If anyone has a story to share about how their kitchen contractor
handled cabinet problems, I'd like to hear it...

I'm having my kitchen redone and the carpenter is in the midst of
hanging the cabinets. We've discovered that the general contractor
wrote one thing on the plans and ordered another thing. In particular,
one wall cabinet is 6" taller than it should be and one base cabinet,
which should be 18" deep, not the usual 24" deep, is, in fact, 24"
deep. The order form used by the contractor has these mistakes on it,
so it isn't the cabinet makers fault.

The contractor and the carpenter are floating this trial balloon:
they'll cut 6" off the top of the one, and 6" off the back of the
other, and make them look right. My view is that the wall cabinet will
look like someone cut 6" off the top, and the change to the base
cabinet won't show, but it will be weaker, which matters since it
contains three substantial drawers (which will be "fixed" as well).
What's more, I paid a fortune for custom cabinets and I would like
custom cabinets made to the specification we agreed on.

Anyone care to predict how this will unfold from here?

Thanks for any thoughts.

ccsikyr

ccsikyr wrote:

If anyone has a story to share about how their kitchen contractor
handled cabinet problems, I'd like to hear it...

I'm having my kitchen redone and the carpenter is in the midst of
hanging the cabinets. We've discovered that the general contractor
wrote one thing on the plans and ordered another thing. In particular,
one wall cabinet is 6" taller than it should be and one base cabinet,
which should be 18" deep, not the usual 24" deep, is, in fact, 24"
deep. The order form used by the contractor has these mistakes on it,
so it isn't the cabinet makers fault.

The contractor and the carpenter are floating this trial balloon:
they'll cut 6" off the top of the one, and 6" off the back of the
other, and make them look right. My view is that the wall cabinet will
look like someone cut 6" off the top, and the change to the base
cabinet won't show, but it will be weaker, which matters since it
contains three substantial drawers (which will be "fixed" as well).
What's more, I paid a fortune for custom cabinets and I would like
custom cabinets made to the specification we agreed on.

Anyone care to predict how this will unfold from here?

Thanks for any thoughts.

ccsikyr

Hi,
What seems to be the problem? He screwed up, he corrects it.
If it was custom ordered odd ball stuff, things get little messy,
but still his problem if indeed he made a mistake.

On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 03:20:49 GMT, Tony Hwang wrote:


Hi,
What seems to be the problem? He screwed up, he corrects it.

You know one coudl take this reply two ways. The contracter says what
he is suggesting WILL correct it. I'm willing to bet you don't think
so, but you really didn't say one way or the other.

If it was custom ordered odd ball stuff, things get little messy,
but still his problem if indeed he made a mistake.


Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.

It will turn out depending how big the owners spine is and how he wants
it to turn out. In other words, you paid for a specific cabinet, stick
to your guns and make sure you get that correct cabinet. Not a cut off
version or one that can look right. You want what you ordered and you
have the right to receive it. The only drawback will be having to wait
for the correction to be redone. Bottom liine...you can either tell the
contractor to knock a lot of money for the mistake if you are willing
to settle for the modified version or knock off some money for the
correct one which you will wait for and because it sets the completion
date behind. Either way, stand your ground.

wrote:

It will turn out depending how big the owners spine is and how he wants
it to turn out. In other words, you paid for a specific cabinet, stick
to your guns and make sure you get that correct cabinet. Not a cut off
version or one that can look right. You want what you ordered and you
have the right to receive it. The only drawback will be having to wait
for the correction to be redone. Bottom liine...you can either tell the
contractor to knock a lot of money for the mistake if you are willing
to settle for the modified version or knock off some money for the
correct one which you will wait for and because it sets the completion
date behind. Either way, stand your ground.

Hi,
I totally agree. I have gone thru many building project and never ran
into this kind of problem. Personally I'd insist correct cabinets
installed. Or if willing to compromise, contractor should be punished.
He should be paid less. That way he'll be more careful next time.

ccsikyr wrote:
If anyone has a story to share about how their kitchen contractor
handled cabinet problems, I'd like to hear it...

I'm having my kitchen redone and the carpenter is in the midst of
hanging the cabinets. We've discovered that the general contractor
wrote one thing on the plans and ordered another thing. In particular,
one wall cabinet is 6" taller than it should be and one base cabinet,
which should be 18" deep, not the usual 24" deep, is, in fact, 24"
deep. The order form used by the contractor has these mistakes on it,
so it isn't the cabinet makers fault.

The contractor and the carpenter are floating this trial balloon:
they'll cut 6" off the top of the one, and 6" off the back of the
other, and make them look right. My view is that the wall cabinet will
look like someone cut 6" off the top, and the change to the base
cabinet won't show, but it will be weaker, which matters since it
contains three substantial drawers (which will be "fixed" as well).
What's more, I paid a fortune for custom cabinets and I would like
custom cabinets made to the specification we agreed on.

Anyone care to predict how this will unfold from here?

Yes. They'll try to sell you on the modified cabinets being perfectly
acceptable, and you will decline the offer, saying, "I paid for new, I
want new - not modified."

Screwing up on a cabinet order can shoot the project schedule to hell
and back. This is the main thing that the contractor is trying to
avoid. The labor involved in modifying the cabinets, and getting them
to match, would possibly cost as much as a new cabinet, but the work
could be done right now. It might take weeks for the new, correct
cabinets to be built. Now the question becomes, how do you feel about
the delay in completion?

Assuming that they can make passable modifications - not necessarily a
safe assumption by any means - would you be willing to accept the
modifications to save your schedule? I can't call that from here, but
modifying drawers and cabinet doors is totally a crap shoot. They
might be able to make the structural modifications, but the finish will
be almost impossible to match on the job site. Take that into account
before you do anything.

R

As it happened, we steeled ourselves for a tense discussion, but the
contractor backpedalled before we even objected this morning. He's
ordering a replacement for the base cabinet and the carpenter actually
suggested swapping a couple wall cabinets so we can use the tall one
and improve the kitchen layout. We'll have to see how long it will be
to ship the base cabinet but it is not in a spot that will hold up the
project.

Apparently, as setbacks go, this was a small one. The cabinet will
cost him several hundred dollars, but as things stand now, he'll get
referral business from me, so he probably comes out ahead.

Thanks very much for all the comments....