Custom cabinetmaker made a mistake and forgot to order full backsplash, now wants to do tile backsplash?
July 28, 2010
He says that he will let me pick the tile and he will install, but I just think I may have too much tile. I have installed tile from the entrance off the garage all the way through the kitchen into the foyer and on the front entryway porch (over 300 feet of gray italian tile). I think he is pushing the tile because he goofed. I am thinking that the full backsplash will look better and clean up easier.
I think he made a 00 or more mistake on the estimate. I don’t think he charged nearly enough
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Posted in Kitchen Tile Backsplash
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July 28th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
It would be nice to know what kind of top you have.
For most countertop material, the backsplash can be added in the field just as easy as it could in the shop, so ordering the splash and putting it on should not be a problem. Most of the time I would insist that it is done in the field because you can get a nicer fit to the wall. Stones, solid surface, concrete, wood and self-edging laminate all fall into this category.
Metals would be a problem for field application as would post-form laminate tops. Post-form laminate tops have the laminate applied in one piece, it usually has a "rolled" edge on the front and back of the backsplash. Self-edging has square or flat beveled edges.
Point being, I can’t imagine that your cabinet maker is saving a significant amount of money by pushing you toward tile. Even replacing a post-form laminate top would not be much more expensive than a tile splash, especially if he is letting you pick the tile.
I would clarify with him what the issue is. It may be that it will take some time to get what you really want? Perhaps this is a cash flow issue for him, maybe it would help if you made a partial payment on a balance due. I would certainly not pay in full, but if everything else is done, paying part should not cause a problem. This would be a good time to put in writing what is expected for completion of the job, including when the issue will be resolved.
These things happen, no one is perfect. Try to have a bit of patience and understanding. That is not to say you should accept anything less than what you want, but if it is time be willing to wait for it. Indeed, you should not settle for less than what you want as you will be living with it for some time to come.
July 28th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
I say do it the way you will be happy with it.
July 28th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
I think you’re right and it’s your house. If the cabinetmaker messed up, it’s their problem and they have to give you what you want. I’m guessing that none of this work is free, right? Whether it looks better and/or cleans up easier or not, that’s not the point. You’re the customer and you make the decisions.
July 28th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Is the countertop laminate? Those are really so inexpensive he’s got to get you one with a backsplash if you want.
OR – you can pick out some really cool tiles and let him pay for them and install them and get the karma back later I guess.
July 28th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
I think you should go with what you most happy with and I agree with you that the tiles would probably be too much. You would be adding another texture/pattern/design to your home and if the splashback looked best laminate in your first design thats what you should have!
Kitchens are expensive, you don’t change them every day and you want to be happy with them!
July 28th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Okay. So he goofed up…. let’s turn his goof to your advantage if we can.
If getting him to do what he was contracted to do (would this mean he has to start over from scratch??) is just too much hassle for what it’s worth to you, and you don’t want tile, tell him you’ll accept a different backsplash but that you don’t want tile. And find something else you like that he can install.
I wish I knew what your kitchen looked like because it would be easier to make suggestions, but if this had happened to me, I’d have him install a glass mosaic tile backsplash. I’d go crazy and have fun with it. I LOVE glass mosaic tiles! You know, the little ones that are like one inch square and come in amazing colors! Easy to wash and keep clean! They stay gorgeous with just soapy dishwater! Oh… what the heck, a picture is worth a thousand words!
http://www.interstyle.ca/products/dewdrops/dewdrops.html
http://www.interstyle.ca/products/dewdrops/dewdrops-colors.html
http://www.interstyle.ca/
http://www.interstyle.ca/products/cobbletones/cobbletones-colors.html
http://www.interstyle.ca/products/glassforms/glassforms.html
http://www.interstyle.ca/products/op-art/op-art.html
http://www.interstyle.ca/products/pastime/pastime.html
http://www.interstyle.ca/products/jaspers/jaspers-colors.html
If you don’t like that idea, have you considered a stainless steel backsplash? There is some amazing stuff to work with! You might want to check that out.
Anyhow, I’m sorry this happened to you. If you decide to hold the contractor liable, I really feel for you! If you decide to look for a silver lining in this, good luck! You’ll end up with a great kitchen either way!
July 28th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Kitchens are not cheap….he blew his bid and forgot to order the right materials,and now he wants to minimize his losses…I think you should stick to your full back splash and let him re order and install at his expense….being a contractor myself,I always do right by my homeowners and I would not even have suggested the tile option, If I goof up I eat what it takes to make it right,I can always make it up on the next job,and in contracting ,you learn from the mistakes that hit you in the wallet, luckily those mistakes are usually rookie mistakes and those days are long gone for me ….good luck.