UPGRADE YOUR KITCHEN

One of the first projects I initiated when I stopped working was a multiyear, holistic effort to improve our living space - the home that I sometimes refer to as the LaFrance Building.

Not that anything is ever "complete" but last week we sealed the kitchen deal with a new granite countertop and faucet. And as I near the final phases of this project, let me declare my gratitude for the evolved and now seemingly infinite patience that my wife Sue now has. (Or seems to have.)

Why granite? Because 600,000,000 year old granite from Angola, on the West coast of South Central Africa that looks like a night sky pver the savannah - full of iridescent blue, twinkling stars - is so much neater to have than the green formica we bought from Heckingers 25 years ago.

Regardless of how absurd the process and cost was. How absurd you ask?

Absurdity 1 - the cost: How many times do I pay for the piece of granite that I never see - i.e., the hole where the sink goes? First you pay for the stone that will be cut out for your sink, then you pay to have it cut out, then for the final insult, they refuse to provide you with the cut out piece.

Absurdity 2 - the value not added: Home Depot (HD) explains how they will be the single point of contact for all elements of the job, and you tell them that is the reason I am buying from you. However, that is precisely what DOES NOT HAPPEN. Not only do you become the middleman between the plumber and the stone people, but you quickly become the one with more knowledge and experience than your Home Depot "single point of contact".

Absurdity 3 - House Crafters: HD uses a group called House Crafters to take care of the prep and plumbing. However, after Jason comes out to look at the site and talk to me about what is involved, he calls me later that day to say "The job is too small. My boss says we won't do it".
Sorry. End of involvement. They dropped the ball so completely, that it was left to ME to contact my "single point of contact" with the news. To HD's credit, they lined up another plumber and again reiterated that they would take responsibility for scheduling and coordination.

Absurdity 4 - The Schedule: HD schedules the plumber to arrive the same day as the granite. Problem is that according to the granite guys at Innovative Stone, you have to wait 24 hours for the silicone around the sink to set before hooking up the plumbing. So guess who has to contact HD again with the news flash. Ten minutes after I call HD, the plumber calls me to ask what I want. Tell me again what value HD is providing.

Absurdity 5 - The measurements: Does anyone check their work anymore ? In spite of all efforts to ensure that the template is accurately measured, and that the sketch reflects my requirements, and the review and sign off reiterates the key elements, such as the part that reads, "add 3/4 inch overhang on BOTH sides", the stone arrives, 3/4" short.

I am pissed. But after huddling with the design team (me) and the general contractor/single point of contact (me), I chose to forgo an overhang on the end next to the stove and negotiated a $200 credit. This seemed a better choice than to send the stone back and camp out for another 2 weeks without kitchen plumbing.

So bottom line... We have a beautiful stone and an upgraded kitchen - and we are happy. The stone was scribed to match the irregularities of the kitchen wall perfectly. Home Depot did not provide all they said they would but in retrospect and with what I learned along the way, I didn't really need them. The folks from Innovative Stone get mixed reviews. The guys that installed the countertop were nice to work with and were competent but overall, the company doesn't communicate well with the homeowner and has quality control problems. The best of the bunch was Mike from P&L plumbing, who attached my faucet and drain. He arrived on time and did a great job hooking things up.