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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if this has been done correctly or should I complain?

128 replies

JH12 · 28/01/2020 14:40

We have had qwartz worktops and upstands fitted to our new kitchen today. However, I feel the joins are very noticeable. I wasn't expecting them to be completely invisible but was expecting them to be blended in some way. Is this right? Or should I complain? Hopefully pictures included

To ask if this has been done correctly or should I complain?
To ask if this has been done correctly or should I complain?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
19
Andonandonan · 29/01/2020 19:52

However I have a white composite sink and though I love the look of it, that was a mistake as it’s really hard to keep looking clean.

FoxInABox · 29/01/2020 20:07

@Andonandonan thank you, I’m really struggling to decide between them as I keep being told conflicting things.

Andonandonan · 29/01/2020 20:16

@FoxInABox we had the same dilemma. I remember it well! But 100% would always want quartz in a kitchen now as long as budget allowed.

June2008 · 29/01/2020 20:23

These are the joints on our quartz. Very pleased with how they were fitted.
We have no joints on the up stands, unless you have a really long run then you shouldn't need one.

Hope you get it sorted!

To ask if this has been done correctly or should I complain?
To ask if this has been done correctly or should I complain?
ItsASunnyDay · 29/01/2020 20:45

My quartz worktops have a gap but there is a filler in the gap.

genius1308 · 29/01/2020 20:53

I wouldn't be happy with those joins (especially the ones on the uprights) but I'm a little obsessive about 4hings like this and my eye would be drawn to it every time I walked in the room. We had a specialist stone company come and fit our worktops and I specified when I ordered that I didn't want ANY joins. We did have to pay quite a bit more because we have a few long worktops and one is a really funny shape (that was intentional btw) and the said they would cost more to get them in one really large section rathe4 than a few smaller ones that could be joined. Hope you get it sorted, there's nothing worse than spending a lot of money, having a picture in your head of what you're going to get and then it not materialisng.

Barney60 · 29/01/2020 22:47

I worked for a builder they should of been cut at an angle into the corner not in a straight line. yes as others have said edges are mitred as not been fitted right, I would not accept this.

Blacksheepcat · 29/01/2020 23:08

I’m a designer ...this would not be acceptable for me, it would bug the hell out of me. They need to fix it! YANBU

Whyhaveidonethis · 30/01/2020 00:06

I have black quartz and have lived here 5 years and only noticed the join about a year ago! That is wrong.

pam290358 · 30/01/2020 08:24

I had quartz worktops fitted but Wickes and afternoon looking at photos of the various designs in situ, I decided not to go for the upstands because the joints on all of them were much more noticeable than the ones butting together the worktops themselves. If it’s any help, I opted for clear sealer and it’s made the joints almost invisible.

pam290358 · 30/01/2020 08:26

Bloody predictive text !! That first sentence should read ‘fitted by Wickes, and after looking at photos..... ‘ etc., etc. Sorry.

nannieann · 30/01/2020 08:48

Did you pay Howdens for the surfaces? If so contact them now as your contract is with them and make them have the job redone. As other posters have said, the joints in properly fitted natural stone should be barely visible and feel smooth. Your job has not been done correctly, and because of hygiene issues is not fit for purpose.

Christmasgifts · 30/01/2020 13:20

We're in the middle of a kitchen renovation - waiting for our quartz. I've just asked my builder (who also has quartz at home) and he said complain - it's not good at all. There should be a minimal gap, colour matched with resin and siliconed. He said it's not a good finish.

MiniCooperLover · 30/01/2020 14:25

Sorry OP that join doesn't look great. Ours is slab tech and much less expensive but less obvious joins too

To ask if this has been done correctly or should I complain?
To ask if this has been done correctly or should I complain?
Jojo2wyatr · 06/02/2020 19:07

@JH12
I am so disappointed for youSad....you should be tickled pink with your new kitchen after all the time and money you've spent.
To tell you the truth, when I saw how the filler (or whatever it's called)was all wiggly between the upstands and the quartz top, to the right of the sink, I didn't even need to look at the join to tell you that this is NOT a proper install..... installers should have a very steady hand when doing the filler. They know how to apply it so that it isn't all wiggly.... if you'd wanted it wiggly like that, I could have dropped round and done it for you for a fraction of the cost and I'm not even trained. Grin
But, guess what!? Good news! I know you were disappointed when they rung up and said they wouldn't be round until Friday to finish, but that is a blessing in disguise....it gives you extra time to gather all your evidence of jobs done properly especially with all the posters photos on MN!... eventhough you don't need all that evidence because it's quite clear that it is a poor job...not blaming the installer, he was just clearly working above his pay grade... maybe he's new, but that doesnt mean he should be practicing his skills on your new counters....I'm sure you have paid ( or plan to) pay for a top notched job.
Please, please, please get this sorted or else I fear your new kitchen will bother you and the joy will all be sucked right into that unsightly gap..You ARNBU in the least little bit and dont let them make you second guess yourself! You can do this! We're(and even a builder) all mostly all standing behind you....you can also use the power of MNetters to help you as there is nothing better than a good reference for a job well done and I know if one of us needs an installer you'd be glad to recommend yours since they weren't happy until you were happy. And made the whole debacle painless.
I love how you sorted the seam with the bottle of washing up soapGrin good to keep a sense of humour instead of jumping in bed and throwing the duvet over your head!

@Mummymummums 🤣, I got a huge giggle out of seeing the yellow squirt gun that you showed ( by accident, I suppose) . I saw the yellow thing on the right side in your first photo and thought it was a sponge, but in the last photo the truth was revealed 😂 Were you trying to cover up a bad seam with it?
Please excuse all my typos and grammar errors

Mummymummums · 06/02/2020 19:51

Jojo2wyatr lol!!! No - the water pistol is to spray at our cats as they stroll all over the work surfaces, cooker, etc. Drives me nuts. Paw prints everywhere not to mention they bury their own poop! The water pistol makes no difference Grin

Jojo2wyatr · 06/02/2020 22:37

@Mummymummums
That was gonna be my second guess!🤣🤣🤣
Kitty cats can be that way, cheeky little monkeys that they are

Jojo2wyatr · 07/02/2020 04:15

@JH12...I said I noticed the wiggly filler between the up stands and the worktop to the right of the SINK... I meant to say to the right of the COOKTOP.
Sorry if I caused any confusion....when I went back and looked at your photos, the filler looked even more squiggly than I remembered. Gotta be fixed

Jojo2wyatr · 07/02/2020 19:33

@JH12
How did it go today? Hope you are on your way to get that dream kitchen

BenjiB · 07/02/2020 19:56

I have black and you can hardly see the hound. There is black silicone in the gaps.

Original poster
JH12 · 07/02/2020 20:05

Getting absolutely nowhere. All he done is put a bit more silicone down, still looks as bad. Going to complain further but fear I will get nowhere. Have spoken to a specialist to see if anything can be done and he said the only thing we can do is rip it out and start again. In hindsight, we have been a little nieve in not researching it more to start with and are paying the price for it x

OP posts:
BenjiB · 07/02/2020 20:15

@JH12. Do that if you need to. Ours was out if square when it was fitted. My husband is a builder and noticed it immediately. I couldn’t see it though. They offered to re-do it or waive the cost. We opted to keep it . It’s really not noticeable to me so it was win win!

Jojo2wyatr · 07/02/2020 20:17

@JH,
Have you talked with the owner of the company?
It may be time to tell them of the big marketing mistake they are making by not doing a better job of taking care of their customers..i.e.references. Could you get the person who did the rest of the kitchen work to contact the installer for you since the Quartz installers poor job is going to reflect on good guys work on the rest of the room and the overall affect... kinda like having a beautifully made dress on , but the overcoat is poorly made so that the perfect dress isn't even noticed

lilgreen · 07/02/2020 20:17

You’ll always see a join. I think it’s because they are new and you’re focusing on them. I was the same and got them back to check. Now I don’t see it.

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 10/02/2020 14:30

lilgreen if you look at all the other poster's photos you'll see that the join should NOT look like that.
Op- how's it going now?