Electrician has damaged my granite worktop

[Iamnotavicar]

Whilst having some major electrical work done, which finished today, the electrician has damaged my kitchen solid granite worktop. He didn't confess to the damage, we didn't see it until this evening. It's a one inch chunk missing which looks like something was dropped on it, possibly a heavy drill or drill bit where he was working in a tall cupboard above it. It's in an awkward spot on the edge of the sink so will be difficult to repair. We've not been billed yet so haven't paid anything except an initial deposit.

What should I do about compensation or getting it put right? It's a national company and the work wasnt fitting a new kitchen. I'm cheesed off because the company has messed us around months, and now this. How do I prove that they've done it when we didn't spot the damage until this evening?

Where is the chunk? It can be glued back and sealed pretty easily. Real granite is very forgiving and the glue mimics a quartz vein anyway.

To answer question, only proof is before and after pics. It’s good practice to take pics every day before work starts and after it ends.

It's on the edge of my kitchen sink. It's a type of granite without veins, so harder to disguise.

I feel your pain. I had a workman in and he broke my window handle. I’m pretty sure he tried to fix it and then put it back on upside down and it wouldn’t work! He completely denied it. I would start by asking him, tell him it was fine before he visited, I think if he denies it there’s very little you can do. They should have insurance for these things but honestly if they’re going to deny it then you would have a battle on your hands. I suppose it depends how much the cost to you fixing it is and whether it’s worth fighting through small claims court. You could claim in your own insurance maybe? And try and recoup costs. In my case, I managed to fix it myself which is disappointing as he likely could have done the same with a little time and effort.

You’d need to prove that the damage was caused by the workman - do you have such proof? If not, then claim against your house insurance.

This is why you need to be in when you have workmen so you can keep an eye on what they’re doing and close enough to get to them quickly when you hear a loud bang usually meaning they’ve dropped something heavy likely to cause damage. Photos immediately before work also a good idea. Sadly you can’t trust them not to cause damage and not to admit to it!

A Magic Man will fix it invisibly.

Accidents happen, and it's fixable. I don't know think the company will do much though as you have no proof it was the electrician unless he admits it.

Thanks all for the comments. My husband was in at the time and heard a clatter but nothing was confessed and we didn't spot it until later. Lesson learned!

The company should have their own insurance to cover these kind of things.
Any workmen should, company or sole trader!