Flooring installed incorrectly.

2 years ago

We had an central a/c leak into the floor in July. 3 yard diameter right in the middle of the house. insurance approved all flooring to be replaced except the back two bedrooms. We found a reputable contractor through two family friends who said he would work with insurance to replace any subfloor and get any additional items needed approved throughout the job. We had laminate, sheeting, particle board, lowest board over floor joists. there was a puddle under the house and boards soaked all the way through. at least 3 people advised me that the lowest layer would dry out and be fine (board and joist). Fungus grew but i treated it with borax. keeping an eye on that.

We chose vinyl plank flooring. The flooring crew, directed by the second in charge to the contractor, replaced the damaged particle board with plywood. This turned out to be unlevel, leaving low spots and ridges. They used adhesive in at least one spot of vinyl plank which seeped through the planks and left spots. A plank in a closet even cracked.

I had them all come back and they agreed to fix two low bouncy spots, the glue spot, and cracked board. however, I am afraid we have new problems. They appeared to struggle w the glue spot area and removed several planks, putting them back down with glue insread of the locking mechanism. i can now see tiny gaps. they used floor filler in one spot, drilling tiny holes in the planks to fill the

underneath without asking me. they also had the planks soaked in Wd 40 to slide, lock, and unlock. my directions say no petroleum.

i am at a loss at this point. i know my warranty will not be good bc of the installation errors. i am afraid to ask for further repairs because they made it worse.

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Comments (10)

Kara M
Original Author
2 years ago

Under the house
PRO
PPF.
2 years ago
From the bottom up, I see plywood (your subfloor), then it seems you had a layer of particleboard (underlayment), then probably a sheet of cushioning for the laminate, and then your laminate flooring.

It looks like where the particleboard was removed, they used OSB (oriented strand board) as a replacement.

Why was the plywood subfloor not replaced? Was it allowed to dry completely before the other materials were added on top?

Can you describe what was unlevel (a better term is probably flat, ideally flat and level)?
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Kara M
Original Author
2 years ago
the contractor and flooring vendor both said the plywood didnt need to be replaced. i had my concerns and asked multiple times.

there is a noticeable ridge you can feel through the vinyl everywhere the osb meets the particle board.
Kara M
Original Author
2 years ago
The plywood dried out 10 weeks, two with dehumidifier.
PRO
PPF.
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
there is a noticeable ridge you can feel through the vinyl everywhere the osb meets the particle board.

I'm sure they are not the same thickness.

What does your contractor -- not the flooring installers, say?

I'd be asking for a redo, replacing the OSB with a matching thickness particleboard, and replacement of the vinyl plank as needed.
Kara M
Original Author
2 years ago
The contractor did the post installation walk through with the flooring installers who work for him. i had every flaw marked with painter’s tape. they agreed among themselves and communicated to me that most of the noticeable ridges are ok, to remedy by adding floor filler under a couple spots (i didnt realize this involved holes) and replacing the glue damaged planks. they have since completed that repair and i am still unsatisfied.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I think that you should contact your insurance agent, to discuss the bad job and ask if there is any intervention he can make - they are the ones paying, after all!

You need to document the current state with pictures (perhaps more than you have posted here), and in writing both your previous conversations and your new communication that the work is not satisfactory. How your contractor responds will determine your next move. (BTW, is he licensed? Did he pull the permits for the work, if they were required?)

Point out to him that his "repair" did more damage to the new flooring.

Does your area have an active internet site for reviews of businesses? Such as Yelp, Facebook, Nextdoor, Angie? If he doesn't respond, or responds but refuses to re-do the shoddy work (or refund you so you can get someone better to re-install, which isn't likely, sadly) I would post detailed reviews with pictures on those sites - and file a complaint with the BBB. Do those friends who recommended him have some ties to him? I would let them know that he turned out to be not good.
Kara M
Original Author
2 years ago
He is ”licensed, bonded, and insured.” Yes, they do know each other, but we live in a small area where everyone has some ties. i will be able to leave reviews. i think it’s a good idea to run this by insurance.
Kara M
Original Author
2 years ago
Actually, our adjuster probably knows him.
RedRyder
2 years ago
Agree to call your insurance adjuster to present the problem.