I need Silestone counters for an upcoming job. A quick look at the company’s web site shows a few retailers, including HD, but nothing about locating a fabricator. I requested more info from them, but in the meantime, from anyone who has used this material, who did the work and how did it go? Anything to watch out for or be aware of?
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Before I sold my solid surface shop in Toledo, Ohio, I sold more Zodiaq (DuPont's Silestone) than anyone else in the area. As I reenter the marketplace here in Michigan, my no-money-down policy would serve you and your customers well. If I screw up that top, I may delay your schedule, but at least you won't have to sue me to get your money back. However, that's never happened.
Contact the International Solid Surface Fabricators Association, http://www.issfa.net , for a fabricator referral. Give a reputable faricator the job with no money down. He should have no problem with that, I don't.
I've only been burned once with this policy, over many years. Probably .00001% of my dollar volume, a rate money-down contractors would envy. That burn was my fault for not checking the reputation of the contractor.
Buy from me. Go ahead and hold all the cards. You and your customers will love my work or you won't pay. I'll get my money and add your name to my list of satisfied repeat customers. Why do business with someone without this attitude?
What was your shop, I'm in Maumee. You come down here or is the contract with Dupont regionally exclusive? Good counter guys are hard to find.
thanks.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
My shop was Solid Surface Studio and remained that name for about a year after I sold it to Mike Langenderfer (Ham Cabinets owner before bankruptcy) in late 2001. It is now The Countertop Shop. My non-compete with Mike expires in a few months, just about the time he makes his last payments to me. I get a specific payment reduction if I do any work within a 50 mile radius of Toledo under our agreement.
I have connections for DuPont products.
Keep in touch.
Edited 10/4/2005 10:15 pm ET by Kowboy
I'll email you my address, could you send me your card.
I had a customer that got reamed by a local silestone fabber just a year ago and I'm always on the lookout for quality and reliability. I'd like to keep in contact if you might come down here after the agreement expires.
thanks.
Know the original HAM owner, Bubba. He's got a nice set-up building commercial cabs. He spent some time running Vista's shop operation. You know Henry?Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
If you walk out of Henry's door (if he's still on Warehouse Road) and look left in the parking lot, my old shop was in the same complex. Henry hired one of my best guys after the sale, but they couldn't get along. Henry's loss, that kid made me a ton of money and I'd hire him back in a minute.
I've known bubba for along time. Doesn't surprise me a bit. You're on his good side, you'll do ok. Get on the wrong side, gone. Kid probably tried to do it "your" way and not henry's. Sure sign for disaster.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Yep. You know Henry all right.
Honestly I could care less about giving you a deposit vs. not giving you a deposit. I need someone that has the same fanatical attention to detail that I do, and also has a major ability to schedule reliably and then not slam sh!t into the walls and door jambs when they move slabs into the house.
I think of solid surface as corian, swanstone, etc., ... the resin stuff. Are you saying the same guys do the quartz? I assumed that I'll need a stone fabricator.
According to industry experts, Quartz surfacing fits the definition of solid surface.
Even though it is more like stone, Quartz has probably been embraced by the solid surface community more than the stone world. The granite guys foolishly look down their nose at it.