Countertops

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Always get at least three bids when doing any renovations or home improvements. If there's a local granite supplier/installer, be sure to contact them as well.

Lowe's and Home Depot are great because of the insurance they carry. It's been pretty well documented over the years but I've done a ridiculous amount of renovations to my home over the past ten years. I had a bad situation with Lowe's but because of their insurance, it was resolved to my satisfaction.

In July 2003, we hired Lowe's to install our kitchen cabinets. We had torn out a wall in order to expand the kitchen by 12 feet and I basically designed the room myself. Lowe's came out, took measurements, then put them into their computer incorrectly and had to come out again. The cabinets were ordered (the same exact cabinets at a local business cost $5k more) and they sent our their installers.

I had several crews working that day and was managing everyone. One of the Lowe's guys smelled like he had been drinking, which wasn't good. Anyway, they installed the cabinets and they looked great. Then came the time to install the pulls (handles). Well, the drunk guy did them and on every single cabinet and drawer, they were crooked! Every stinkin' one. So I called Lowe's and they sent out their head contractor.

He checked everything out and agreed they were a mess. So, Lowe's ordered all new doors and drawer fronts, which took another month. So by October, my kitchen wasn't complete. Finally, the cabinet and drawer faces came in November and another crew was sent out in which they were "mostly" put on correctly. So more faces were ordered and I finally had the manager out to my home to check everything out. He agreed that the work was shoddy and offered to refund my entire installation fee, which was $2500 dollars. I agreed and we've had a fully intact kitchen since late December 2003.

I've had some absolutely terrible experiences with contractors, where they don't finish the job or do it so poorly that the work has had to be re-done. But thanks to Lowe's and their insurance, the job was finally done correctly.

Good luck!

The reason you've had so many troubles is because Lowes and Home Depot pay their contractors about 1/3rd of what I need to make on a job. I couldn't survive if I had to live off their labor wages. So, guess who you get working on those jobs? I'm not saying every one of my guys pisses clean but I make sure they aren't using crap on my job site.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Phobia

The reason you've had so many troubles is because Lowes and Home Depot pay their contractors about 1/3rd of what I need to make on a job. I couldn't survive if I had to live off their labor wages. So, guess who you get working on those jobs? I'm not saying every one of my guys pisses clean but I make sure they aren't using crap on my job site.

It was just the one job but I'm glad that I used them because my experience with other contractors at the time was far worse. It's much different out here, especially at that time, when everyone was looking to flip houses, than in your area.

I've known plenty of people that have used Lowe's and Home Depot's contractors without a hitch. And I've known tons of people that have been royally ****ed over by their "legitimate" contractors.

After all of that, I've had the same contractor since 2004 and he's addressed any issues that we may have had after the work had been completed.

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

It was just the one job but I'm glad that I used them because my experience with other contractors at the time was far worse. It's much different out here, especially at that time, when everyone was looking to flip houses, than in your area.

I've known plenty of people that have used Lowe's and Home Depot's contractors without a hitch. And I've known tons of people that have been royally ****ed over by their "legitimate" contractors.

After all of that, I've had the same contractor since 2004 and he's addressed any issues that we may have had after the work had been completed.

It's a tough business. Very tough. I wish I could find something equally rewarding to pay my bills. But I think the housing market is finally coming back around here and my prices will fall more in line with what they used to be so I can finally buy a new truck after 8 years of driving the same rig.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Phobia

The reason you've had so many troubles is because Lowes and Home Depot pay their contractors about 1/3rd of what I need to make on a job. I couldn't survive if I had to live off their labor wages. So, guess who you get working on those jobs? I'm not saying every one of my guys pisses clean but I make sure they aren't using crap on my job site.

Ive used Lowes a few times with no problems.......but yea, its the nature of your line of work. Its not exactly a profession that draws "high character" guys. No offense. Ill bet its tough finding dependable, hard working guys.

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Ive used Lowes a few times with no problems.......but yea, its the nature of your line of work. Its not exactly a profession that draws "high character" guys. No offense. Ill bet its tough finding dependable, hard working guys.

Even the good ones I want to keep around have their fair share of issues. I mean, I do too but I'm not a drunk, druggy, felon, single-parent, no transportation, kind of guy. Every single laborer/carpenter/painter/drywaller/mason in this business has some kind of red-flag issue that makes them difficult to employ. It's brutal.