Opinion on Worktops (supplier screw up)

[CVML]

Hi Mumsnetters,

Will start by saying I realise this is a ‘small/trivial’ problem, but hoping for a bit of input to help straighten out my thoughts.

Moved into a new property last year and finally got the new kitchen installed in June. We designed it all with various different suppliers, and sourced the quartz separately (based on price and recommendations).

The week before the quartz fitting we went to the store to pay the deposit and confirm exactly what we wanted. We went for a 30mm worktop with backsplash and upstand. We specified (and double checked) that the upstand would be 100mm (he said that was the norm but they sometimes do 80mm) as we felt it would look more ‘elegant’ and was the same as the examples in the store.

There were issues on the day (the people who measured for the sink position wrong), but this was sorted quite quickly with them cutting a new piece of quartz. We’d left the remaining payment with the builder so when it was fitted they took the money and left.

We visited the house that evening and the first thing I noticed was that the upstand looked short. My partner didn’t see a problem as such, but we measured and it was 75mm (and to me, when it’s thick - it looked a bit stumpy). It wasn’t awful, but just not what I expected and wasn’t happy when we’d specified that measurement.

We messaged the supplier to ask about it and got no response, and had to chase a few times before we did. He ultimately responded saying he’d changed it to fit with the doors (to me you should ask the question before making a change when we’d specified what we wanted). When we asked which doors he said all of them. It felt like we were being brushed off. He eventually offered to change it when he was next fitting that worktop (I guess using off cuts), but having messaged to check in on this he hasn’t responded.

I’m now at a point where I’ve been looking at the worktops for a month and am used to them, but also aware that they looked short to me, and not exactly as I’d intended. They weren’t cheap and I’m not happy having paid that money to have a mistake made and not rectified. Of course he may genuinely changed them to fit with the doors, not being an expert it’s hard to know how they should look, but at the time (and especially given his responses since) it felt like he was making an excuse.

We have yet to decorate and appreciate that might change things - but wondering if anyone has any thoughts/opinions (have you had worktops fitted before, it is worth chasing to make things right, does it actually look better as they are)? I’ve attached some photos of how they looked (it does look better with stuff in the room now). I appreciate it’s a very small difference but it’s bothering me as to whether I should just leave it or try to get what we originally asked for (even on principle). Is it even worth the hassle?

Thanks in advance!

I think they look short, yes, I’d want what I paid for.

It looks a bit of a meh width so yes I would want them changed to the full width you asked for. I presume the idea is to give your walls more protection from splashes?
I also don't know how the doors would have any impact on the width of the upstand. Has he tried to match it to the borders on the doors?

I think they look just fine. It’s beautiful. I wouldn’t stress if I were you.

You’ll end up with splash marks on the wall behind the sink with it being that low.

Aren't the upstands supposedl to be the other way, i.e. vertical like a skirting board? They are normally thinner material maybe 18/20mm as well, or you lose too much worktop space. Like this.

Yes, for more protection - but also just the appearance. We felt taller would look a bit smarter especially with the upstand behind the hob. It definitely doesn't match anything on the doors (is it supposed to?!), but maybe he meant because the outer bit was thin we should've kept them shorter. Personally I think it was bu*sit as lack of responses afterwards indicated he didn't want to engage (I think that's what's made me particularly mad about it).

But also why do you need both an upstand and splashback, surely you'd have one or the other for a neat look.

Yes they upstands are 20mm thick (main worktop is 30mm). I almost feel they look thicker because they are shorter? I sort of wanted them to be in line with the main bulk of the tap (would have been if they'd been 100mm).

@NotMeNoNo we didn't feel we needed (and to be honest didn't want to pay the big price increase for) full height all round - only for protection behind the hob. What height are yours out of interest? They look nice!

I think go back to showroom with pictures and measurements. I wouldn't be happy with that thick bit of quartz around the back of my worktops, it's been put in completely wrong. A splashback on its own should be enough protection though.

I wouldn't want the short ones. Ours go all the way up, and I must say they do a job, often needing to be wiped down. I'd hate a painted wall. Good luck. It sounds like the supplier doesn't have much integrity.

The shadow on the first picture makes it look like the upstand height is the thickness of the worktop... but it isn't, thats just a trick of the light.
When you look at the other pictures, it does look slightly shorter than average, but if you seperate put the being-annoyed at the fitter from what it actually looks like, its really not worth the stress - nobody will notice except you and the people you point it out to!

I’d notice it, but mine are 120 , so quite tall, the ops look short and dumpy.

@Staunchlystarling my first thought too - it’s frustrating as they now look ‘normal’ to me so good to get some fresh perspective!

Sorry, I think I had my wrong glasses on last night! I was misled by the shadow. The upstands along most of the worktop and the splashback at the hob. They look fine.
The pic I attached was just a Google image. We do have upstands in our kitchen (laminate) they are probably only 75mm but they do the main job of protecting the wall from being scuffed by things pushed against it.
The wall does get a bit splashed near the sink but it can be wiped or if necessary quickly repainted.
Probably still worth a discussion with supplier but it might make more mess changing it.

it looks ok but it would bother me if it wasn’t what you wanted so I’d push to have it re-done.
Can I ask where your tap is from?

Write to them-recorded delivery-reminding them what was agreed and what they delivered. Ask for it to be redone or you'll go to the small claims court.

They look the wrong way round to me as well, they should be upstanding not flat

Look carefully, it's a shadow cast by the wall units giving that illusion.

Yes, it is a shadow isn't it, I did have to squint a bit to see, it's like one of those optical illusion things or maybe just my eyesight

Apologies OP

I don’t think they look terrible but you should get what you wanted and paid for. That’s the whole point about getting a bespoke kitchen/worktop.

There's a shadow which makes it look like they're lying down. I made the same mistake and was so confused how they'd got it so wrong. Open the pic up and look at the 2nd pic to break the optical illusion