Wow, I'd have to agree and say it looks like they did a really shoddy job. I'd definitely call them and insist that they make good - even if that means giving you a new counter top. I know if that happened in my kitchen I'd die a little every time I looked at their mistakes and that's just not right.

I agree with the first commenter...that seam is unacceptable. Our granite fabricator's seams are so tight they are only about the width of pencil lead at the most.

I agree with Anne, when they built my house I didn't notice right away that some of the floor boards were less than perfectly placed, and now every time I look at them I just get really angry and remember the face of the guy who built it. Those aren't the feelings your brand new kitchen that you paid for should cause in you. Demand the work be done right, before it's too late.

That simply can't be right. Marble is pretty soft and should be easy to work with and get a straight cut. I have granite tile countertops (not a solid piece), and all my seams look way better than that. I wouldn't pay for it until they made it look right. Or I'd take them to small claims court, which is what I actually did when I landscaper did horribly shoddy work.

Ooh, bad work. I wouldn't accept that sink installation, either.

yep, there is no way I would have accepted the excuse that marble is a tricky material to work with, if you accept a job working with marble, then you better know how to deal with it.

That looks terrible!!! Dont believe their lies, they are full of BEE ESS. I have marble counters in my laundry room, and they have flawless seams. DO NOT PAY THEM UNTIL THEY MAKE IT PERFECT! Also the sink is just unacceptable, it looks like they caked the adhesive on... I dont care what they say when you tell them to fix it, just keep complaining until they make it right. There is no reason why everything shouldnt be perfect, if it has flaws, they are cutting corners.

the seam doesn't look good. we are installing our butcherblock countertops in a few weeks and i'm worried about the seam on ours. i'd ask them to redo it

The home we rent has both granite (in the kitchen) and marble (in the bathroom). Both rooms have stone countertops and floors, and everything was done as tightly as possible. The landlord (who used to live here) had this all done in the 1990's and it has lasted two decades. Even today, the seams are tight and the joins are well done. These people are lying to you and they should redo it. Period.

I think you got screwed by the counter top people (Sorry to be so harsh). The whole thing just looks like they don't know what they are doing. You shouldn't have to live with a bad seam just because the contractor thinks that marble is tough to work with. Personally, I wouldn't pay them until they fix this.
Can't wait to see the rest of the condo though!
Stay safe and stay away from fans....

Did they install the ceiling fan? That would freak me out! If they did install the ceiling fan I would probably look into gettng a new contractor.

I agree with everyone. I would be throwing the biggest "kill them with kindness, you don't get paid, hissy fit" you ever saw, until they fixed it.

No offense, but did you hire them by price and not by reviews? I agree with everyone who have already posted....professionals have no excuses...they do it right.
Scared me to think you were right under that fan! You have an angel on your shoulder.

tell them to take it back- threaten them with the better business bureau if you have to.

my parents had a similar thing happen with their quartz countertops...after paying $40K in upgrades to their brand new luxury home, the seams on the install were a mess. I kept threatening the builder...(small claims court, BBB, Ontario TARION home warranty- you name it, i did it) until they finally came back and replaced the countertops. it was the biggest pain in the butt ever. but it made my parents so much happier.

we also made the builder come back and retile an entire side of the bathroom wall. sometimes you wonder if it's worth the aggravation. but think about it- you're looking at that thing for the rest of your life (or, er, however long you're there)...

If that's the best they can do, they shouldn't be installing counter tops.
Just curious: do they know their work is being documented in a public forum?

Get the sink template back, or get another, and see for yourself whether they followed it or not. Should be very apparent when you set it in the hole.

I agree with others, sounds like total BS excuses for screwing up two rather big details on the countertops. That seam is total amateur hour, tell them if they are going to do amateur work then you are going to pay an amateur rate. I hope you did not pay them in full already, withold final payment until you are satisfied. You are NOT asking for too much here.

Your contractors suck.

1. The marble installation is unacceptable. Make them redo it and do it well. There are other installers.
2. I hate ceiling fans for the very reason that you mentioned. Or try waking up in the night and the darn thing is sparking. Another time it fell out of the ceiling on to my mother's bed. Thank goodness she wasn't in it.
3. You are doing a fantastic job. Love your choices and how hard you have worked to make it a success. You can be proud.

I see a lot of stone-counter jobs, and that is absolutely not an acceptable seam. The positive reveal on the sink is not that unusual. Things get moved in construction, 1/8th of an inch here and there, and the sink cut can be off when installation day comes. I don't think it looks that bad, and it will make chipping the edge of the counter less likely.

The ceiling fans? Lawsuit.

I think it looks like crap. Just please be aware that if you withhold payment, they can easily place a lien on your home. It sucks, but sometimes it's best to try and work with a contractor (nicely). You may have additional recourse with using a credit card (Visa is better for these types of chargebacks) and disputing the quality of the work w/your bank, but I'd try to "delay" payment and keep working w/them. (and have them sign a lien waiver when they're paid) All said, if it comes down to it - maybe you can find a sink that's slightly larger so the lip doesn't show past the cut.

Sorry - I feel your pain. I had a contractor who installed broken and chipped tile in my shower, never fully cleaned off the grout haze, installed the faucet handles backwards, punched a hole in my wall, ripped my carpet, installed the vanity light 7 inches off-center, covered over half my glass block with tile and caulk, overran my electrical circuits so the GFCI tripped every day, and broke the tub skirt, the glass shelf for the shower and a marble backsplash for the sink (I'm honestly only scratching the surface here) and couldn't understand why I was angry. I just wanted him out of my house, so I ended up finishing the job myself.

With all that's been said about the marble install...what can I possibly add? But the ceiling fan, well...another matter! So glad you are OK. And I hope someone of the creative video sort is inspired to use that one for a fun piece for YouTube. Now you've got me thinking I should check that "lovely" fan over my bed before I have nightmares.

Sink templates are frequently set up for both neutral and postive reveals on the same template sheet. There is a perforated edge that is removed from the neutral template to allow for the positive reveal. Sounds like a communication issue. What does your quote from them say?

When you pay them, subtract 1/4 of the amount due and tell them that cash is difficult to work with and that's the best you can do.

Ha! Love @donaldn 's comment!

Don't take this crap from contractor, report to Ikea and ask them to refund your money , keep the20% discount and ask for compensation for the delay and damage!!!!

Look at the contractor's face in the photo!! He looks confuse!!!!

They should never cut the hole exactly the same as the template! In my kitchen, the contractor cut the hole about 1/8" smaller than the sink, so you will never see the sealant joint and provide better water protection.

Just kick these contractors out of the house and file a complain to the small claim court!!!!

That seam is unacceptable. I agree with whoever said that your best line of complaint is through Ikea. The builders do not want to lose Ikea's business, so you need to go through Ikea.

Oh man, I feel for you. There's no way I would be ok with the seam as-is or the positive reveal.

I'm a pretty chill person, but I would refuse to accept this. Good luck.

What in the world is plugged into the wall in the second to last picture? Was the ceiling fan plugged in and not a permanent install? It doesn't look like it was screwed to a box properly more like it was just attached to where a ceiling fixture used to be - which is dangerous. If this is in your parents' condo you should make sure that contractor didn't screw everything up this badly - a good general contractor should have caught this.

Oh, and also, I've had some really bad contractor issues going through big box stores - Home Depot and Lowes for windows and doors. I won't do it again.

I know in this case you are working far from home, but for the future, ask around and find a well- recommended local contractor. And cultivate a relationship with him or her.

They are Ikea subcontractors, right? Send Ikea a link to your AT series and I bet your problem will be fixed pretty quickly. It is not very good advertising for Ikea, to say the least. Send it to corporate headquarters' PR department, not to the local Ikea.

Yikes, Amy, that's a good catch! A ceiling fan should always be hard wired, in a junction box *approved for fans* screwed securely to a stud. Heavier fans require even more support. It's not just a weight issue, but one of motion and vibration.

glad the fan didn't kill you, but i think this is a sure sign you should call the marble people and get it done right! that seam looks like the marble was cut by a 10 year old with a hacksaw!

Oh gosh. It looks terrible, I am sorry that I have to say that. Totally unacceptable.
Well if THEY went off the template then THEY should provide you with a new counter.
I would complain until they fix it. Send those pictures and a nice summary of their shoddy job to a local newspaper/TV station. Better Business Bureaou. Small claims court?
I know that it will be hard for you because you don't live there. But those bastards should not be able to get away with it.

P.S. I glad to hear the fan did not injure you. That condo must be haunted, seriously.
An exorcist?? :-)

I would tell them that you will be posting a list of all suppliers/contractors on this blog that has xxx thousand per views per day, along with photographs of their work and descriptions of their service. And that you would be happy to give them a raving review on customer service as soon as they replace and recut the countertops.

The positivit reveal doesn't look bad but that seam does.

Go to IKEA about your problems with the counter installers. You went with them only because they do the counters for your IKEA cabinets. Complain.

I wouldn't mind the sink, but the seam would be unacceptable.

All you have to do is show IKEA this series on AT, and the pictures on this post. Heck, send it to corporate headquarters in the US.

Between the marble and the ceiling fan, gotta say that the contractors in Florida do not inspire confidence.

Also post the contractors name on this web site and say no more.
Their horrible work says it all.

no one cares about your knock-off shoes and bags BENBEN112. A@@! Stop posting.

oh man, we must have had the same countertop installers. Mine were pretty bad also, but you must learn from my mistake since maybe you still have time! I didn't like my seams, or my sink cutout and after making a big to do about it, they gave me a discount. At the time, I thought that would make things better. But after living with it for about 4 years now and looking at those darn seams (mine were NOT as bad as yours either), and my sink everyday, I wish I would have passed up on the $ and just had them fix it and do it right...even removing the whole thing and replacing it! Hopefully you haven't paid them completely for the job. Have them redo it and show them the hundreds of pictures of marble where it does have a clean, much thinner, seam. You will be glad you were persistent in the long run. Good luck!

THE FIRST RULE ABOUT RENO'S... The contractors will NEVER take the blame for shoddy work.

THE SECOND RULE ABOUT RENO'S... The contractors will NEVER... take the blame for shoddy work.

Your seam is crap and they talked you in to paying for their crappy work product. The marble was cut poorly and while it is softer than other harder natural stones, that should make it a dream to work with given the right (sharp, new) cutting blade and skilled (ie, doing it awhile) installers. I have a gealo reale yellow marble and you cannot tell one seem apart from another. I don't want to make you feel bad but my seams are almost invisible and most folks think I forked up for whole pieces... Well i did... but on my center island it is a 5 by 7 foot piece that is bisected by a seam that is joined so beautifully it is a work of art. If you can.

Have them back and print color pictures of better completed projects and let them do it again. if you have already paid them then take then to court either for the cost of a full re-install or to re-do or to pay to have another re-do it (of your choice of course).

Gooooo luck, duck and don't bend over for these fools and remember the first 2 rules of
Fight... Sorry i mean Reno Club

In case you aren't convinced yet, the seam is unacceptable. I've never seen such a horrible seam in any kind of stone counter, and "difficult material" is no excuse. If you do not know how to properly work with a material, don't take the job. Take the job and you accept the responsibility to do it right. I don't so much mind the positive reveal, but you're correct that the contractor did really shoddy work in gluing the sink in. I'm actually feeling anger on your behalf. It's not cheap to redo a kitchen, and those are defects that, if not corrected, you have to live with for a long time to come. I agree that you should complain to Ikea and do everything you can to force the contractor to redo the work.

Oh, one more thing. Please keep us updated about Ikea's response if you do choose to complain to them.

Assuming they are licensed, bonded contractors, file a complaint with the state board.

Unless they did this for free, this is unacceptable. My parents spent a dramatic amount of money getting all new kitchen cabinets. About 2 years after the install, ALL the beige cabinets started to subtly turn pink. They sent someone out to refinish them, which made the whole house darn near unlivable due to fumes, and it still didn't fix it. They had already had new counters and back splash done with the original new cabinetry, so were hesitant to insist on new cabinets out of fear of damaging them. But ultimately after ONLY 2 years, they were all pulled out and replaced.

DEMAND these people make it right.

In your last post, you mentioned that you were "demanding peeled grapes and a fan"....

I think someone granted your wish for a fan; just not quite in the way you were expecting. Perhaps you should have been more specific about how you wanted that fan delivered.... :)

oh my goodness, that post was something out of a John Candy movie!
So glad you are ok and lived to tell the tale! All the Best of luck to you!

Like everyone else has said, that seam is terrible! Worst I've ever seen! On the sink issue of it having a positive reveal, most templates do allow for a positive reveal. Your fabricator is supposed to be the professional in this case and talk to you, the owner about your expectations, because in reality, most customers don't want that reveal! Your fabricator should know better than to just assume and go off the template. And it's bizarre that they cut it on a 45. Perhaps this company is using pre-cut granite blanks which would be why it's cut that way. I can't see the other end (past the dishwasher) but I know my fabricator would have made that in one piece to avoid a seam. This company reallly did a terrible job and it's a shame. I hope they make right on this, please keep us updated on the marble situation!

Just calmly tell them you will name names. Here. On the internet. (Mention how many people view AT daily.) And sweetly explain that whether that's to their advantage or their disadvantage is entirely up to them.

You are good. Those contractors would have thought the Rapture had started and they were left at the gates of Hades if that was my house. I don't play. Many a (would-be) swindler have felt my wrath.

You did a good thing by posting this experience. I hope everything works out in the end.

Is this the same contractor who used texturized paint without checking with you first?

So sorry to burst your bubble. Even the before picture is not ugly. Dated perhaps, but not ugly. This is not an ugly condo. You have to go way further than this to every hope to find the condo that was truly hit by the ugly stick. Ugly? Not even slightly. Not a prayer. As far as all the commentors on your contractors' shortcomings, just moon them. That's right, flaunt it. As long as YOU like it, it's all that matters.