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Countertop surfaces exposed to view shall be free from cracks at the time of the PDI. Joints and naturally occurring fissures in natural material are not considered to be cracks.

Warranty

One-Year - Work and Materials. · Damage resulting from normal wear and tear is excluded from the statutory warranty.

Action

Countertops not meeting the acceptable condition shall be repaired.

Remarks

Damaged countertops not identified on the PDI Form may be excluded from the statutory warranty, unless the homeowner is able to establish that the damage was caused by the builder. Solid-surface countertops can be brittle and damaged by impact. Care should be taken when cleaning or servicing to prevent cracking or chipping. Sitting or dropping heavy objects on the countertop can create excessive loads that can cause cracking. 11.6 LAMINATED COUNTERTOP (INCLUDING SEAMS, JOINTS OR EDGES) HAS SWELLED 11.7 LAMINATED COUNTERTOP IS DELAMINATED 11.10 SEAMS (JOINTS) IN STONE COUNTETOPS ARE TOO WIDE OR OPEN 11.11 SURFACE PITS, FISSURES OR VEINS IN NATURAL STONE COUNTERTOPS

Article number

11.8

Article type

Freehold

Warranty years

One Year

Article title

Cracks in Countertop Surfaces

FH 11.7: Laminated Countertop is Delaminated

Home type

Performance

The surface of laminated countertops shall not delaminate.

Warranty

One-Year - Work and Materials. · Damage resulting from normal wear and tear and improper maintenance is excluded from the statutory warranty.

Action

Countertops not meeting the acceptable condition shall be repaired.

Remarks

Delamination can be caused by excessive heat from appliances and cooking equipment. See Also: 11.6 LAMINATED COUNTERTOP (INCLUDING SEAMS, JOINTS OR EDGES) HAS SWELLED 11.8 CRACKS IN COUNTERTOP SURFACES

Article number

11.7

Article type

Freehold

Warranty years

One Year

Article title

Laminated Countertop is Delaminated

FH 11.6: Laminate Countertop (Including Seams, Joints or Edges) has Swelled

Home type

Performance

Laminated countertops shall not have localized bumps or swells at the time of the PDI.

Warranty

One-Year - Work and Materials. · Damage resulting from improper maintenance is excluded from the statutory warranty.

Action

Countertops not meeting the acceptable condition shall be repaired.

Remarks

Damaged countertops not identified on the PDI Form may be excluded from the statutory warranty, unless the homeowner is able to establish that the damage was caused by the builder. Countertops are susceptible to damage from standing water. Care must be taken to ensure that countertops are kept free of standing water at joints and openings at sinks and faucets. See Also: 11.7 LAMINATED COUNTERTOP IS DELAMINATED 11.8 CRACKS IN COUNTERTOP SURFACES

Article number

11.6

Article type

Freehold

Warranty years

One Year

Article title

Laminate Countertop (Including Seams, Joints or Edges) has Swelled

FH 11.5: Cabinet Doors Will Not Stay Closed

Home type

Performance

Doors shall stay in position when closed.

Warranty

One-Year - Work and Materials. · Damage resulting from normal wear and tear or improper maintenance is excluded from the statutory warranty.

Action

Doors not meeting the acceptable condition shall be repaired.

Remarks

Cabinet doors can become misaligned through normal use; normal home maintenance includes adjusting the cabinet doors from time to time. See Also: 11.3 CABINET DOORS AND DRAWER FACES ARE WARPED 11.4 CABINET DOOR OR DRAWER BINDS OR RUBS

Article number

11.5

Article type

Freehold

Warranty years

One Year

Article title

Cabinet Doors Will Not Stay Closed

FH 11.4: Cabinet Door and Drawer Binds or Rubs

Home type

Performance

Cabinet doors and drawers shall be installed so they don’t bind or rub under normal use.

Warranty

One-Year - Work and Materials. · Damage resulting from normal wear and tear or improper maintenance is excluded from the statutory warranty.

Action

Doors and drawers not meeting the acceptable condition shall be repaired.

Remarks

Cabinet doors and drawers can become misaligned through normal use; normal home maintenance includes adjusting the cabinet doors and drawers from time to time. See Also: 11.3 CABINET DOORS AND DRAWER FACES ARE WARPED

Article number

11.4

Article type

Freehold

Warranty years

One Year

Article title

Cabinet Door and Drawer Binds or Rubs

FH 11.3: Cabinet Doors And Drawer Faces Are Warped

Home type

Performance

Cabinet doors and drawer faces shall not permanently warp.

Warranty

One-Year - Work and Materials

Action

Cabinet doors and drawer faces not meeting the acceptable condition shall be repaired.

Remarks

Humidity levels in the home affect cabinet doors and drawer faces made from natural wood products. Some movement can be expected.

Article number

11.3

Article type

Freehold

Warranty years

One Year

Article title

Cabinet Doors And Drawer Faces Are Warped

FH 11.2: Cabinets do Not Line Up with Each Other

Home type

Performance

Cabinets shall be aligned with adjacent cabinets and filler panels on the same level to provide a generally uniform appearance when viewed from a normal viewing position.

Warranty

One-Year - Work and Materials. · Damage due to normal wear and tear is excluded from the statutory warranty.

Action

Cabinets not meeting the acceptable condition shall be repaired.

Remarks

Cabinet doors can become misaligned through normal use; normal home maintenance includes adjusting the cabinet doors from time to time.

Article number

11.2

Article type

Freehold

Warranty years

One Year

Article title

Cabinets do Not Line Up with Each Other

FH 11.12: Staining Of Natural Stone Products

Home type

Performance

Natural quarried stone products are subject to staining, even when sealed.

Warranty

None.

Action

None.

Remarks

Quarried stone products, including but not limited to countertops, shower walls, shower seats, backsplashes etc. are products of nature. Stones are porous materials; therefore, any spilled substances, including water, requires immediate attention. Not all stone products are sealed at the time of installation and if unsealed will require application. Regular reapplication of sealant is a part of homeowner maintenance.Sealers that are applied when installed may prevent some stains. However, even sealed products are susceptible to staining if proper care is not taken.Stains on stone products like countertops, shower walls, shower seats, etc. not identified on the PDI Form will be excluded from the statutory warranty, unless the homeowner is able to establish that the damage was caused by the builder.NotesThis Article applies to all conciliations after January 1, 2019.See also:11.8 CRACKS IN COUNTERTOP SURFACES11.10 SEAMS (JOINTS) IN STONE COUNTETOPS ARE TOO WIDE OR OPEN11.11 SURFACE PITS, FISSURES OR VEINS IN NATURAL STONE COUNTERTOPS

Article number

11.12

Article type

Freehold

Article title

Staining Of Natural Stone Products

FH 11.10: Seams (Joints) in Stone Countertops are too Wide Open

Home type

Performance

Joints in stone countertops shall be filled and sealed to provide a continuous finished surface. Loose or missing filler is unacceptable.

Warranty

One-Year - Work and Materials. · Cracks resulting from normal shrinkage of materials caused by drying after construction are excluded from the statutory warranty.

Action

Countertops not meeting the acceptable condition shall be repaired.

Remarks

Joints in stone countertops can be factory made (pre-assembled) or loose joints (site-assembled). Both types of joints can be found in single installations and may be necessary due to access or transportation restrictions, countertop layout, weight and slab size limitations. Seams are a common occurrence in the manufacturing process. Manufacturers try to incorporate seams in locations suitable to the cabinetry layout or based on best use of the natural material determined by the installer. Loose joints can be filled with epoxy or other suitable material in a matching colour to the stone. The visibility of joints will depend on the stone’s granularity, colour and pattern, as well as the lighting conditions in the room. Stone countertops are sealed at the time of installation and require regular re-applications as part of home maintenance. Sealers are applied to prevent deep stains within the stone, which are difficult and sometimes impossible to remove, but do not necessarily protect the countertop from surface stains. Stones are porous materials; therefore, any spilled substances require immediate attention. See Also: 11.8 CRACKS IN COUNTERTOP SURFACES 11.11 SURFACE PITS, FISSURES OR VEINS IN NATURAL STONE COUNTERTOPS

Article number

11.10

Article type

Freehold

Warranty years

One Year

Article title

Seams (Joints) in Stone Countertops are too Wide Open

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