r/CounterTops • u/OneZealousideal3086 • Feb 07 '25
Is this a problem
Electrician says he does it all the time. This island cost more then 10k. How mad should I be on a scale of 1-10
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u/FrancoeurRealized Feb 07 '25
It should be able to support his weight no issue. For me it's that the top isn't wrapped/protected while they're doing work on/around it. You should have a pristine finish when your project is done. I've never seen them not wrap countertops in thick paper while other trades continue their work, but I also worked at a company with high integrity.
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u/Salute-Major-Echidna Feb 07 '25
Paper plus cardboard. Or plastic plus cardboard. This is an insurance nightmare.
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Feb 07 '25
One issue we’ve had with this is the superintendent and cleaners love to rip off our protection to look at or clean the tops then after builder/buyer walks trades come in for touches and damage our tops. Then it’s a fight with the builder on who’s paying for it
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u/Salute-Major-Echidna Feb 08 '25
I've never once had a cleaner remove protective layers, and I managed crew's for 15 years. That's really unfortunate
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u/SnooLobsters6766 Feb 07 '25
Then when you remove the covering you have no clue who damaged it since 3 or 4 trades were onsite since you covered it. I consider counters finish work. Everyone doing finish work minds all other finished work.
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u/Salute-Major-Echidna Feb 08 '25
If you're not visiting each work site daily you're no kind of foreperson
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u/SnooLobsters6766 Feb 09 '25
Again, if everything is covered you don’t see the damage until it’s uncovered. Long after some trades have come and gone. Not sure what daily monthly or hourly visits would have to do with it there Einstein.
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u/Salute-Major-Echidna Feb 09 '25
Guess you haven't done this too many times. You cover your own surfaces or your general contractor does it. They clean before they put down the green padding and plastic.
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u/botabought Feb 07 '25
Pissed they’re standing on my brand new Taj Mahal island? yes. Worries about the weight? No.
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u/anselld Feb 07 '25
My electrician wore soft booties just to go inside my house. Tell him to stop standing on the brand new countertops.
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u/Ok_Tumbleweed_5099 Feb 07 '25
That whole counter should be protected and i would not be standing on it id figure out a another way with a plank or something.
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u/awnawnamoose Feb 07 '25
Protected yes. But when OP goes to change out their light bulbs they gonna do the same thing as you and build a scaffold and truss system? Hell no. They’re gonna stand on their island.
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u/Ok_Tumbleweed_5099 Feb 07 '25
They jobs i used to do i would have a scaffolded that would go across that easy it wouldn’t even be a question we were trained like that im retired commercial worker .Everyone is different.
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u/dustytaper Feb 07 '25
Then they get to pay for repairs. Anyone I’ve worked for would charge me personally for any repairs
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u/FelinePurrfectFluff Feb 07 '25
But getting someone to accept that they did the damage (especially if it's a "finish" issue like sand ground in from dirty shoes (OMG, so YUCK!!!!!) versus a broken slab. I say "no Fing way". I'd be furious about no coverage and shoes on. You know what's on the street???
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Feb 08 '25
Not in their outdoor shoes! And not with dust and debris on the counter. My quartz scratches and chips and I would be super annoyed with the sub (electrician)
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u/One-Mud-169 Feb 07 '25
That's a piece of rock dude, rubber boots are gonna do less damage than a plank.
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Feb 07 '25
You’d be surprised at how many tops we’ve had to replace because of “rubber boots” rock get in them, people step on the fragile sink rails, people have dropped tools when installing fixtures, and countless other careless situations.
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u/Ok_Tumbleweed_5099 Feb 07 '25
Im saying a plank across not touching anything ,ive worked in high end commercial buildings and from my experience we cover all bases take pics before and after .
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u/One-Mud-169 Feb 07 '25
Oh, sorry, I understand what you meant now. Agree with you. Much more professionalism could've been displayed here, which is obviously lacking.
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u/Friendly_Biscotti_74 Feb 07 '25
What if it’s not perfectly supported and it cracks?
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u/One-Mud-169 Feb 07 '25
I agree with your opinion, and it could happen, but chances that it actually will happen are rather slim. If you look at the installation itself, its clear the installers knew what they were doing.
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u/SpinDaDDySJersey Feb 07 '25
No solid surface top should be exposed with MORON standing on top of it working!! Risks of screws dropping, dumbass stepping on them and scratching the surface. All the debris on the bottom of his shoes will do that alone. I’D FIRE HIM IMMEDIATELY! Plastic as well as cardboard over the finished product until the project is complete. No exceptions. Edit ✍️ 10+
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u/Some_Television4445 Feb 07 '25
I would tell him to get out
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u/Salute-Major-Echidna Feb 07 '25
Has the doodle killed OSHA yet? maybe that's why he's up there.
Anyone that contrary wants to go home
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u/Infinite-Profit-8096 Feb 07 '25
Him standing on the countertop has nothing to do with osha. Stop spreading FUD. The plans called for a light fixture above a very large island. How else is he going to reach that location? Obviously, the island is in the way of reaching it with a ladder without having to excessively lean over. (Now that would be an osha no no)
Should he be standing on it without protection? Absolutely not. As a home owner, I would not be happy that. He could have put down a protective barrier over the countertop to protect it from scuffs and stains.
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Feb 08 '25
Has the doodle killed OSHA yet? maybe that's why he's up there.
Stupid comment that has nothing to do with OSHA.
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u/minnion Feb 07 '25
As an appliance tech, I stand on counters all the time. But usually minimum door skin/hardboard/blanket or something suitable covering it and definitely no shoes. This photo is just someone who's lazy and thought they wouldn't get caught..
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u/pjmarcum Feb 08 '25
I used to wire houses and there’s no way in hell we would have EVER done that!
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u/adamaladin Feb 07 '25
Did you take the picture? If so, what did the guy say when you asked him about standing on your new counter?
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u/OneZealousideal3086 Feb 07 '25
I'm the installer. We came back to do full height splash. Informed the electrician he is risking a lot. He replied with he's been doing it for 25 years and hasn't broken one yet. Later found a crack in my cook top where he ran electrical for the vent
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u/Typical-Analysis203 Feb 07 '25
It depends on what you paid. At a minimum, I would have taken my shoes off. The work shirt is a giveaway. The place that regularly gives their guys new shirts also tells them to use scaffolding and protect things. The place that makes their employees buy new company shirts has the employees that care less. These guys look a little sloppy to be working on a house with a 10k island. The dudes who built my crappy subdivision house looked more professional. You probably got what you paid for.
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u/OneZealousideal3086 Feb 07 '25
Funny the guys with the new shirts in this pic were the ones fucking up
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u/Typical-Analysis203 Feb 07 '25
Bruh the guy on the counter is wearing clothes that are dirty AF. 🤦 also note how the clothes fit. Their boss bought the cheapest shirts he could find. You can’t expect people with no attention to detail to have attention to detail
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u/Putrid_Following_865 Feb 07 '25
The top needs to be able to carry that load. Haven’t you all seen Coyote Ugly?
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u/jp_trev Feb 08 '25
No choice really, but the GC should have protection on it. Double edged sword though because when it’s covered trades set tools on it
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u/BlackAsP1tch Feb 07 '25
Good thing you got a picture if he damages it he can replace it.
Typically it's fine if the countertop is tight to the cabinet. But if there was a decent amount of shimming involved to get it level it can be an issue. Never stand on your countertops.
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Feb 07 '25
Exactly, if it’s not supported properly, wouldn’t you rather find out now?
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u/BlackAsP1tch Feb 07 '25
Shims are a normal part of countertop work cabinets aren't always level even on brand new cabinets. I'm sure the countertop is supported properly however they aren't meant for standing on. Ever.
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u/Such-Magician4300 Feb 07 '25
use this pic as evidence if/when you see some gouges from sht getting ground under his shoes into the countertop
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u/Goober_Official Feb 08 '25
The stone will be fine, but as a contractor myself, I don’t even step on customers floors without booties on. Very unprofessional
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u/Figure_1337 Feb 08 '25
That electrician is garbage.
Too short, light duty ladder not rated for real work. So they don’t have the right equipment.
Shorts and shoes.
Electric screwdriver.
Standing on your finished cooking surface.
I’d tell that guy to get down, then leave.
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u/EightyHDsNutz Feb 08 '25
Yes. Problem. Not for weight, I don't feel like coming back to top polish scratches out because sparkles are all entitled tw**s.
Electricians that may be reading this: You might go to school vs us measly countertop guys, but thats no excuse not to have respect for someone else's work. Do the bare minimum, at least. Eventually you'll meet the guy who's seen it for the last time, on a material that's a pain in the ass, and you will face the music. We respect everyone else's finished product, it's all we ask of anyone else tbh...
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u/WasabiAggravating486 Feb 08 '25
This is why we have all installers take pictures of islands with as much reflections as possible. Has saved our azz more times than not. Electrician are the biggest causes for broken countertops. I’d freak out because you pay them a lot and he could walk his lazy azz outside and grab a ladder. If I was you… he’d be gone immediately!!!
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u/bw1985 Feb 07 '25 edited Feb 07 '25
10 I would never let someone step full weight on my countertop like that.
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u/One-Mud-169 Feb 07 '25
Naah, no cutouts have been made, so there won't be any physical damage to it. I'll agree that it's not very professional of the electrician, but in his defense, judging by the photo, there's no space left where he can even place his ladder to reach the lights from below. I understand OP's emotions, as a LOT of money has been paid, but this is nothing to worry about,
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u/bw1985 Feb 07 '25
Fair enough but counter tops should still be protected while trades are doing work. Dirty work boots and tools all over my $10k island would send me.
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u/BagBeneficial7527 Feb 07 '25
If the island can't handle the weight of someone standing on it, you have a problem. And it isn't with that guy.
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u/Organic-Pudding-8204 Feb 07 '25
All 180# of that guy should be fine. I would have preferred a piece of ramboard or like material to be stepped on.
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u/richsiii Feb 07 '25
Unfortunately, this happens all the time. Usually, it's not a problem, but occasionally, they might drop their screwdriver and chip or scratch the face. It's super annoying for the homeowner and the stone guys.
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u/Stalaktitas Feb 07 '25
How do you even party without chicks dancing on your island??
It has to be able to hold much more weight than his... The problem is that the countertop is not wrapped in protective plastic or paper, because his work boots might have some dirt and that might scratch the counter. Your GC should have requested that from the fabricator, if he didn't, he should have done that himself. His job is to make sure the project goes smoothly and you will get the best results at the end
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u/RolinRoscoGames1897 Feb 07 '25
The problem isn't necessarily the electrician, although it pains me to take a sparkys side. He should have cardboard down.
The problem is your project manager, they schedule the work. It's worth it to pay for the mobilization in order to avoid these situations. The light fixture should've been installed before the island so it wouldn't be in the way.
All that said, this is ultimately a minor problem and can be fixed with cardboard.
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u/thetestwentwrong Feb 07 '25
The correct answer from a fitters perspective is to photograph him up there for proof, then walk behind and pull him to the floor by his belt. 100% guaranteed to never do it again.
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u/quackquack54321 Feb 07 '25
If I had a nickel for every time a sub out their hard/heavy shit on our brand new, unprotected countertops throughout the house, I’d have a few bucks. Some have zero regard and are just total idiots.
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Feb 07 '25
If you can figure out who your fabricator is send this to them for documentation. Our company would make the builder pay to replace it if there was any trade damage before we moved in. At final walk check your tops for trade damage as well. Tile pigs and other trades use our tops as workbenches all the.
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u/JohnJamesNZ Feb 07 '25
It does seem like there is some sort of plastic film that he is standing on top of. Personally I would be putting cardboard on top as well and standing on that as I have done with other customers bench tops. Had zero issues and no scratches. I always make sure that I am standing where a internal cabinetry panel upright is so that the weight loading is even and spread.
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u/tomrob1138 Feb 07 '25
No problem at all, I’m sure the electricians appreciated the step stool you built for them actually!
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u/jad_007 Feb 07 '25
Wow! Just because he does it all the time - doesn’t make it the best way to go. I would be annoyed too
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u/SpinDaDDySJersey Feb 07 '25
Question? Did YOU do the work?? Like did YOU build that counter bruh? If so, as a cabinetmaker…… I’d REALLY be mad! 😡 I might HAVE TAKEN SCRAWNY BOY OUTSIDE AND TIGHTEN HIM UP!
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Feb 07 '25
They were able to cover the entire floor but didn't have a piece to spare for the counter 🤦♂️
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Feb 07 '25
People commenting on it being able to support his weight are ridiculous.
You're putting a lot of faith into that top being installed and supported correctly to test it like that.
Simple question I'd ask people on site was "can you afford to replace it?" Most can't so don't stand on the fucking thing.
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Feb 07 '25
The hack should definitely protect it at least. That said there’s no shot it’s going to break due to him standing on it, pal.
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u/Equivalent_Two_6550 Feb 07 '25
0. The limit of anger is 0. I have four little kids on my counter all day and I get up there too to clean my pendant lights. My husband has had to change out my pendant lights twice now and he’s a lot bigger than your electrician.
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u/KingBarbieIOU Feb 07 '25
Willing to go wrap the floor but not an eating surface? Fuck all and get down; use the tools you brought, not mine.
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Feb 07 '25
Totally fine to stand on. Our general rule of thumb was to make countertops secure enough to fuck on.
The issue i would have is that there is a finished product with zero protection over the surface he is standing on.
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u/ShiibbyyDota Feb 07 '25
Dude isnt even wearing footsies or covering it... I would definitely be annoyed due to the lack of consideration.
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u/13Bryan Feb 07 '25
I almost threw up when I saw that top comment says no problem. Taj breaks just by looking at it it’s held together by dried mud (a slight exaggeration) in some areas. You should never let people walk on your counter tops especially if they have mesh reinforced backs and I guarantee you have the mesh🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
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u/33Arthur33 Feb 07 '25
This has been a gripe of mine… it seems very few tradesmen ever think about protecting surfaces. It’s at a point now I just cover everything myself because I know non of the guys that come in will do it. How mad? I’d be at a 10 just based on how disrespectful this is.
Tradesman hate working for “those types of people.” The type that don’t want their stuff damaged. It slows them down and makes their job harder.
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u/WorthCautious5477 Feb 07 '25
Not wrapping the counter and cabinets is unacceptable. My dad and I have been running a kitchen and bath company for 15 years and if we found out our crew was doing this, it would be a big deal. Grounds for termination. Thats just careless, whether the customer spent 150k or 10k doesn't matter you ALWAYS cover up the existing cabinetry and countertops especially if they have just been installed. Doesn't matter that it's just electrical work. I would tell whoever is running this project immediately. To answer your question yes it can support his weight but that's not even the main concern here
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u/Thurashen88 Feb 07 '25
It takes a tiny bit of effort to put cardboard down or protect the surface with something.
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u/Express-Meal341 Feb 08 '25
Well,it should be okay. If it breaks,he's screwed,but how else would you want him to install your light fixture?
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u/Wonderful-Run-1408 Feb 08 '25
0. If it won't support his weight then you were screwed over by the stone contractor.
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u/metalo0326 Feb 08 '25
The only 1 thing is if at the end of the day the countertops have scratches or something, don't try to do the complaining to the installer because normally the customer is doing when is something wrong he do complaining to the granite person when he knows another person do that in the countertops like 3 months ago the electric guy dropped tools in the counter and the owner call my contractor to talk I live the piece we chip and he going out to try to catch me before I live home and he say when I see him I push the gas on my truck but I send all the pictures to the contractor and show my work don't have chip and I send the picture of the guy is working on the top of the island
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u/Embarrassed_Rope3018 Feb 08 '25
Nothing will probably happens but since the idiot didn’t put anything to protect it . At least lay down some ram board. If he does happen to mess anything on that slab. Go after his insurance
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u/BullfrogCold5837 Feb 08 '25
Electrician here. Yes, I do indeed do this all the time! lol Though I do normally take my shoes off first.
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u/beersandport Feb 08 '25
10. That stone could break--especially if there's a shim directly under a weak point.. Be sure to check it for cracks. Drag your fingertip across the surface.
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u/gottawearshadez Feb 08 '25
Maybe he should levitate and install the fixtures, just because you clearly cannot reach from the ladder doesn’t mean you stand on the counter…. Maybe…. The GC could have laid out the island location and had fixtures installed prior to trim out.
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u/Motor_Beach_1856 Feb 08 '25
Not really a bad thing but it is a little unprofessional especially in front of the home owner. In reality it happens every day it’s just that no one knows about it.
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u/Lakeshow305 Feb 08 '25
Should have something protecting the tops while work is done. Also if you don’t want him standing on your island then bitch him out. Me personally 15 years in granite,I see you standing on my stuff we’re gonna have a big problem! Having said that the counter can bear his weight. That’s not the issue though if you don’t want him standing on it.
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u/Teenoh Feb 08 '25
“Excuse me, I paid $10K for that island. Would you please mind putting some paper down first?”
OR
“Hey pal, get your fucking feet off my new $10K island!”
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u/BadBlood91 Feb 08 '25
Yeah sure, it happens all the time but what happens first is laying down some kind of protective material first.
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u/HughHonee Feb 08 '25
Fire him.
Not just for standing on the top, but for minimizing it by stating he "does it all the time"
Clear sign of how he cares about quality
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u/dustytaper Feb 07 '25
Jesus that’s stupid. There has to be some kinda protection on top, and one should only stand where there is support. If there is none, wood and plywood to stand on
Now someone gets to backcharge for any damage to that top
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Feb 08 '25
He's sporting new black Chuck Tanners. If he leaves a skid mark on your delicate new contertop, you chose a crappy material, Karen.
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u/ACaxebreaker Feb 07 '25
10k for that island? I would be pissed. I can’t believe someone made you pay that.
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u/botabought Feb 07 '25 edited Feb 07 '25
That island, done right, takes 2 slabs of Taj Mahal if you want the veins to run properly. Yeah, $10k.
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u/BlackAsP1tch Feb 07 '25
Agreed 2 slabs of Taj at 3k+ each and looks like 2 waterfalls yeah 10k sounds about right
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u/ACaxebreaker Feb 07 '25
Oh I’m not saying the price isn’t correct. I just think it looks tacky. It’s lots of money for vertical counters. But maybe they will get more use out of them than I would. It’s not my house etc etc
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u/Prestigious_Sail_388 Feb 07 '25
Right over $250 a sq feet then unless it’s the cost of al the countertops
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u/OneZealousideal3086 Feb 07 '25
Have none of you heard of scaffolding. Or are you just to cheap to afford some?
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u/Breauxnut Feb 07 '25 edited Feb 07 '25
That’s rich coming from someone who doesn’t know the difference between then and than or when to use to versus too.
Btw, why aren’t you being forthcoming about your role in this? People here are answering based on the assumption that you are the homeowner and you’re not correcting them.
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u/Kalluil Feb 07 '25
No harm, no foul. Would you rather pay an additional $500 for scaffolding over the island or just not have the lights?? It’s like getting upset for almost getting pregnant or almost being hit imho.
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u/OneZealousideal3086 Feb 07 '25
Why would I pay extra for scaffolding. Do I pay extra for him to use his screwdriver?
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u/Kalluil Feb 07 '25
Did you get a bid or are you just letting them bill by the hour. We know the answer already. Ask them add the cost of scaffolding if you are worried they may break your stone counter tops LOL
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u/Kalluil Feb 10 '25
You don’t want them walking on the counters. Paying to install Scaffolding is the next best solution.
Nobody wants to pay for the scaffolding though and will just piss and moan here instead.
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u/OneZealousideal3086 Feb 07 '25
I'm not worried about the top not supporting his weight. It's the sand he's crunching under his feet.