I'm so angry my head wants to explode

[Blonde Granny]

Last year we built a new house in an over 55 community here in NW Ark. The builder was very nice, easy to work with, checked and double checked with us to be sure things were going as we wanted.

Fast forward toward the end of the building when the granite counters were installed in the kitchen. Color Uba Tuba, black with flecks of shiny mica in it.

We didn't get here until about 4 PM the day the granite was installed, had we known we would have been here. The installation of the granite was awful. Seams rough & uneven, too many seams etc. Installer told us it was because he was only given 1 slab...we know that was wrong as we had more granite in other areas of house. Anyway, we complained to the builder and he sent installer back to "fix" the mess he had made.....installer came back and I'm sure headed back to Honduras or someplace from whence he came, after he made no improvement and in fact, made it a little worse.

Enter granite guy # 2...who promptly took a grinding sander tool to the seams and made it even worse. We complained.

In the mean time, our home has been used as a show place for potential customers, we've been gracious about the granite etc. and felt confident builder would stand behind his product....WRONG!

Skipping the middle part of the story, my DH went to see builder today.  Builder solution was to have granite guy #2, who made it worse, install new granite in the kitchen.  Now, this doesn't make me feel confident in this guy, and I've yet to see the new slab.  Anyway, the builder has now said that since he didn't make much money building our house, we were going to have to pay 50% of the cost to have the new granite installed.

There are few times in my life I have been left speechless, but this is one of them.  It's either pay the 50%, not have it replaced at all (not an option) or pay 100% of the cost to have a different company install it.

We have already agreed there will be no more showings of our house, and if asked by a prospective customer, we will tell the truth that the builder doesn't stand behind his product.  I of course, want to put a sign in the front yard that says the same thing.

DH has now said it's a done deal, and for me to stop bitching and making myself miserable.

All I can say is this: Hell hath no fury like a women who is royally incensed over the way her granite looks in the kitchen.  I have two degrees of anger....really ticked and Mt. St. Helens.  Time for a Xanax.  And yes, I'm fully aware of small claims court, but I know DH is just going to want to pay this and have it go away.  I also will again be told to quit making myself miserable by continuing to talk about this.

Nothing like an anonymous message board to make someone feel better.

On edit: to make matter worse for today, we are supposed to take delivery of a new to use 2003 Mercedes Designo SL500.  Only 300 of these cars were made and our dealer took one in on trade.  Called us and we jumped on it.  I'm determined not to allow this to ruin the rest of my day.

[bean29]

What does your building contract say about recourse if you are not satisfied with something?  When we signed the "standard" contract I did not understand the grievance/remidiation process.  The contract says that you do not have a right to a court/jury trial - you have to go before the Metropolitan builders association grievance panel and my understanding they usually find favorably for the association members - still this would seem like something that obviously needed correction. 

If we build again, I will have an attorney review the contract and attempt to modify things like that if possible.

I have had pretty good success with filing complaints with the better business bureau.  I also voiced my irritation with a large local medical provider on facebook this morning.  You gotta hit them in the reputation to get results.

[Blonde Granny]

bean, I don't know, will have to find contract. This is the 5th or 6th house we've built, so we knew what to expect. Builder even finished it on schedule. In fact, this is very unlike him to be this unreasonable. He still covers a lot of the costs for our monthly potluck dinner. His wife is always willing to help in the event of a death or medical emergency.

This whole thing just baffles me, which is maybe part of the reason I'm so ticked....and that my New Year Resolution was to stop swearing. What a time to decide that, huh?

[Deleted]

throw a brick through his window.

[Tennesseer]

Mar 10, 2014 14:49:08 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

throw a brick slab of Uba Tuba, black with flecks of shiny mica granite through his window.

Fixed.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

You know what would make ME feel better?  Sending a detailed proposal to the builder:

OPTION A:  Pays in full for newly-installed granite of your choosing by contractor of your choosing since the previous 2 sent by the builder were incompetent.

OPTION B:  You decide to take on, as a personal hobby, a crusade to alert everyone possible out there that this builder does NOT NOT NOT stand behind their product and workmanship. How will this be accomplished? Starting with a BBB complaint, then moving on to online review sites like Yelp and Angie's List and then moving on to social media (and including photos.) You may also check with the local news stations since at least one is bound to have an investigative reporter who likes to help people out with such things. You might also put up a nice sign in your yard, as well ... you haven't decided. "ASK ME ABOUT MY CUSTOM BUILT HOME" bumper stickers might also be in order.


(evil grin)

I'm not saying you SHOULD do this, or even send such a letter, but I do think I would find it personally cathartic to plan or even write out such a letter.

Otherwise, take your wise husband's advice and TRY to "let it go" ....

<--- a lovely version of the song "Let it Go" by Idina Menzel

In the meantime, we're happy to vent along with you!

[marvholly]

I like Molly's plan and am just enough of an adult female dog to carry it out.

[wvugurl26]

Word of mouth recommendations is everything in that business. I had a friend who only did new construction, no remodeling, none of that. He had a three year wait list to build houses when he had to quit due to cancer and he never advertised.

[Blonde Granny]

Molly, we already had quote from different granite install company. We even had the granite dealer...name is Verona Marble & Granite located here in Springdale holding 2 slabs for us already.  Our offer to builder was we would pay half, which would have been $1800 and he would pay the other half. His response was "nope, not gonna happen". That's when he threw us the curve ball that he would pay nothing if we used our own, and expected us to pay 1/2 of his guy installing it. Of course, this is guy # 2 who already messed up the job.

Granite guy #2 is supposed to be here today to measure/template. I am going to insist that I see slab he intends to install, and I'm going to mark it etc. with my initials in different places so I can be sure I'm getting what I chose.

I have even been nice enough to say that the small piece that separates a built in cabinet doesn't have to be changed as it would likely be damaged if someone tried to remove it.  And frankly, if the builder didn't make much on our house, how does that translate to being my problem?

We live in a very small community, that when built out will be about 65 houses.  We have organized activities every month, builder and wife attend them all, including ladies tea and mens coffee along with card games, and pot luck dinners.  This is going to make for some interesting times.

What I'd really like to do is tell builder to go straight to hell and contract everything ourselves with our choice of granite slabs and our install guys.  We have used this granite install guys before and their work is impeccable.  But, then we'd be paying out $3400 instead of $1000.

And as tough a business person DH is, sometimes he just caves in (which he's done) and takes the easy way out.  If it was up to me, I'd love to go back to the builder, tell him we're going to handle the replacement and cost ourselves, AND will take every opportunity to let others know the reason why.

OK, rant over....I need more coffee.

[Deleted]

Pay the people you know do impeccable work. You use your kitchen every day and the counters need to be right.

[Blonde Granny]

OK, I do my best thinking outloud and this is what I've come up with. I want a signed letter from him stating:

1. Why does he have to replace granite, i.e describe the problem and who caused it.

2. Why does he feel it is our responsibility to pay half the replacement cost?

3. Who is going to do the work and why?

4. What is he going to do if replacement job is still not satisfactory?

[Blonde Granny]

Lilly, I do believe that is our best option. This is what our kitchen looks like, and it is part of one big room that is great room, eating area and kitchen.

The area damaged is along the long wall where the coffeemaker sits around to where the right side of the stove is.

[Blonde Granny]

Well, typical of my DH, who huffs and puffs like the big bad wolf, he has managed to turn into Daffy Duck. This whole situation is now my fault, I need to get over it, pay our half and be quiet.

Fine! Then deal with this crap himself.

[ginpin]

BG-I am sorry about the problems with the granite guys, but I wanted to comment that your kitchen is AWESOME!!! Very VERY nice.


And congrats on your new toy -Mercedes-  as well. 

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Your kitchen is very pretty.

[Blonde Granny]

Update:  the builder set an appt. yesterday for granite guy # 2 to come today. At 2pm to measure counters.  We arrived home @ 1:30.......2pm came and went, as did 2:15, 2:30, 2:45. 

DH told builder we needed to leave, which we did.  No granite guy today.  And builder doesn't understand why we don't trust the guy.

guess there is always tomorrow.

[kcladyjane]

Granny - Did you get it fixed?

[The Captain]

 

How did it go?