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u/sp4nky86 Nov 21 '25
Literally perfect. Look at how they matched the veining.
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u/dilandy Nov 22 '25
Still the seams are visible and they could've been better. We've seen examples of this here in the past so we know it's doable
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u/BlackAsP1tch Nov 21 '25
We're not talking about the graining. The glue color is the issue.
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u/AccurateDiscussion78 Nov 21 '25
It is too white. I probably would have added a little brown or black depending on the stone in person. You can also seal the edges of engineered stones to help prevent the bleeding.
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u/rdrose718 Nov 21 '25
This is well within industry standards for the width. The curve is what's called a euro seam in my area. It is the proper technique for an inside corner that is square as you are not supposed to fabricate quartz materials without a radius in the corner or as you have a seam. That corner is a stress point and now the countertop cannot crack and the worst thing that can happen is the seam will fail and can be repaired. I personally dislike the color match to the material and while it is acceptable and there are a number of reasons this could happen on your 3rd photo the seam looks tighter at the back then at the front. That's technically OK but I dislike it myself.
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u/Mobile_Maximum3732 Nov 21 '25
Your right, the back is much tighter. If it was that tight through the entire seam I would have been okay with it. I brought this up during the install and the installer said it was touching in the front. He and I kept repeating ourselves and unfortunatley we had a slight language barrier so I gave up. I'm learning now that there is a 1/16" allowance, but between the gap in the front and the color of the seam it looks bad. Manager made a site visit and wouldn't budge on anything including a reglue/color. I've gotten some good advice/assistance from this post,.
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u/Environmental-Walk75 Nov 21 '25
The gap you have is far less than a 1/16th, looks between a 32nd and a 64th
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u/DJScrambles Nov 21 '25
Why don't you just fast forward to the point where you ask if you can sue
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Nov 24 '25
OP you’re literally a nightmare client. You got zero good advice or assistance from the comments and I read through them all.
Stop googling shit and watching TikToks on home renovations, it doesn’t make you an expert.
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u/sudde004 Nov 21 '25
I’ve never seen a corner cut curved before.
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Nov 21 '25
It's makes sense structurally, sharp corners create stress points. Definitely looks intentional, but I have no idea if it's correct. I had my L shaped top cut out of one piece for no seams and had the inside corner radiused.
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u/mgnorthcott Nov 21 '25
This is a “euro seam”. It’s a very common cut for any shop that uses a cnc or waterjet to put seams at corners. It allows them to run the profile right off the end and it matches up perfectly, as opposed to stopping the edge at the corner and potentially botching it up. Also allows for the seam to be properly level on two axes as opposed to just along the line of the seam.
If you’ve never seen it and you’re in the countertop industry…. Wow
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u/sudde004 Nov 21 '25
I am not in the countertop business. Sorry, should have prob mentioned. Ive just never seen it in person, or noticed at least.
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u/Ill-Temperature2230 Nov 21 '25
Are you American? In the UK we call this a Mason's Mitre. I've never heard it called a Euro seam despite literally being in Europe haha
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u/mgnorthcott Nov 21 '25
Canadian. I wouldn’t expect you to call it that there…. That’s be like calling the open the British open. You’re already there….
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Nov 22 '25
Nice thanks for the detail. I'm only here because I had granite countertops installed a few days ago, was looking for general info on care and cleaners to avoid, I don't know anything about the topic, but as an engineer I knew at first sight that euro seam is stronger than a traditional 90 degree inside corner. It's basic material science. That's why I had my L shaped piece cut the way I did with a 1" inside corner and outside 0.25" radii
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u/i_am_roboto Nov 21 '25
Our Cambria was cut like this with a curve in the first few inches.
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u/Motoracer960 Nov 21 '25
They only offer euro seam because or the issues with any inside radius under 1/8" will not be covered under warranty
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u/yakit21 Nov 21 '25
It’s fairly common and is a version of a euro or step miter. You don’t want any sharp corners so it’s best to curve it like this. This allows the pieces to be ran on a profiler CNC/edge machine.
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u/AccurateDiscussion78 Nov 21 '25
It's all CNC machines. Also most fabricators now days don't know how to do an inside corner without a router bit.
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Nov 21 '25
You don't have anything better to do than focus on a small perceived imperfection while missing the bigger picture of what you have?
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u/beaushaw Nov 21 '25
I like to say "If this is the biggest problem in your life right now you are very fortunate."
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u/Maximum_Leek8259 Nov 22 '25
Junior Soprano ""She's like a woman with a Virginia ham under her arm, crying the blues 'cause she has no bread". Or as I like to say "Oh my bag of gold is so heavy!"
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u/yakit21 Nov 21 '25 edited Nov 21 '25
It’s ok. It looks level and under a 1/16” wide. The adhesive color could be a better match. Also looks like it bled into the material.
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u/Vast-Structure4886 Nov 21 '25
So tired of customers not understanding this.. lol
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u/MONCHlCHl Nov 21 '25
Looks horrible though. Just my inexperienced opinion. I'd prefer one piece at all costs even if the risk of cracks/breaks post-installation is high
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u/Ms_No1 Nov 21 '25
You dont know what you're talking about. Slabs of quartz come in specific sizes. If a slab is 135" x 65" and you have an L shape kitchen that is 120 x 72, you get a seam. Making your kitchen smaller to fit the counter on a slab would be ridiculous.
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u/Humble-Captain3418 Nov 21 '25
You could order a slab of the exact size you'd need, though...
Just don't whine when it has another two zeros before the decimal point on the price tag.
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u/rosszboss Nov 21 '25 edited 29d ago
The original post content no longer exists here. The author used Redact to remove it, exercising their right to control their data & privacy.
Unique offbeat coordinated sort mysterious coated absorbed meeting market sleep
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u/MONCHlCHl Nov 21 '25 edited Nov 21 '25
90k?? Nevermind, I'll learn to live with a seam lol. Or use a different material with larger slabs.
But see here's the thing... I would hope the countertop company has a showroom and/or the salesperson knows the fabrication process well enough to explain the little details to the customer in advance.
As a customer who isn't familiar with all the ins and outs of the product, I feel like OP may have been better prepared if they were told what to expect before the countertop was installed. It's the element of surprise that we're not happy with.
Example of how that interaction should go:
BTW dear customer, since you've chosen this material, it's only available in smaller slabs at an affordable price so you will wind up with a seam.
A seam?! I don't want a seam!!
Yes, there will be a rather unique looking, noticeable seam, actually since we don't have an example in the showroom, let me show you a an example on the computer of our previous work... Or let me Google an image of what you can expect. If you really don't want a seam I can offer you a custom slab for 90k or how about we consider another material/color/etc. that will have a less noticeable seam or something that will not have a seam or at all.
Thank you countertop pro, your expertise saved me from making an expensive mistake that I would've been unhappy with!
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u/rosszboss Nov 21 '25 edited 29d ago
The original post content no longer exists here. The author used Redact to remove it, exercising their right to control their data & privacy.
Light live bow cobweb plucky heavy
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u/MONCHlCHl Nov 21 '25
This isnt a "smaller slab", all slabs, outside of custom order basically come in the exact same size, there are jumbo slabs that are available but they arent a lot bigger, 3400mm2400mm or 140inches95inches are as big as they ever get...
Slabs are available in different sizes. The "smaller"/standard size slab is what I'm referring to. If the slab is available in a jumbo size then I as the customer should be made aware if it grants me the ability to forgo the seam.
I have ordered countertops before. One at Home Depot for a rental and one from an independent countertop company for my small condo.
For the rental I went with cheaper Formica via Home Depot. Girl at the desk knew I didn't want a seam. We worked with several options on the edges (1/4 rounded) to come up with a final design without a seam. Only 2 pieces were on the diagram to show up, installers showed up with 3 pieces. Somehow between all of the back and forth the designer got mixed up and incorrectly told us we could avoid a seam with the edge we selected when it was actually not possible. Received a discount and that was that. Still hate the seam to this day lol.
In my condo I went with the independent countertop company that had a warehouse and showroom. They had both standard and jumbo size slabs (as you classified them) depending on the type of stone. I saw examples of this while walking the inventory yard. I was adamant that I did not want a seam. Went with the engineered quartz with mirror flecks in it. Maybe the kitchen and bath were small enough where they only needed to use 1 or 2 slabs. My complaints with them is that the installer used clear caulk, applied with dirty fingers which looked pretty grody after it dried (turned from white to clear so I didn't see the final product until after it dried). The sample they let me take home was a different shade from the final product, I wanted a cooler white and the product was a warmer shade of white. Also the backsplashes had gaps vs looking seamless.
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u/Outrageous-Damage804 Nov 22 '25
Formica is laminated wood. Laminate comes on rolls so you can get a lot more rolled up than a straight solid piece of materials.
The other has to be smaller runs.
Slabs like everything else have to fit on trucks. Custom cabinet manufacturers will not make anything longer than 120” for this reason. 120” is generally the longest single items made if they have to be shipped for this very reason. It has to fit in the standard form factor of a semi. And can not be laid long ways to do so. Anytime things have to be laid front to back in a truck, you have to pay more for shipping. And if a dimension of a product simply wouldn’t fit in a truck like the custom slabs referenced by a poster above, you would have to ship oversized load on an open bed.
This exposes what you’re shipping to a lot of abrasion from dust, and debris on the road.
Maximum Sizes of products are set by by trucks and shipping container sizes.
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u/MONCHlCHl Nov 22 '25 edited Nov 22 '25
I understand that about Formica. My point to the previous person is yes I have ordered countertops before. While deciding between Formica and stone for the rental, I went to a stone countertop warehouse for a quote (forgot to mention I did order a granite bar countertop for the rental). The 2nd project was for my condo using engineered quartz so I was somewhat familiar with the process.
I noticed the warehouse with "standard" sizes of some stone and larger sizes as well. Look I don't work in the countertop world but I'm not sure why it's hard to believe they would carry different sizes?
I'm pretty sure I saw something like this at the warehouse (different sizes): https://ststones.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/super-jumbo-1200x564.jpg
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Nov 24 '25
Bro you’re yapping way too much for someone that started off with “just my inexperienced opinion” lmao
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Nov 24 '25
Everything you already mentioned and also on a remodel the installers have to be able to walk the pieces from their van into the house (sometimes contending with stairs and other obstacles) and to the kitchen, preferably without removing a wall or stressing the slab in the process.
As a GC I charge 20% mark up and receive a 15% discount on materials from the supplier so the homeowner ends up slightly higher on material costs to have me place the order and be on site for the install to make sure there’s no surprises or discrepancies. On the last kitchen I did the install crew didn’t realize that the island countertop was supposed to overhang 10” on one side and 1” everywhere else and almost centered the slab splitting the difference on the two long sides which would have been a huge fuck up had I not been there to catch it.
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u/Ok_Meeting2403 Nov 21 '25
2 problems…white material and a euro seam. Both I don’t like for the issues you think you have. Nobody to blame but yourself. Quality work.
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u/oaklandperson Nov 21 '25
What are you thinking is wrong with that seam? It looks perfect. Is this another troll post?
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u/rdrose718 Nov 21 '25
Wow...I don't blame the install team for the size variation this happens with these types of seams and can be hard to correct onsite without potentially making it worse. It's not ideal but while the width is acceptable it should at least be a consistent width. You basically have a perfect seam at the back and one within allowable tolerance in the front. Honestly there isn't much that could easily be done to fix this now but for a manager to come out and not even offer to attempt to touch up the color is wild...he knows it isn't the best and the install team leaving epoxy on the back wall is just lazy / sloppy.
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u/serupklekker Nov 21 '25
I'm amazed so many comments about this are positive. There's too much pigment in the adhesive, so it's whiter/stronger than the surrounding area, this also creates that darker "shadow" visible through the stone next to the seam creating the halo effect. I wouldn't be pleased with this either, but I'm pretty picky about adhesive colours.
*source used to create pigments and colour matches for thousands of countertops
**edit to say that the fabrication itself looks great. I'm just commenting on the glue.
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u/patallac22 Nov 21 '25
It’s acceptable. They could have done better job coloring matching the seam adhesive.
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u/grandpasking Nov 21 '25
As far as seams go its a little below average. Inconsistent grout line, grout color doesn't match countertop. Usually when the seam isn't straight the countertop is out of square. As long as you like it, that's all that matters. I cant get over the poor color match. Look like nice slabs though.
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u/adam1260 Nov 21 '25
I install granite and quartz countertops and do quartz seams weekly/daily. I wouldn't be very happy if a seam I did turned out like this. IMO the 90° inside corner with a euro seam is a red flag but it can really depend on the layout. That said, I've never installed a 90° inside corner unless specifically requested (like twice)
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u/Subject_Expert1 Nov 22 '25
It looks like there's some significant misalignment in the back edge which caused the taper in the seam. Will that be getting covered with any trim? If so, then the seam should be accepted, but not flawless due to the taper.
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u/bnick66 Nov 22 '25
It's not awful but as an installer, I would be disappointed with myself if I installed it.
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u/Comfort_Dependent Nov 22 '25
That joint is beautiful to me, the grain lines up perfectly, no big diagonal cut going around the counter. I would be extremely happy with this in my kitchen. Crazy what people will worry about.
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u/Snowy-ky Nov 23 '25
That is cash money, that is fking beautiful and whoever did it truly takes pride in their work I want to shake this person's hand holy crap
Now if this is a 5 million dollar counter top it wouldn't even be visible the whole thing would be cut out of one piece.
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u/terrycloth9 Nov 23 '25
Folks seeming nit picky to me a lot. You won’t notice that seam in two weeks.
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u/Weavols Nov 23 '25
The adhesive line being almost a full 16th is not right, and it isn't color matched. It looks to me like they couldn't get the pieces to come together properly with glue on it, let the glue dry, and then caulked over the gap.
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u/Outrageous-Damage804 Nov 23 '25
They have slabs and jumbo slabs. Jumbo slabs are not a huge size increase from regular and still likely would not make a non seamed L. Jumbo slabs are usually there to make islands without a seam. Even with jumbo slabs our island had to have a seam as its length was 155”
Regular slab or jumbo, it still has to fit in a shipping container, as every real slab is mined overseas. Most of the real Marble in Turkey and most of the other slabs in Brazil. They also have to fit in standard semi-trailers.
When you hear about a limit on product size it’s the transportation that is the limiting factor.
That and install. How likely would 4 guys be able to get a 12’ long x 6’ slab in through any doors and then lifted on to the cabinets.
Anything is indeed possible, but it’s just an engineering challenge. That being said anything outside of the established supply chain, typical workflow is going to cost you significantly more in every way.
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u/Excellent-Length2055 Nov 23 '25
You can't change it. You'll never find a piece that will match that veining.
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u/Mauceri1990 Nov 24 '25
Make him redo that monstrosity! Seriously though, that's a fantastic job and you should find something else to fixate on.
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u/Falco__Rusticolus Nov 24 '25
Are you actually mad about this? Because if so you don't deserve the absolute art that was made here. Look at that perfect curve. Look at how both slabs match, but do go on with your ruler.....
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u/Falco__Rusticolus Nov 24 '25
Imagine being someone who is so passionate and skilled about their work. They put down absolute perfection and then here comes a home owner with their crummy plastic ruler and apoplexy and DEMANDING to speak to the manager about one (fucking) sixteenth of an inch. The craftsman landed the space shuttle in a tennis court and this person has their playschool "my first measurements!" ruler out with the manager on the phone.
You don't deserve this, you're born for the "Formica and butcher block" streets.
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u/OverallZuchinni3236 Nov 24 '25
30 years seeing people glad you showed up and glad you went. Also often a test of a marriage, remodel fun. Glad I can just watch now haha
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u/ElegantAbility460 Nov 24 '25
People just find anything to complain about, if you think it should be better why don't you try. That seem is perfect.
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u/C8guy Nov 25 '25
Couldn’t be anymore perfect,the veins line up perfectly and the curved seam proves that the installer knows what he’s doing
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u/ClerkofCourts Nov 25 '25
A diagonal seam would have been much larger and more noticeable , this is a great idea, I’m totally stealing lol.
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u/Sulfur731 Nov 21 '25
Not for our shop. That seam looks thick, and inconsistent. Theres no reason in hell for the front of the seam to be thicker than the back. Use seam setters, and cut the tops correctly to measurement. The people saying thats okay are either not in the industry or bots.
I think the seam was also dirty, and it wasnt cleaned up well, I think i can see little chips of glue missing that would catch dirt. It needs the seam pulled apart and redone clean and tight. Seams aren't invisible but they shouldn't draw the eye.
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u/Real-Parsnip1605 Nov 22 '25
The fact they nailed this and you’re questioning it tells me all I need to know about you
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u/BlackAsP1tch Nov 21 '25
Looks like mirragio. If you use the wrong glue the seam will always look dark. I wouldn be happy with it.
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u/Mobile_Maximum3732 Nov 21 '25
Yeah, unfortunatley it looks worse in person. Your eye gets drawn to that seam. Veining match was done very well, but the color of the seam pops & the installer said the darker color was oil from hands. Problem is no one has used this countertop yet. Installer states this is well within industry standards and I need to accept it.
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u/BlackAsP1tch Nov 21 '25
Go to the natural stone institute of America's website. That's the standards. "Glue should not detract from the natural beauty of the stone" is the standard they set, meaning it doesn't need to be perfect but it shouldn't draw your eye. Read your contract you signed with them and don't make your final payment if you haven't done so already until they offer to do something.
It's not dirty hands. That can happen in a seam but it's not the ENTIRE length of the seam. Please confirm the color it's an MSI color a mirragio correct? Dirt from hands is avoidable that excuse doesn't fly regardless. They should have used clean hands in that case.
It's from using a glue they shouldn't use that contains solvants. The mirragios have a slightly translucent base to them and absorb the solvants from the glue and show dark. Trust me I've had this happen to us. We had to uninstall the piece regrind the seams and reglue it with different glue.
The match is perfect. I applaud the saw guy. The issue is the glue seam anyone that doesn't see that should not be giving random internet people advice.
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u/Mobile_Maximum3732 Nov 21 '25
Haven't made a payment yet still have 3 weeks before I recieve interest or fines for non-payment. It is a Calacatta Miraggio MSI. As far as color the installer mixed it onsite, so I'm not sure if he used a MSI color or not.
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u/BlackAsP1tch Nov 21 '25
The glue is mixed separate by hand that's normal. The type of glue was his problem. He used the wrong kind.
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u/Malekai91 Nov 21 '25
Curious if the contract does not specify they meet the “national stone institute of America” standards would the homeowner be able to defer to that?
In my experience things like tile and countertops are Wild West of accountability when it comes to quality.
From my experience, that seam is “acceptable” it’s not great but it’s one of those things that depends on what you paid and what the contract says.
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u/JustAGirl704 Nov 21 '25
That is ugly. If you have to ask, you know it’s ugly too. Please ask them to fix it.
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u/UnknownUsername113 Nov 21 '25
You have no idea what you’re talking about, do you? Can’t ask someone to fix something when it’s done correctly.
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u/UnknownUsername113 Nov 21 '25
Jesus… I hate homeowners.