I do not recommend this supplier due to my unsatisfactory experiences concerning inadequacies in their fabrication and installation processes and their reluctance to honour their warranty on defects.
I contracted Cefaloni in 2017 to manufacture and install new custom laminate counter-tops in my kitchen, (new tops installed on old cabinets, same configuration, sink location etc.) Cefaloni did a site visit to measure before fabricating.
For my contract, Cefaloni subcontracted a Quebec laminates manufacturer to furnish pre-made “blanks†(pre-made sections with laminate already applied, in standard lengths). Cefaloni then cut and mitered (joined) my custom counter configurations from these “blanksâ€.
At some point prior to this contract, Cefaloni had switched from using the original formula of solvent-based contact cement, to a less waterproof water-based formula, in joining and mitering the sections together. I was not told of this until after installation when problems arose. During their site visit, Cefaloni did not warn me about any risks of their miter joints failing more easily with the new glue. My contract included a 1-year warranty on “manufactory defects†[sic]
Installation was problematic. Some sections did not fit properly.. Attempts to force-fit them resulted in stress to the miter seams. The crew returned at my request to correct installation issues.
After installation I was given “Care and Maintenance†instructions which included a warning that “EXTENDED exposure of the joints to water or dampness will result in ‘lifting’ of the laminates and splitting of the jointâ€
Shortly after installation we noticed, and reported to Cefaloni, two defects on the same countertop section: [1] a defect in the laminate surface, which, upon inspection, was deemed by Cefaloni to be a manufacturing defect incurred during the fabrication of the “blank†by their subcontractor which was not noticed by Cefaloni’s quality control inspection (if any) on its inputs. [2] Failure of one of the miter joints, which, upon inspection, a Cefaloni manager initially suggested may be a “1 in 100 jobs miter gluing defect†by Cefaloni. This joint had not been exposed to “standing water†nor to “extended… dampnessâ€. Since both defects were in the same section of countertop, correcting the surface defect [1] would have solved both issues. After initially acknowledging these defects, Cefaloni changed their position, refusing to honour the miter fabrication defect [2] claiming water damage (which I assured them had not occurred) and refusing to honour the surface defect [1] claiming that their subcontractor refused to replace the defective input. (Irrelevant, since my contract and my warranty was with Cefaloni and legally included the materials which Cefaloni had chosen at their discretion to subcontract).
With Cefaloni’s refusal to honour its warranty, and with other contractors waiting to install ceramic back-splash , I had to buy a replacement for the defective section at my own expense. I then spent many months pursuing a refund of that replacement expense from Cefaloni. Eventually after commencing external action I received a small refund (