Installer cracked my granite countertop

lydia · 06-10-2007, 05:40 AM

I need some advice about my new granite countertops. We just had granite countertops installed in our kitchen and in our bathroom (yesterday). After the installers left, and my husband was putting in the faucets, we noticed several cracks in the granite orginating from the drilled holes. There are 6 in all. The center hole has a crack to the inside edge (sink edge), a crack to the outside edge, and a crack to the the holes on either side of it. The hole on the right also has a crack leading to the front and back. We were very upset because we assume that the installers know that they cracked the granite and just hoped we wouldn't notice. We called our kitchen design guy and explained things and he acted like it was something WE did.

He said he would come Monday to look at it.

My husband said he thinks they may have used a dull drill bit and had to use too much pressure and that's what caused the cracks. So, nervously I went and checked the kitchen sink portion of our granite, and sure enough, there is also a crack therefrom the center faucet hole back to the back edge AND forward to the sink-side edge. Well, now I'm really worried. The bathroom vanity was a small piece; I can see them possibly replacing that. But the kitchen counter is about an 8 foot piece (and "pieced" on both ends to the next piece) and I can't imagine them being willing to replace THAT. Not to mentions, it's a beautiful piece of granite, and I hate to lose it.

The granite guy is coming Monday and I'm not sure what he's going to say. We have put a stop payment on our check until this all gets settled. My questions is, what if he wants to just "fix it"? Can that kind of crack be fixed or should the slab be replaced? It's not that you can really see the cracks but I'm afraid they'll get worse and then we'll have no recourse. What do you think? Should we push for having the countertops replaced? Or is there a reliable way to repair this kind of crack.

Thanks so much for your help. We know nothing about granite and don't want to be taken.
Lydia

Huligar · 06-10-2007, 05:00 PM

Congrats on your purchase of stone.
I am also sorry that hack install your natural stone. Please note they will claim that it is not a crack, they will claim that it is a fissure. but you and I already no better. Next they will claim that you did it by trying to install your own fixtures. Stand your ground and keep that check until the work is done to your satisfaction. Do to the fact that this is a new install, make them replace the tops or repair them at no extra cost to you.

Below you can see a typical repair been preform by a NSRA member.

[media]http://www.nsraweb.com/gallery/data/503/crackpolish.wmv[/media]

Topshop · 06-11-2007, 12:24 PM

Lydia,

I have seen many bad installs by other contractors. If your finger nail catches on the area it is surely a crack. Most likely the granite cracked either during installation - carrying the granite into the house or after set into place if the installer did not level and shim the top properly. Stand your ground and have the installer/fabricator replace the pieces at no cost to you. I am sure that the granite can be repaired by a qualified restoration guy but you paid for new granite and not repaired granite. There is no excuse for a bad install.

Mr. Mike · 06-11-2007, 02:53 PM

Hello Lydia, I'm a restoration professional who has worked in a fabrication shop & my skill was rarely utilized there. Why, because in the shop if it needs to be restored-that means throw it out & get a new piece. Restoration is for stones that are sentimental or have been in the house for years. This way, there’s some level of acceptability of imperfection. Look, unless you have Rumplestilskin fix it-your still going to see the fissure/crack-especially now since you've already seen it (believe me it's a factor). Now, as for those poor fabricators-I feel for them. Imagine working on this counter-top for about a week; walking on egg-shells the whole time-especially if it's this new brittle crap coming off the mountain. Then just when you’re almost finished-the stupid thing breaks. I've seen counter-tops fold under the littlest of stress. See if you can work with them-maybe they'll give you a discount-but don't kill them over it.

lydia · 06-11-2007, 08:45 PM

Hi Mr. Mike,
Thanks for the reply.

Honestly, I'm not looking for perfection, I'm just trying to find out if these cracks are going to jeopardize the strength and integrity of the countertop. We've never had granite countertops and we don't know what is "normal" or what is "a disaster waiting to happen". The granite company is going to replace the small vanity piece and says he'll "guarantee for life" the large piece. If it cracks further, he'll replace it. (Is that wishful thinking or is that even reasonable.) The cracks in the large piece can only be seen if you really look, but they run from the edge of the center faucet hole to the back and front edge. My husband worries that the granite is not entirely supported (the installer shimmed it in a couple places) and that it will crack worse. :/

I guess what we want is a little assurance that these cracks aren't "the kiss of death" for our countertop.
Lydia

Huligar · 06-11-2007, 09:53 PM

if he is going to put that on paper, take him up on it. More than likely, they will check to see if this is going to bite them in the long run, so they will do all that is necessary to stop it from getting any worst.

Topshop · 06-12-2007, 12:42 PM

Have you ever tried to get a contractor to come back after any amount of time to replace poor installation? I would just have them replace the top now or you will have to have a lawyer get it replaced later. As I said there is no excuse for a poor installation - don't let yourself get hosed.