I just had new mid grade KCMA certified maple wood kitchen cabinets from a major nationwide manufacturer installed last week and I’m noticing a few defects already. First, there is some de-lamination/peeling on the inside top part of one cabinet. I notified the dealer/kitchen designer and a claim was put in. Not sure what that means specifically.
I have noticed with two doors on two different upper cabinets that they appear to be warped, for a lack of a better term, as the top portion of these doors are not flush with the cabinet (they bow out). When you push the slightly bowed out doors when they are closed on the upper part of the door, they make a rattle/vibrate sound vs the door right next to them on the same cabinet. Can this be adjusted by the installer or does it require a new door? These are semi-full overlay, framed upper wall cabinets. One cabinet that has the warp/bowing out is 42 inches, the other is 36 inches. Each door has three hinges.
In addition, on one cabinet, the bottom horizontal pieces on the doors are at different heights. They weren’t cut evenly at the factory. The left door bottom panel has been cut 1/8″ shorter than the same panel on the right door, and when these two doors are leveled properly by the installer it will become even more exaggerated to the eye, since this is the centerpiece cabinet. A ruler/tape measure verifies this as does the eye when you look at it straight on, at an angle, and from a distance.
Another issue is that the top portion of the drawer box pieces that are attached to the back of the drawer face frame parts of the drawers vary in color and smoothness and one is beyond rough and “chewed” looking. Some do not feel like they have been sanded smooth and there is a wide range of color variation in them. On the other hand, in the bathroom vanity cabinet ordered at the same time from the same manufacturer that same piece of wood that is attached to the back of the face frame is absolutely uniform in color, matches the rest of the drawers and is super smooth. The drawers are soft close, full extension and dovetailed.
I placed the order in late April and received 30 out of 41 pieces on June 14. 11 pieces (mostly trim pieces and crown moulding) are backordered. I was told this when the delivery driver came to my house. No definite ETA for them either. Hence, the installer hasn’t completed the job and the KD/dealer hasn’t been paid in full.
On an encouraging note, I received word that the KD/dealer contacted the local manufacturer’s rep and asked him to make an on-site visit to look at these issues. If that were to take place, do you have any tips for me as a customer on what to say or not say to the manufacturer rep? Is my KD/dealer in this scenario an advocate for me or a neutral party?
