Kitchen remodel gone south...

[mikester]

...and not the good kind of south...

So they came to install the counter tops today around 3pm and worked until just a few minutes ago (9pm ish.

The job they did has some real rough spots to it. We choose caesar stone over granite because we liked the more uniform color/finish.

Here are some pictures around the sink that is apparently too big. Of course; they didn't tell me it was too big until AFTER THEY INSTALLED IT!












So; from there you can see some issues. Joints are rough, lines aren't straight and that long seam simply isn't supposed to be.

Also they polished the edges but not the entirety so there are color variations that I also feel are unacceptable.



Tell me what you think I should do next. So far this remodel is one of the worst experiences of my life.

[singpilot]

I know where you can get a great grant writer and flight attendant that fix all that right up.

[mikester]

Originally posted by singpilot
I know where you can get a great grant writer and flight attendant that fix all that right up.

Dude; I think we both need a good tall newcastle.

If you're ever near LAX let me know and I'll buy. Pelican is my neighbor.

I really need some feedback on this though - some serious feedback. It seems to me that this just isn't acceptable at all.

[dad911]

looks like they cut it big enough to drop-in, then realized it should have been under-mount.

[mikester]

Originally posted by SoCal911SC
Why is there any question about what you do next?

You tell them it is unacceptable for all the reasons you state and that it needs to be redone.

I've just been having a whole lot of problems with this contractor. It seems like almost every step has had to be redone to some extent. The only thing that went correctly has been the cabinet installation and really - he simply got lucky on that.

He's flying by the seat of his pants as far as project planning is concerned.

A big part of my life the last 10 years has been project planning and I have a history of coming in on time and under budget. Here we're a week past the due date and I'm sure if he's got to pay for the redo of these materials (I sure as hell am not) then we are way over budget. Next project I plan an hire the subs myself I think with some consulting from wise friends.

[nostatic]

you're only a week overdue? You have a good contractor...most are months late.

Is he working cheap, or is this a market rate job? I'd make him rip it out and do over again correctly...on his dime. Do you have a completion bond or any contract?

[mikester]

I have a contract where I've paid for services basically as they are rendered. Unfortunately the countertops were part of the cabinet install and I made a mistake in giving him the check before that work was completed.

I realize a week late is no big deal and I'm not making a big deal out of it.

My intention is to give him the opportunity to make it right if that does not work out then of course I will look at my options then. I have to at least give him the chance to make it right though. Up until this point he has done just that. It's just that I get real angry when I see things get f'd up and he's simply not around or reachable to discuss it. The workers do the work unsupervised unless I'm there - frankly I paid him for that service. I have to go to work during the day and can't babysit for him (at least not without my $7 an hour I suppose). When I can't get to him; I get even more irritated. So; hopefully he'll call me tomorrow and come look at it - I won't be talking to him about this over the phone. He needs to come see it and that's simply it. Also; I've worked real hard to work with him on scheduling times to meet and I've missed work to do it. I won't be doing that any more; he will conform to my schedule even if it delays the completion - I've worked with him quite enough. I don't care how early he has to get up to traverse the 405 to meet with me first thing in the morning.

This is nearing the end of the project. If this had gone correctly all that would be left is the floor tile and the appliance installation. Now seriously he does have to redo this and as I said - I'm not paying for it. His contractor (which incidentally was not supposed to be a contractor - I asked him at the beginning in the interview if he used contactors or employees and he said the only contractor he used was the carpenter who did the cabinets - it's one of the reasons I hired him) f'd up the stone. Order more, order the right amount so I don't have that unsightly seam and get someone here who can do it without f'ing it up.

The reason I posted this was simply to make sure I wasn't insane. The pictures aren't great but in all the showrooms I've seen I've never seen anything this bad. No; he wasn't the cheapest bid - in fact he was the most expensive bid and came down a bit. I choose him mainly because he showed some creativity that none of the others showed. The kitchen looks great now comparted to what it was and the space is fantastic (at least it should be when done) so I have to give him the credit for that.

[tabs]

See what creativity gets U....

[HardDrive]

Now I remember why I do 95% of the work myself. It sucks, but at least I am not paying someone else $$$ for doing a half ass job. I am quite capable of doing a half ass job myself.....

If you are a project planner, then I am sure that looks horrible. From an outsiders perspective....I would never notice. That counter color is going to look great with the cabinets.

[mikester]

HD, that's certainly another thing in and of itself. I'm a pretty handy guy and I do a lot of halfassed projects on my own. The thing is - I'm doing them and not paying anyone else to. Recently I put up a bunch crown molding. I did a poor job so I pulled it all down and am getting ready to redo it (never done if before) it's frustrating but at least I didn't pay someone else to do a poor job.

This isn't an inexpensive deal here...I want my money's worth. We worked hard to save for this kitchen.

[Moses]

I'm not familiar with the limitations of Caesarstone, but I would not be satisfied with that work. It would make me angry every time I looked at it. Having said that, changing the countertop is critical and easier to do now than later. See if you can reach an agreement with the contractor about replacement cost.

Also, you can find granite with the consistancy you are looking for. No seams. Granite fabricators do beautiful work. Lastly, it doesn't look like your sink is too big.

[JavaBrewer]

I don't understand the seam in the second to last photo. It looks like the counter was not deep enough to reach the backsplash. Is that correct? If so then perhaps they were trying to cut costs by using some scrap materials. The sink looks fine to me but the finish work is pretty bad. We have a similar stainless sink with granite slab tops. The granite company I hired offered us the option of completely coverig the sink edge or leave some exposed like yours appears to be. As long as the exposed dimension of stainless is uniform I don't see a problem. Love the colors you choose! Good luck.

[vash]

is ceasarstone a variation of something like corian or swanstone? if so, that joint looks like crappola. i would make him do it again. to many issues with that countertop, and all of them can be fixed with a redo. i had a friend that installed corian. he was shorthanded one day, and asked me to help, as muscle. watching them make seams disappear was amazing. they used a perfectly set up router, dedicated to seam cleanup.

i think you may need to eat some $$ as far as material. just to ease the entire process with the contractor.

[mikester]

Thanks for the input on the colors - we're really pleased with them as well.

AS far as the dough is concerned - at this point with this guy I'm not willing to give on the it. This isn't my mistake it's his.

The seam there near the backsplash is absolutely not supposed to be there. They didn't order enough materials and the guy tried to "make it fit" as best he could. They should have ordered a third slab, they had to know it simply would not fit with the amount the ordered. I know he'll tell me "he's surprised" buy the outcome.

Caesar stone is a man made slab of quartz I believe.

http://www.caesarstoneus.com/

It's rock, but it's a man made slab.

Anyway, the cuts look to me like they used a bad blade or bits to make them. But that's just my experience cutting wood and metal. Bad blades and bits make for very rough edges.

The reason the basin is too big is that they had to cut some wood in the front of the cabinets to get it to fit and because of that the little flip out front sponge holder can no longer be. Now; that's a pretty little detail in and of itself but all together - if he had told me that the thing was too big before hand I Would have picked something else. We weren't married to that sink. He didn't tell me it was too big until he was done. The joints are very bad and the long seam near the backsplash is unacceptable. They have also got messy sealant around all the joints - I'm sure that's an easy cleanup though.

[pwd72s]

Mikester? Bless you for starting this thread. I insisted that Cindy read it. Our kitchen will never qualify for Martha Stewart approval. But it's clean, the appliances are recent and function well. We recently went through a bathroom remodel from hell. Whenever she mentions a kitchen remodel, I tell her to add my stay in a resort to the budget. I'll be outahere the day before a kitchen remodel starts, and she can call me when it's over. I figure that at my age, I deserve nothing less.

[dhoward]

I don't understand why some of you guys are so easy to give in and say Mike should "eat some of the cost". If that's not what you contracted hime to do, make him fix it on his dime. People are getting sooo used to accepting sub standard work anymore. It's just wrong. You wouldn't accept orange peel or dirt in a new paint job, would you? You shouldn't have to pay a professional to learn how to do something he said he knew how to do in the first place.
You're the boss, Mike. Always remember that.
Good luck.

[Hetmann]

Remodels are an ordeal to be sure. After all the mess and inconvenience, you deserve a result you are happy with. Get a smaller sink and have them (or someone more qualified) redo this substandard work. Good luck.

[Moses]

I checked out the Caesarstone website. Beautiful stuff. You should NOT have a seam there at all! I would demand complete replacement with a new fabricator who is familiar with the product.

[scottmandue]

Mike, that sucks... remodels suck... always take cost and time and DOUBLE it (NOT a joke) I used to work construction and you are getting a bad deal, make him fix it.

I could maybe recommend a good contractor but as you know in L.A. all good contractors have a waiting list. No doubt that is why you are getting a hack job. In the long run you will spend the time and money fixing this guys F-up's that it would cost to go with a good guy in the first place.

Mmmmmmmmm Newcastle....

[RickM]

Originally posted by Moses
I checked out the Caesarstone website. Beautiful stuff. You should NOT have a seam there at all! I would demand complete replacement with a new fabricator who is familiar with the product.

Ditto.

The only (undetectable) seem should be at an angled leg.

Moses, I think the hole in the counter is too big, not the sink. Looks to be married with lots of caulk.