do this." I paid, set the date, thought all would be well.

- I ordered counter tops and matching material on the wall as a back splash ... I guess because that's what we had before. After the guy ripped out my old counter tops and started installing the new ones, he told me he would not be able to do what they promised ... that they'd be leaving me with ripped-up walls instead of the back splash they'd promised. But no worries! I'd be getting a refund for that portion of the material!

- When I went into Home Depot the next day, they treated me horribly ... it was definitely a matter of "Oh, isn't this cute. A little woman thinks she can manage a counter top replacement. Wonder where her man is?"

- I have not set foot in that orange box since that day, and I never pass up an opportunity to bad mouth them.

I have never had anyone see slabs from HD I live in Canada so maybe different here . I love HD for many things but not counters . We also have it a bit different in that the stone yard where we choose the slabs also does the fabrication so IMO a much better system for sure.

Box stores are good for off the shelf items. But custom ordered things like cabinets and tops can be problematic. Excuse my rant below.

I admit. I buy materials at box stores sometimes too. I'm not ANTI-box store. They CAN be fine for countertops too...but at what cost?

I have done some comparison shopping with HD top prices and I'll tell you what I found. Their pricing is all over the place. On some colors, they beat my price by a lot! on other colors we were the same...and then on some they were a LOT more.

I'm all good with capitalism....but I also am good with small business support and good customer service.

Let's say the color you pick out, home depot beats me (a delaler) by $400. Will you be able to call your salesperson if you have a question? How long will it take to get a hold of that person. Do they give you their cell number to text for quick questions? How much deposit do you have to put down? What? Box stores don't do deposits? You have to pay in full at time of order? With small biz, you only put down a deposit...the rest is paid after install.

Is good customer service a value at all these days? Is it always about saving a dollar? What if that kitchen designer specialist advised you to check your cabinets for levelness before the template? She could have save you $200 trip charge. What if she advises you on the right sink that will fit your cabinet? What if she helps you pick out the perfect color that goes with your walls,floors, cabinets... What if Home Depot tells you that you need a seam in your main work area....but your specialist thinks outside the box because they know how to design to avoid seams. There are many more like this that gives value to the professional.

I've had a small business for 40 years so I'm somewhat jaded. Don't complain to me when all small businesses are gone....and customer service is virtually gone I've already seen it decline in many other industries.

I don't blame the public for wanting to save some money. I do it too! I blame the vendors. In some cases, they've made it difficult to complete. And to #$%& with Cambria. As far as I'm concerned they can come pick up their samples!

To me the future looks bleak! Imagine a world of no customer service and where carpenters, plumbers and electricians are a rare commodity. Remodeling will be expensive and NOT fun....because you'll only be able to stand in line at home depot to get your materials and you'll be lucky to find someone to do the work.

Rant over. Sorry I was all over the place. Carry on.

I had HD put in a small countertop and pass-thru ledge in a basement bar in my last house -- they did a great job. It was a granite, one of the lesser-grade non-fancy-schmancy ones (? maybe Baltic Brown, IDK but something like that), and it looked exactly like the sample. I was extremely pleased. But, FWIW - I'm in Michigan, and note Joseph Corlett's comments do mention the excellent quality fabricators in MI working for the big boxes.