Hardwood Flooring in Old Colonial - Contractor Issue

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

We moved into a 1920’s colonial a few months ago that we’ve slowly been renovating. The house had a significant sized addition added on maybe 40-50 years ago, that had peg floors. We decided, since we were opening up a wall between the original living room and back addition, that we would replace the peg floors to match the 3/4” red oak that is original. The bid we got included lacing in the floors between the two spaces both in the spot pictured above and in the kitchen / hallway. Obviously, the floors were run the opposite direction than what was bid to me or communicated to me. I spoke to the flooring contractor and he said there was no option because of how the joists ran. While I was frustrated he hadn’t communicated with me, we moved on, I paid him and that was that. Our other contractor continued working away, And we didn’t have him cover the floors since they were all going to get sanded down and refinished anyway at the end of the project. Fast forward and my husband started sanding yesterday. As everything was sanded down, it became obvious that the floors we replaced aren’t even the same width as the original floors. They alternated the board widths, which is now glaringly obvious. It isn’t what we asked for, isn’t what he bid us, and I’m in shock. What should I do? I think the contractor should replace the floors or refund a portion of our money, but I’m unsure how to approach it... especially given it’s been more than a month since we paid him. I wish I had noticed earlier, but with the floors covered in building supplies and dust, and the original floors a super dark color, I just didn’t.

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Comments (5)

jck910
6 years ago
No picture attached, First thing you need to do is call the installer to come back and have a conversation with him
SJ McCarthy
6 years ago
When you post photos, you need to leave the page alone until the upload is complete. And remember: photos must be in jpg format.

The time isn't a big deal. Most contractors offer 1 year warranty on materials/labour. The plank width must have been well documented in the contract. The purchase order will show what was PURCHASED. It is possible the wrong wood was delivered (aka. what was ordered was not delivered). This is rare but it happens.

Doesn't matter. You have your contract. Pull it out and contact the contractor. Use email with photos (of the contract and the wood installed). Use email = paper trail.

Please try to load photos in your next post. That would help.
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User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Why didn’t you hire an actual professional flooring contractor for this instead of some handyman? DIY anything has no place in a project of this scope. Advanced skills and extra money is needed to pay the expert. Not the low bid, no moisture testing, no floor prep, and seconds from some chain store.

Who doesn’t notice the details on an install don’t match until way later? You complained once, WHILE it was being installed, and didn’t notice it then? Who didn’t specify it out accurately to begin with?

Hire and pay a real flooring professional.
Tara
6 years ago
Live wire, you have absolutely no idea if the bid was the low bid, or the high bid, or the professionalism of the contractor. You weren't there. And berating the OP does nothing to help her find a solution. Wow. Hopefully you will get up on the right side of the bed tomorrow.
User
6 years ago
You want to know why I know she hired a low bid handyman? Because an actual flooring pro would never take the install only job. Bye Felicia. He would never allow the homeowner to attempt to finish. It all has to be done by one company. Diagnose, order, install, and finish. Half and half isn’t dealing with a pro. It’s dealing with a low bid no pro.