HD: "It Can't Be Done"

[Kowboy]

I got a call from a lady last night. She selected some Silestine from Home Depot and paid up front on her credit card. Their sub came out to her new condo, she hasn't moved in yet, and announced that "It can't be done.", as in they cant fabricate and install the Silestone because of the column pictured below:








The salesclerk at Home Depot apologized profusely.

Now before I write up a proposal with my fifteen-years-experience-done-this-a-million-times attitude, I thought I'd run it by everyone here. Is there nothing extraordinary here or has the kid from HD who took a lot of pictures and pronounced this impossible lost his mind?

Joe

[t-mobile]

It would be no step for a stepper ! A tiny bit tricky, but def. doable. Getting those tops cut from around that post would be more of a pain, than installing new.

If the fabicator does not nail it first try then they can make some stone shoemolding to cover notch. It would also dress it up a bit.

[Troy Burnette]

I agree shouldn't be that big of a deal....

[Paul Evans]

Not exactly the install of choice but, definitely doable.

[Brian Briggs]

Not really an issue to me either.

[scott m]

Sorta a pain due to the shape of the piece and having a closed side. The open side is no big deal. Might be tricky with just one seam, but It can certainly be done.

[Antonio Almonte]

I do not see a problem either besides being a little tricky.

[Kowboy]

So far I've gotten "a little bit tricky", "shouldn't be a problem", "not really an issue" and "little tricky" from some of the best stone fabricators on the continent as opposed to "It can't be done." from a HD sub. Hmmm...

I don't know if you can tell from the pictures, but there are no seams in the pictured plastic laminate top. That means that the guy who installed that top removed the column, placed the top, and reinstalled the column. Either that or he jacked up the balcony header an inch and five-eights and slid the top down the column. Or else he had a molecular reconstituting space ray gun that made the top appear out of nothing like that machine on Star Trek. Hey, it could happen.

Joe

[coolhandchris]

I think the HD sub meant it can't be done profitably at the price they get paid. Low sq ft. pricing that he gets from HD probably wouldn't cover the time it takes to do something like that. I am sure they are on pretty thin margins and that isn't the kind of work that will keep him in business.

I would definitely charge more to do something like that over a standard install, he probably doesn't have that luxury.

[Kowboy]

I think the HD sub meant it can't be done profitably at the price they get paid. Low sq ft. pricing that he gets from HD probably wouldn't cover the time it takes to do something like that. I am sure they are on pretty thin margins and that isn't the kind of work that will keep him in business.

I would definitely charge more to do something like that over a standard install, he probably doesn't have that luxury.

Chris:

All snarkiness aside, that's exactly what I told the potential customer in our first phone call. Great minds think alike apparently.

Joe

[Todd Luster]

I need a good paying vacation Kowboy, where is this at??

[t-mobile]

Joe, that is exactly what I meant by cutting the old out.. It will have to be cut out then roto zip flush, and install around column. It can be done with one seam... but will have to be a accurate template.

I just did one that was equally as complicated, I am going to neighborhood tom.... I will take pics and post them.

[Nick]

My parents have one in thier kitchen. Except the wood trim covers a load bearing piece of steel. I will try to get pics because I did something pretty cool.

[dantoy]

Joe, I am doing one like that in stone today. Wuold certainly be doable in silestone. Get her testimonial in writting, would be great advertising.

[Dan Dauchess]

We did one around two load-bearing columns last month. Put a seam through each column. Just takes thought....

[Mark M]

same. We would do it without hesitation.

[Ken Lago]

It can't be done

What a stupid thing to say, it's easy and is done all the time. BTW that is a load bearing post.

[politefab]

cant be done

the pyramids could not be built ether but they are there

[Kowboy]

cant be done

the pyramids could not be built ether but they are there

Eli:

I knew you'd get a kick out of that.

Joe

[Scott Vicario]

HD installer might have meant it can't be done in one piece...That's the only reason I see unless like column can be removed

[dan k.]

Allot of new construction homes utilize open floor plans. Load bearing columns are often found in raised bars in larger kitchens these days. We usually do a 3" radius on the inside corner and increase the overhang to 2 - 2 1/4" (as long as the faucet is not in the way). Easy to do in Cad.

[steven nenzel]

Joe, I think he meant it can't be done and look good with Silestone - which would be true. Why replace the laminate with something that looks like laminate?

Wouldn't blink an eye - done plenty of those.

[Jeff Martin]

If that's a load bearing column, then how did they install a one piece laminate bartop??

We'd do it with one seam without much problem -- the inside might be polished ears instead of seamed countertop -- we did one where the column was wider and we brought the backsplash up to counter height for the width of the column -- it looked really good when finished.

[Kowboy]

I thought everyone might like to see how the SFA defines "It can't be done." This is Corlett on sales, template and install; Toy on fabrication and delivery:






Collected and she's very happy.

Joe

[Antonio Almonte]

Great job Joe! :D