I feel your pain. When we redid the kitchen at our last house, the countertop guys banged up the newly installed cabinets, scratched up my new Viking range that I was so proud of, and broke out a window. It all got fixed, except the scratches on the range. They got buffed and weren’t so noticeable.

Not being able to get to your kitchen sink isn’t a minor issue! Is what you owe him equal to his 1/3 of the new range?

Is what you owe him equal to his 1/3 of the new range?

No, counters were $8700, range was about $3000.

We live in weird times. It's so.....weird to me how little care some/most professionals show when working on one's home.

I now consider it a win if they can install the new whatever without breaking anything else in the process.

I've been slowly renovating a home which will be our primary house in 5 years. Right now it's our vacation home. I have an overall plan, I am only doing one project at a time.....because without fail, whatever new thing is installed requires repair work to something else that they trash in the process.

This is not about hiring the cheapest company or "one guy and a truck" types either. I tend to pick long-standing, reputable companies only.

So - up next for me is a granite install....in 2 weeks. I am SO feeling your pain right now. Can't wait to see what carnage results from that.

What an ordeal. I think it's generous of you not to place the full financial burden of this on the counter guy, and he doesn't seem to be appreciating this grace.

But I can understand why counter guy doesn't want to push the stove back a second time, since doing so the first time caused the damage. I would perhaps firmly state, "I would like the stove placed back in its position once the counters are fixed. If you cannot do this, please arrange for someone who can." See what he says.

If he balks, after he finished the counters, I would state, "Please do not use me as a reference for your work."

I don't think there's a tradesperson in the country who is hurting for business at this moment, so I'm not sure if a complaint on social media would deter business.

Ugh. So frustrating. I'm in the midst of dealing with well guys and landscaping/irrigation guys and a DMZ that seems to exist between the well and the actual irrigation into which neither wishes to tread. Each says the other should manage the actual connection of the systems.

We had an especially nice day yesterday and it was much busier than usual when I was out and about. As Ally De said, it was weird times. I was shocked by how many people didn't know or care about basic manners/behavior/ whatever. Driving, parking, standing in line, navigating sidewalks and stores. I joked with my DH that it felt like anarchy.

There just seemed to be an air of entitlement and anger floating around. I was thrilled to be finished and get home in one piece.

Hopefully, counter guy finishes quickly and gets out of your life!

This does not help your situation much, but I had my carpenter there (he's my contractor, but he's not really a contractor) when I had the plumber there moving the gas line, when I had the plumber there hooking up the sink and DW, when I had the certified installers there for the fridge, part of the time when the cabinet installers were there, and when the electricians were doing the undercabinet lighting. So I paid him a fair amount to hang out and look at his phone while other people were doing stuff, and maybe do a little bit of stuff, but there was always more than one person on the project for certain parts, not just one person who was doing one thing that could mess up what someone else had done, in the process of doing their part. And getting two different people plus me scheduled to be at the same place at the same time stretched timelines out considerably. But I probably would have had a plumber there to take the stove in and out at the time of the counter installation, since it was gas, especially, even though that would add significant expense to the process, because they would spend a lot of time not doing anything during the installation.

I’m hearing ”that’s not my job” a lot more than I used to. Very few workpersons provide turnkey service nowadays. In your place I would be annoyed and frustrated, Mtn. I hope your eventual review is a zinger.

They were scheduled at the same time, but the countertop guy was late

What a disappointment! I certainly empathize with you having my own share of frustrations with so-called professionals over the past few months. Can the countertop fabricator adjust the counter on site or does he have to remove it?

Of course, he was late :(

We are getting quotes for extensive yard work - cleanup, new landscaping, concrete, drainage, HOA review and sprinklers. If the company doesn't coordinate and guarantee the whole job then we are passing. There are too many opportunities to point fingers and I don't have the bandwidth to stay on top of multiple contractors.

One thing that has changed in kitchen remodels is that generally when you used to have a kitchen remodeled the contractor did everything for the installation.

The popularity of stone countertops has kind of separated countertops into its own industry, and it's really something that is almost tangential to the rest of the process sometimes, because people go to multiple stoneyards, sometimes make decisions primarily on the Stone available rather than anything about the firm itself, and some guy you have never seen before comes in and measures, and you never see him again, and then a bunch of guys you have never seen before come in and set your countertop and you never see them again either. And it may be done well, it may be done ok, and it may be done lousy, and they may damage things or not.

And I think in general, some of these businesses are banking on the fact that most people will do one kitchen remodel in their entire lives so there is no such thing as worrying about getting repeat customers.

I'm really sorry this is happening for you. The word contractor has become a four-letter word for me. The age of your range makes no difference whatsoever and the countertop guy and crew who damaged it, should have the full responsibility for the damage. You and the plumber are being beyond kind in offering to pay a share to replace it (even though you've said you won't let the plumber pay. He is willing, that says a lot about him.)

Argh. So annoying.

We have the best contractor in the world. He is just so responsive and conscientious and of course at this point it helps that we have probably paid for his kids' college tuition with all our projects, but still. He treats our house like it's his house. He is not happy with 1/4" off, and I am picky but he is far more picky. He is so good he drove to another state to our beach cottage to replace about a dozen roof shingles that came off in the last storm. DH was going to get someone else but Beloved Contractor said nope, that's my house LOL. (He pretty much rebuilt the house about 13 years ago.)

However. Try to get an electrician here for a smallish job. Even our trusty electrician who has done all the electrical work in this house so yes, I kinda would like him to do this one too. Installing sconces where there are currently no fixtures, so it's not a quick n easy replacement (if it were, DH could do it). He was very responsive when he came over to take a look, and when I checked in with him before ordering. But the fixtures arrived on Jan 13 and I told him right away. No response. DH tried emailing him a couple of weeks ago. No response. So now we've got Beloved Contractor checking in with him (they are friends). What I worry about is if this lights are defective for some reason, I may be stuck because there's probably a 30 day return window.

Oops, BC is here to install my little marble shelf in the kitchen and finish up my fireplace. Sorry to brag.

If the company doesn't coordinate and guarantee the whole job then we are passing. There are too many opportunities to point fingers and I don't have the bandwidth to stay on top of multiple contractors.

Yes, this is ideal but was simply not available to us. You may recall when discussing my table, I refused to buy the base separately and have someone else fabricate a top. for this reason.

most people will do one kitchen remodel in their entire lives so there is no such thing as worrying about getting repeat customers.

This is true. However, we got this guy thru our realtor and this contractor said he works almost exclusively in our zip code (!?) ... plumber said the same thing. Our realtor has already checked in with us about the project; he fancies this to be a big part of his value add and I do too.

He is so good he drove to another state This is one thing you deal with when you are in a new area. You need to forge relationships. Our guys in Maine and in CT both offered to help us with our reno, but I told my DH we needed to grow up and go out in to the world. I know someone in CT who has her people work on her FL home.

Now that I am done venting (thank you!), my biggest issue is really that he seems annoyed with me and has never said "sorry." He has agreed to fix things, and honestly I do feel that his contribution to replacing the range compensation was fair all things considered. Also, I love the work and love my countertops. As someone said above, it all stems from the fact that all the trades seem to be in short supply and overworked. That is why our electrician arrived at 7am this morning for another project. That is why I got the countertop estimate the night before, that is why his guys were not properly supervised. BTW I was here, it was not like they seemed reckless or careless or anything. In fact they were spotless.

Just glad this is not a primary home, and glad that. worst case all of these things are only time or money or both.

PS Fun, yes, he can fix onsite

mtndredux_gw...your handling this waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than I would. You didn't "need" a stove until they damaged yours. ⛈️ But...I do see what you mean...it was only money...and you like their work....I get it...

That really stinks, Mtn, sorry it’s taking so long to be remedied.

DH is an electrician — new builds, remodels, commercial.

I have some stories!

I bet, Jilly! I do imagine he (countertop guy) has complained about me.

That’s good news that they can redo the counter on site. I hope you will be able to get it corrected quickly and have the stove re-installed so you can cook in the new place again.

No way, Mtn! He’d think you were great. Because you are. :)

Also, he is so appreciative of the precious kitty you sent. He said it brings such good memories of our Jinx girl (he and his late wife raised her and her sisters from the time they were born).

I talk about everyone here so much, he feels like he knows you all. :)

Aww, Jilly. I'm so glad you two like it. Shout out to Ida for thinking of it!

When we're doing any renovations/work on our house - for eg a whole house reno in 2010 and a major landscaping job in 2019 and other smaller jobs along the way) I hire and deal with the GC's, designers and contractors for everything. My DH hangs around the conversations and nods his head. BUT - they are all told that if my husband ever calls them to iron out a problem it's because I'm too angry to deal with them (IT's only happened once in the last 30 years)

My DH would have been calling someone on this. My fuse for incompetence is very short.

I know you will get this fixed but it is frustrating.

Apropos of nothing - I read this morning that sales for both Home Deport and Lowe's are down because people are holding off doing renovations. And with the housing market slow people aren't doing prep-work on houses to put up for sale and nor are they doing updating work on their new house.

people are holding off doing renovations

Alas, not in any of the markets I am in. Very hot and heavy, still. I have had electricians show up at 7am here .... a plumber show up at 8pm in Maine (not an emergency, just busy). To me those hours underscore that they are flat out. They also have all dispensed with estimates and, often, even billing; it is not even discussed really. I am surprised they don't charge even more, many would pay it. If you don't like it, you will wait even longer perhaps forever!

Nor in mine. We know a number of people who are doing renovations and are having trouble finding people.

But really, I'm sorry. What a hassle.

OMG Bumble, I didn't get it at first! LOL, yes, nothing a basket can't fix!

How annoying!!

We had a problem with our roofer. We have a contractor doing our entire project, but hired a roofer independently because he was highly recommended and cost $10K less. The roofer's guys punctured a pipe, didn't tell anyone, and turned the water off.

We didn't realize THEY had turned the water off (why would they?!), so our contractor turned it back on for us (late in the day, 6 PM) because he thought HIS guys who were working on plumbing did it. Next morning, water pouring out of garage. We ended up having to re-do the entire garage ceiling and fix/replace the pipe.

Roofer insists it's not his fault because the pipe shouldn't have been there. And he insists they didn't turn the water off. Guess God came down from on high and did it, because my contractor ended up checking in with his plumber later and they said no one had turned the water off that day.

Re: bringing in people from other states. We are bringing Dutchwood up from PA to do our entire FL house full of cabinetry. It is $132,000 cheaper to bring in our PA cabinetmakers here for two weeks and truck up EIGHT truckloads full of cabinets than it was to have anyone here make what we wanted!

Bringing in the people you trust is worth it!

At any rate, I hope your problems get fixed soon! What a hassle for you!

Oh goodness, Beagles what a mess. We always laugh at how the trades always like to point out the shortcoming of other trades, or of people in the same trades on the job before them.

Venting here seems to have helped. In thinking about it, I can understand that it was easy for the guy to accept that they damaged the duct, but the rest is more of a mystery, right? I mean it was working before them but not after them.

Anyway, Monday is the day. Fingers crossed.