Maple Terrazzo Marble & Tile

This company is now called the Maple Group and they actually install countertops through their Stoneworx division.

Stoneworx (Maple Group) was subcontracted to supply and install a Silestone countertop through Canlik Kitchens, which I engaged to do reface my kitchen cabinets and install a countertop.

The Stoneworx (Maple Group) templater used a laser machine (and a laptop) to take measurements with the old countertop removed -- seemed quite professional.

The day before they were scheduled to install the countertop in my home, they called Canlik Kitchens (the main contractor)just before closing of the business day to inform them that they could not do the installation that day because of problems they had with a machine breaking down. Hmmm .... do these folks actually fabricate the countertop the night before installation?

Stonework (Maple Group) delivered and installed the countertop exactly 6 days later, during which time I was without a countertop or sink. After the installer placed the countertop on the cabinets, it was immediately obvious that the measurements were poor. One cut-out at the side was a few inches short and the installer proceeded to make the cut-out larger with his saw, right there in my kitchen. While that turned out OK (except for the stone dust that I was left with), there were some gaps as large as 1/4" along the back wall. What was the point of using a fancy laser machine mounted on a tripod and a laptop when the measurements were so poor? Fortunately, the Silestone backsplash (3/4" thick) covered the huge gaps.

When the installer finished, I thought everything would be OK, since all the problems were either corrected or hidden.

However, when cleaning the countertop 2 days later, I discovered that one side of the counter didn't clean up as well as the other side -- when the counter was wet, I could see many linear marks (in varius directions) that were evidence of much rubbing in that area. Then I noticed a long hairline crack (15"?) that had been repaired - you could stick a pin through the hairline crack. Further, it was obvious that part of the polished surface near the crack had been marred (probably during the repair process).

I really can't believe this! I paid for a new countertop and Stoneworx (Maple Group) knowingly installed a countertop that had a crack in it. At no time did they disclose to me (or the main contractor) that the countertop had been cracked and repaired. I suspect that the countertop was cracked the afternoon before the original installation date, which would explain why Stonework called my main contractor at that time to say "their machine had been broken".

Now, I am going to have to deal with this issue. If they pull out the countertop, there will certainly be collateral damage to walls, freshly laminated cupboards, and sink. If they merely repolish the surface, I'm still left with a countertop that has a hairline fracture,which could,over time, crack in the same place.

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Update:

Maple/Stoneworx replaced the damaged countertop. Fotrunately, no damage was done while removing the old countertop -- I was worried, since the company would not take responsibility for anything beyond the countertop and the matching backsplash (i.e. damage to walls, the new laminate, sink,or faucet would be my problem???). They did, however, scratch the bottom of my sink by placing tools in it. And they did a poor job of putting the epoxy and silicon on the sink. I've since had the excess epoxy and silicon stripped and the sink recaulked (by someone else). I still have the scratch at the bottom of my sink.