Fabricators like Crown granite rise and fall one one thing: Customer service. The material is chosen by customer from the stone provider so its really only about craftsmanship and customer service that you pay for. I must say, that the experience with Crown Granite was challenging to put it nicely. We chose them from the recommendation in the community. The initial communication and quote was fast, price is extremely reasonable. But you get what you pay for.
The templating was scheduled end of June 2021, and they had to postpone for one week, while assured me this will not affect timeline. (Later I learned, that it was due to the bigger job, because our $5000 kitchen counter installation is small and not worth). The template was done in timely manner.
I asked if they provide service to get the hidden steel plate support on kitchen island, as there will be 10" overhang. To which they said, they don't do such service nor can source the plates for me, so I told them that's fine, I will order and install them myself before they come. The installation date in contract was two weeks from templating.
I am calling few days prior to let them know thats all is well and ready for them to come. I did my own research, found plates, installed them and provided additional temporary support during installation so they don't bend it with heavy slab. None of which was suggested by the owner, but that would be where other companies excel.
When I called they told me that they are not available to come install, because they were waiting for my confirmation first. Oh god, so now they want to schedule it another two weeks further. Well what could I do, clear miscommunication, but I bite the bullet. Scheduled installation was then right after August long weekend.
The day of, I had a plumber booked to hook up the sink once they install the island. They always come on time, so they were here early morning. As the counter installers brought in the slab, one of them points out that the sink is cut our wrong. It was on the wrong side of the island! ups.... that means, we will be without running water or drain in the kitchen for more weeks until they may get completely new slab and cut it out again. They will let me know whats the plan, they may polish the back as it was just mirrored cut out. Of course I had to cancel last minute plumber with no estimate how log it will take. Lucky for us, the piece that goes against wall was ok, so the backsplash contract was on schedule. We also found tiny holes/cracks in the stone, that were suppose to be sealed by the fabricator.
Two days go by, nobody contacts me. I email them once again. The response is, they need to get new slab and are waiting for it. I email reply how long it will take ? Quiet. NO RESPONSE.
I wait two weeks and then email them again, that I will let the plumber hook up old sink and old laminate counter that we still have in garage and send them invoice. Suddenly they say slab arrived and following Monday they will be there to install it. Fine, at this point I just want to have it done and never see them again.
They called on Monday late afternoon (first time ever they actually called me, otherwise I HAD TO EMAIL or CALL several times to get any information from them). They apologized that the installers cannot come, they are one man short. Well good that I work from home, otherwise I would be waiting entire workday for nothing. They never give you time when they show up by the way. So they will come next day.
Finally its mid August and they show up with the slab. This time it matches the cutout. The slab stone is slightly different, but at this point we are not going to deal with them any more. Lucky for us, because they had to show up second time and I reminded several times, they actually brought the sealant to seal the holes on previous counter pieces which was suppose to be done at the shop already.
Overall the kitchen looks beautiful. But would I recommend their service to friends. No, I am sorry. The owner apologized few times but their behavior says otherwise.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $4,800.00