Hello, I need some advice regarding a countertop vendor. I'll try for the short story version - We have a brand new porcelain farmhouse sink in our kitchen. This sink has a lip which needs to "rest" on the countertops. The contractor came out to measure for the countertops and measured it as if the tops would butt up against the sink rather than fit under. Needless to say, the tops were too short on either side. The contractor and assistant lifted our sink up to fit the tops under them to check fit. The sink slid off the tops and the corner of the sink broke off. He told my husband they could glue it and the backsplash would cover "most of it". I called him to complain that was not acceptable- they broke it, they should replace it, right? He told me it was our fault he didn't measure correctly, therefore it is our fault the sink is broken. If we hadn't "changed our minds" on how it was to be installed then the sink wouldn't have been broken. Does this sound correct to any professionals out there? In my experience, they would be liable for the damages. Isn't that why they carry insurance? Any advice on resolving this issue with him? I've tried to reason and he seems unreasonable. We are still without that portion of our countertops and we still owe them $1,000. Should we hold that money for ransom? PLEASE HELP!!!

How does the contractor justify callin the problem "your fault"? There is nothing in what you wrote that indicates that. There's either something you haven't told us, or the contractor is under a misconception of some kind, but it's impossible to tell which is the case.

I don't believe there is anything I missed. I suppose it is "our fault" because he claims we never told him the sink was to rest on the countertops so that is not how he measured it. Obviously, somewhere there has been a miscommunication on the installation. I would imagine that things change in the field all the time and contractors would be used to rolling with those changes and working accordingly. Am I wrong? Is he not responsible for replacing our sink?

Something doesn't sound right here. He templated the hole for the sink just by measuring it? He didn't actually take the sink and turn it upside down and mark it that way? Even if he just measured it, he would of needed the measurements from somewhere. How did he get the measurements to cut the hole? I don't know of any countertop manufacturer that will cut a sink hole without seeing the sink - if he did then he deserves to pay for the new one.

How are you going to fix the original problem of sink not fitting? Buy a new sink?

Sorry to not have been more clear... The sink doesn't fit into the countertops so they didn't need to cut a hole. It is a farmhouse sink which fits from the wall to the front of the cabinets. This guy fabricated two pieces of countertop (one for either side of the sink) and the sink has a lip on either side which is supposed to rest on top of the counters. He saw the sink when he did his measurements. The problem was that when he measured, he did not take into account that the sink would rest on the counters rather than lay side by side. Hope that makes more sense. Thanks so much for the help!

Clearly, this contractor had had no prior experience with this tyoe of sink installation. If the sink was onsite, no doubt about it it was his fault 100%. Now, making him fix it at his own cost is another thing entirely - start with honey before vinegar - and don't pay the balance until it's completed to your satisfaction or whatever other arrangement is acceptable to you both. Success to you!

Well if he saw the sink when he measured then it should be his responsibility to pay for it.

Thank you for your thoughts. I tried the honey route and I tried to reason with him. He flatout refused to take responsibility for the damage. I've spoken with a contractor friend and he suggested I give him a choice of replacing the sink at his cost or filing a lien or complaint with the BBB. I hope not to have to go to this extreme, but unfortunately I'm not sure he is leaving me much choice. This is a reputable local company so I am amazed he is so delinquent. It seems everyone else sees what the clear resolution is but him (especially other contractors). Ugh! Thanks, again.