Installer glued in a 1 " x 2.5 " granite piece at end of slab and other mishaps

[Gincourt]

Hi
I am a first time granite owner. My granite was installed yesterday
I am not happy with the end result and would like your opinions if I am
Being too picky or if the workmanship is subpar.
Thank you
1. 1 x 2.5 block of granite glued in to reach wall
2. Epoxy more than 1/2 inch wide for granite to meet wall
3. Granite seam easily visible from across the room, slabs don't match in color or thickness
4. Stove is placed crooked by 1/2 inch, was told after he cut opening and
dropped in stove that my wall was not level was never told that before or given the chance to have repaired
5. Slabs on large surfaces are not level, I was never told my cabinets
Weren't level until he laid his granite on them (not pictured)
6. Surface crack extending 10 inches into counter, I can feel when
Running hand over and can see it is a very jagged crack (not pictured)
7. I am assuming he is planning on leaving the shims in too

[Mitch@ASW]

This is far from acceptable based on our standards, however... if when shopping for your granite, you went with the lowest price you tend to get what you pay for... personally, I would not accept that.

[Todd Luster]

Hello.
First of all, I'm sorry to hear of your problems with your granite.
Its always terrible to hear of these and see them.
In most cases we find these stories point to the selection process for the fabricator.
Almost always in these, it was by price and specifically square foot price.
Things that would typically be discussed with a customer at sale and template often don't matter including seam placement, color match, and many times even quality.
All these things could possibly cost the fabricator more material which would in turn affect his profit.
So I might ask you before we pass too much judgement and address your questions, how did you select your fabricator?

[kevinp]

Any fabricator that takes pride in their work and is a legitimate business person has to deal with competition that does sub par work and gets away with it, usually because their prices up front are so low. Those companies typically do not stand behind their work. This is the reason you are being asked about how you selected your fabricator.

Sorry for your problems.

[T.J. Henderson]

Hi
I am a first time granite owner. My granite was installed yesterday
I am not happy with the end result and would like your opinions if I am
Being too picky or if the workmanship is subpar.
Thank you
1. 1 x 2.5 block of granite glued in to reach wall
2. Epoxy more than 1/2 inch wide for granite to meet wall
3. Granite seam easily visible from across the room, slabs don't match in color or thickness
4. Stove is placed crooked by 1/2 inch, was told after he cut opening and
dropped in stove that my wall was not level was never told that before or given the chance to have repaired
5. Slabs on large surfaces are not level, I was never told my cabinets
Weren't level until he laid his granite on them (not pictured)
6. Surface crack extending 10 inches into counter, I can feel when
Running hand over and can see it is a very jagged crack (not pictured)
7. I am assuming he is planning on leaving the shims in too

1. Hard to tell there but it looks like there is some plywood patched into the wall there. Was something removed after they templated? If so and they had to improvise during install then that repair isn't the worst thing I have ever seen. A little touch up with some permanent markers and that would disappear

2. Did this piece have to fit in between walls? Anything going on the wall there? Sometimes the tile can be floated out to cover that. Have a photo of the entire piece?

3. That seam color match wouldn't pass at our place. The joint itself isn't that bad though

4. What does the front edge of the stove to front edge of the countertop measurement? Is it straight? If so there isn't much you can do there. We deal with this all the time and I have never had anyone want it to looked crooked in the front and back to make everything even.

5. That is a tough one. On larger spans we typically see the biggest variance in levelness. We always end up playing the game of how many shims vs how does it look vs what does the homeowner prefer. How out of level are they?

6. Not acceptable. The fabricator could possibly fill and top polish and it wouldn't be a big deal. Would like to see photos though

7. Shims not getting cut happens to the best of us. If these 3 shims are any indication of the rest of the cabinets and knee walls they were setting on then you probably have some whacked out floors and cabinets that they were contending with.

All in all, this isn't something that would fly at our shop but I think if the fabricator is reasonable you can get most of the issues sorted out

[Kowboy]

Gincourt:

There is a tendency to answer each of your items individually, however, taken as a whole, they show a complete unfamiliarity with and/or disregard for standard industry practice.

Do you have an undermount sink? If so, please look to see how it is attached. It must have mechanical fasteners, insert or strap type, but I'll bet you'll find wood or stone shims bridging the sink flange held in place with polyester. If so, your sink is coming down; not if, when.

Here is a link to the Marble Institute of America's Residential Stone Installation Manual. Simply go through and find the things that do not comport with the manual. Now your "fabricator" is arguing with the 70-year-old trade association of the industry, not you:
http://www.marble-institute.com/default ... tertop.pdf

Please tell us you haven't made final payment.

[Gincourt]

I found the fabricator online as everyone else, the company had a lot of really good reviews etc, A+
Rating in the BBB . He is licensed insured. Needless to say I am disappointed.

The sinks both porcelain and stainless steel are glued in with silicone and epoxy.

The piece with the seam does fit into a large 10' pass through that was recently cut, he templated
During the cut out process.

6. I have made several attempts but the crack will not photograph
4. The front of th stove is even but the back splash is not
It appears to me that the back splash sticks out 1/2 inch further on
One side , so to me if the backsplash was up against ththe wall
The same amount th stove would be even.

I have paid him 50% only

So I am assuming from your comments this is fairly unacceptable
How do you recommended I go from here

[Dan R.]

The BBB is really a for profit advertising selling entity than an consumer advocate.The more a company pays, the more input they have on reviews.

The block seams to be a a saw cut and can be filled to disappear.

The cook top, is the front straight?

This was clearly done with 2 different lots, with regard to color and tone. The variances can be mitigated, somewhat. Probably not perfect, but better.

The fissure/crack can easily be filled and top polished to be invisible and undetectable by touch.

The glue gap can be covered by floated tile.

Not a quality job. Makes you wonder what those reviews were talking about, eh? My guess is, for whatever reason, this is a typical job from this fabricator. One issue, understandable. This list, too many to be occasional.

The guy probably did as well as as he knew how. I doubt people leave crappy work, if they can do better.
If he could have done better, he would have. if he was having a bad day. he surely would have made an effort to repair, redo or replace.

Ask him to repair, replace or refund. If he does not, chalk it up to a lesson of hard knocks. Go find a new fabricator and start over. Oh yeah, don't pay original guy until you are happy. Do not be afraid to negotiate a lower price, a deal means acceptance. So, beware.

Good Luck.

Where are you located?

[Mitch@ASW]

May also want to ask if the fabricator subcontracts out his installs. If this is the case, he needs to have a conversation with his installers.

[Gincourt]

I am near Pensacola, FL. the owner installed himself

[Mike Stites]

I am sorry but that would not fly for me.

[Gincourt]

So the granite guy still has one bathroom to finish , some back splash in the kitchen wasn't installed yet
and he wanted full payment. So I showed the owner the other areas I wanted repaired I spoke to him very calmly
And politely but said I would not pay him until the sinks were installed to industry
Standard and the seam / slab replaced etc. Just three items on the list.
Sadly the guy went bizerk and started ripping the granite
Off the walls and I had to call 911 to have him escorted off the property
I have filed a claim against his insurance company

[Andy Ross]

Sounds like he's on drugs. Unfortunate to say the least. I hope it works out for you in the end.

[Kowboy]

Sadly the guy went bizerk and started ripping the granite
Off the walls and I had to call 911 to have him escorted off the property
I have filed a claim against his insurance company

Once a top is installed, it becomes part of the owner's real property, paid for or not. The guy can't take your toaster or lawn mower either, or "his" top back, no matter how justified he may feel. What he did was criminal. I'd press charges and offer to drop them if he refunded all your money. Apparently his knowledge of the law is as extensive as that of countertop fabrication and installation.

[Todd Luster]

I'm sorry to hear the situation went that way and I wish you well in getting it resolved soon.
I will tell you there is much advice offered here regarding stone fabrication and installation.
I'd seek legal advice elsewhere!

[Todd Luster]

Should you need it, you can also find SFA members near you by using the Map tab at the top of the site.

[Gincourt]

Thank you Todd, I will definitely find some one from here
And thank you everyone else that offered advice. It was a very
sad and unexpected turn of events today , I guess I have been in shock
For most of the day. Thank you all, for your friendly and professional advice