ᐅ Very Poor Parquet Flooring Installation – Is Rectification Impossible?
Created on: 19 Jan 2023 10:55
P
pim1985
Hello,
unfortunately, we are having problems again with our parquet installer (a small family business in NRW). The work on the transitions and the baseboards was done very poorly.
A brief summary of the situation: After a long wait due to residual moisture in the screed, the parquet was installed (oak, 18.5cm (7.3 inches) wide, fully glued).
As you can see in the photos, the gaps at the transitions are about 1cm (0.4 inches) wide and filled with a cork material that does not match the color.
The baseboards (1.8cm (0.7 inches) wide, about 5.8cm (2.3 inches) high) at the floor-to-ceiling windows do not look good, the smaller baseboards/profiles are odd, and the work was very untidy. The reason for the unusual small baseboards/profiles: the window reveals are too narrow (1cm (0.4 inches) wide baseboards would fit; this is the case with our neighbors in an identical semi-detached house). There are nicer solutions for this, but there was no communication that the baseboards would not fit. The parquet installer is unable to accept criticism and is old-fashioned, just doing things as he learned 30 years ago. He refuses to make any corrections.
Regarding the cork filling, we probably have no legal chance for corrections, even though the boards at the transitions were cut unevenly. (I saw examples from other providers, unfortunately too late, and spoke with specialists from a large parquet company (Parkett Dietrich) who said that transitions without joints or with very small joints about 4mm (0.16 inches) are possible. These could be filled with parquet joint filler in a similar color and would look a thousand times better). Baseboards before the step in the staircase area???
The small baseboards in the window area are impossible, though. I am a member of the property owners’ protection association (legal insurance is also available) and I am considering taking legal action with a specialist lawyer and construction consultant, although I would prefer not to. But this job cost a lot of money, and now I will probably have to hire a second company to fix it.
I would appreciate any tips on how to salvage one or the other issue.
unfortunately, we are having problems again with our parquet installer (a small family business in NRW). The work on the transitions and the baseboards was done very poorly.
A brief summary of the situation: After a long wait due to residual moisture in the screed, the parquet was installed (oak, 18.5cm (7.3 inches) wide, fully glued).
As you can see in the photos, the gaps at the transitions are about 1cm (0.4 inches) wide and filled with a cork material that does not match the color.
The baseboards (1.8cm (0.7 inches) wide, about 5.8cm (2.3 inches) high) at the floor-to-ceiling windows do not look good, the smaller baseboards/profiles are odd, and the work was very untidy. The reason for the unusual small baseboards/profiles: the window reveals are too narrow (1cm (0.4 inches) wide baseboards would fit; this is the case with our neighbors in an identical semi-detached house). There are nicer solutions for this, but there was no communication that the baseboards would not fit. The parquet installer is unable to accept criticism and is old-fashioned, just doing things as he learned 30 years ago. He refuses to make any corrections.
Regarding the cork filling, we probably have no legal chance for corrections, even though the boards at the transitions were cut unevenly. (I saw examples from other providers, unfortunately too late, and spoke with specialists from a large parquet company (Parkett Dietrich) who said that transitions without joints or with very small joints about 4mm (0.16 inches) are possible. These could be filled with parquet joint filler in a similar color and would look a thousand times better). Baseboards before the step in the staircase area???
The small baseboards in the window area are impossible, though. I am a member of the property owners’ protection association (legal insurance is also available) and I am considering taking legal action with a specialist lawyer and construction consultant, although I would prefer not to. But this job cost a lot of money, and now I will probably have to hire a second company to fix it.
I would appreciate any tips on how to salvage one or the other issue.
OWLer schrieb:
If your communication style reflects how you treat contractors, you will probably end up on their "blacklist" and have to do the work yourself or pay a much higher penalty. Just my opinion.And what bothers you about that? You are probably a contractor yourself and might have serious issues when customers complain about poor workmanship. The customer is always right. Otherwise, there are plenty of jobs without customer contact.
Myrna_Loy schrieb:
You can certainly charge him for that, but he might just ignore the invoice. There are specific rules for identifying and fixing defects. Before you get too involved, I’d recommend getting some advice on this. What does the building inspector say? Is he qualified? Everything he did was done without my consent. Also, he contradicts himself—one room was fitted continuously without cork expansion joints. And yes, I have already spoken with other professionals.
M
Myrna_Loy23 Jan 2023 16:57pim1985 schrieb:
Everything he did was not agreed upon with me. Also, he contradicts himself; a room was continuously installed without cork expansion joints. And yes, I have already spoken with other professionals.Once again, you cannot simply hire another company to cover his invoice or reduce the amount. You wrote that you are a member of the building owners’ association, so you should contact them first.Myrna_Loy schrieb:
Once again, you cannot simply assign another company to a bill or reduce the invoice amount. You mentioned that you are a member of the Homeowners’ Protection Association, so you should contact them first. Of course, I will ensure everything is legally and professionally secure beforehand and will not just switch to another company. But I already understand his position and know very well that he will strongly resist. As I said, he has no other choice because he uses an outdated method.
M
Myrna_Loy23 Jan 2023 17:38pim1985 schrieb:
Of course, I will ensure everything is legally and professionally checked beforehand and I won’t just switch to another company. But I already know his position and I’m certain he is strongly opposed to it. As I said, he can’t do it any other way; he uses an outdated method. I don’t understand how you conclude that the parquet installer is using an outdated method. The general recommendation for glued solid wood flooring is at least 2 mm (0.08 inches) of expansion gap per meter (3.3 feet) of flooring installed. Are all your rooms smaller than 4 meters (13 feet)? Also, cork is definitely considered state of the art for expansion joints. Acrylic, for example, tends to come loose more easily at the edges.
I understand you’re dissatisfied because you expected something different and have been told by others that it can be done another way – but it’s just different, not the latest gold standard.
Get legal advice and try to calm down.
In recent years, I have inspected several dozen floors on behalf of clients after installation, and what you describe as the worst kind of botched job is (apart from the skirting boards) normal standard practice. I must even say that the workmanship of the cork joint itself is surprisingly neat. I’ve seen much worse that still passed as acceptable.
pim1985 schrieb:
And what bothers you about it? You’re probably a craftsman yourself and might have serious problems when customers complain about poor workmanship. The whole style of communication shown here. For example, I personally feel attacked when I read this thread and see that I like cork joints. I don’t want acrylic joints (especially narrow ones) because the 1cm (0.4 inch) gap at the wall edge is technically intended, and I feel more secure knowing the parquet will stay in place.
A solution-oriented approach would benefit the matter. If the execution isn’t specified, you get the current state of the art. The state of the art is only not met at the overpainted skirting board. If you don’t discuss the details with the contractor before commissioning work costing several thousand euros, then I don’t know what else to say. Even Pinterest photos could have helped clarify things.
But well, if this is the biggest problem on site, then everything is great. That’s a complaint at the highest level.
pim1985 schrieb:
The customer is king. Otherwise, there are plenty of jobs without customer contact. First of all, we are all just human beings, and even monarchies must comply with laws and (social) norms today. In fact, I have no customer contact and apparently can be quite glad about that.
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