Issue with Granite Counter Top

Folks,

We moved in a new VM townhouse in fall of 05. We have Granite Counter Top in our Kitchen.

Recently we noticed hair line fracture/cracks on multiple places on the backsplash. We called Springfield Marbles (VM Contractors) who had installed the Granite Counter Top. (Its under a lifetime warranty)

2 Guys showed up to checkout the top. They Agreed that there were Cracks and needed to be "Fixed". They inspected it and said that they would get back to us.

We Waited. No one followed up. We then Followed up & We Followed Again & Again... These 2 inspectors reported back to the company, that there was nothing Wrong with the Granite, After many arguments over the phone, they said that they will send a "manager", No one has showed up. they don't answer our phone calls.

Any Suggestions on how we can get these guys to move...

I think that the Stone is Developing more & more cracks, what should we do to make this company change the granite.

Thanks

 

The problem with the 'guys' saying that there are cracks and it needs to be fixed, is that you didn't get anything in writing that they were going to report it as such.

The 'Lifetime' Warrantee, is there any 'third-party' guarantor on that ?? If so, I'd contact them. If not, I would think your next recourse is to contact the Better Business Bureau to file a complaint. I'd also contact the 'Consumer Reporter' at the Post and/or Times to also see if they can do anything. If this company has a VA contractor's license, you can also contact that VA department (not sure the name) to leave a complaint with them.

Sometimes bad publicity, a BBB complaint or the threat of losing their contractor's license does alot more than a bunch of phone calls.

Even a certified letter to the company, outlining the steps you took to contact and follow up with them (along with good photos of the counter), ending with a paragraph basically saying unless you hear from the company and get satisfaction under their guarantee you're going to file complaints, may get them moving.

 

We just swapped out our "granite" counter tops. The new ones we got are MUCH nicer & far superior quality. Looks very nice under the GE cook top we've already had to replace. I'm certain these will be looking great behind the new front door because we have to replce the one that's there.... from the builder.

 

I'd call "7 on your Side" at ABC and ask them to investigate. Nothing like having a news reporter drop in on your business because of a complaint!

 

whoa, wait a minute. This is the contractor that VM used when originally installing the granite, right? I think a call to VM customer service is worth a try as well. See if they are still an installer... and try to use VM leverage in some way. At least worth a try.

 

Yeah ... right ... after 365 days of ownership, you are on your own !! However, the call to VM may alert them about the contractor that doesn't honor its guarantees. Wait ... we're talking VM, nevermind !!

 

Now that the thread has been officially derailed ....

I find the wide disparity of experiences with VM & OpenBand (not) enjoyed by this population amazing! We've been in ChezKaos since Sept 2002. Even now, if Brassey39 calls up and asks a question she gets nothing but prompt, courteous service. Even after two years of being in the place VM would regularly send out folks to fix issues – the last being a disconnected dryer vent.

So I have to agree with Zeratul – at least give them a call. If you don’t, you are not giving them the opportunity to say “yes.”

 

Well i did call VM customer service. They called the Springfield marbles. Supplier also promised VM that someone will pay a visit to us but its been more than three weeks and nobody contacted us.

Today morning we gave the supplier a really "annoying" call and Bingo they called back in 10 mins to schedule a inspection tomorrow afternoon. Hope it goes well.

 

Kaosdad,

Was the Granite Swapped due to a 'problem' ?

Thanks

 

We found that the counters that VM installed (Uba Tuba) were not done correctly and all were not from the same lot. It was so thin, chips were easily made aroung the sink.

So we called on Flinstone Marble & Granite, www.flinstonemarble.com
They came out and installed a much nicer granite (giallo-santa-cecilia-light)that went smashingly well with our black and stainless appliances, it also had a color that just about matched our existing wall color (creamy custard, Benjamin Moore). It has creme, black, a deep red dot here and there, etc. you can SEE the quartz and potassium feldspar crystals!

They gave us 4" backsplashes in case any damage occurred when the old counters were removed...that went so well nothing was damaged. I got rid of the partition sink and got a deeper and wider bowl. We also replaced the laminate counter on the basement bar with this same granite.

Then we added this brand new faucet and soap dispenser. It actually looks like a peice of art and the counters are very elegant.
http://www.faucetdepot.com/faucetdepot/productdetail.asp?Product=20397&nsa=1

Now I can say it has made a DRAMATIC improvement in the kitchen. And Koasdad and I are well pleased Hmmm now maybe I can add wall tiles....?

 

^ What my sweets said. She's just completed a geology course so she knows rocks. Also, she's so much smarter than me. And MUCH cuter . Listen to her, not me.

 

oooohhhh, I see the connection now (stating the obvious, doh). But that granite sounds awesome. And you put it on the bar in the basement, but did you not get concerned with the high amount of glass that would be used around it and the breakage factor?

And a test for Brassy... does the word "Munsell" mean anything to you? (no peeking on the internet)

 

Um you mean the soil color chart, thingy?

 

...yes you are correct! The soil chart thingy. One of my hobbies is that of archeology - which occasionally means digging in the dirt. I use one of those Munsell field guides in helping to identify soils.

 

Fixed URL:

http://www.flintstonemarble.com/

If you don't mind me asking, what was the cost per sq/ft installed? Is this place right near the post office? I think I've seen a granite place near the turn for the PO.

 

Thanks Boomertsfx:
They are located over in Beaumeade. As I recall, the owners are turkish and very nice. When you call them you can hear the saws going in the background. I think our price was $40 per sq/ft. They do sell granite at a lower price point. Ours is about a level 5 or 6.

We have a Sinclair II (Built in 2003, beofre VM built the model which has 8 inches shaved off the entire house). I think the total bill was 7K. However, that included the entire kitchen, bar, removal and disposal of the old counters, the sink and the plumber. We re-used our dispoal and he gave us a new ring/cuff. Not a bad deal in my book, since it looks so much better. When I do things to the homestead, I do them to enjoy but always have "resale" in the back of my mind (which can drive Kaosdad crazy, but in the end he always likes it). A friend of ours who is a realtor, says there pretty much isn't anything else we can do, to leave a few things undone for the next peeps when we decide its time to move. Everyone who comes in loves the decor and colors, too.