ᐅ Issue?? Prefinished hardwood flooring adhesive not sticking everywhere?!
Created on: 2 Apr 2016 19:24
W
WildThing
Hello everyone,
HELP!
Since Thursday, our (actually) beautiful oak parquet in wide plank style, 12mm (1/2 inch) thick, has been glued down by a flooring installer.
Today, we noticed that the floor creaks in some areas, and in some spots with a diameter of about 1 meter (3 feet), it is not properly glued. When you step on these spots, the floor moves downward as if it were installed as a floating floor. In other areas, the floor is firmly glued as expected.
I believe this is a defect?
What would be the best way to fix this issue? What should be considered?
HELP!
Since Thursday, our (actually) beautiful oak parquet in wide plank style, 12mm (1/2 inch) thick, has been glued down by a flooring installer.
Today, we noticed that the floor creaks in some areas, and in some spots with a diameter of about 1 meter (3 feet), it is not properly glued. When you step on these spots, the floor moves downward as if it were installed as a floating floor. In other areas, the floor is firmly glued as expected.
I believe this is a defect?
What would be the best way to fix this issue? What should be considered?
Hello questioner.
For those of us with professional experience, it is sometimes not difficult to foresee the near future.
The adhesive supplier will likely conclude that the subfloor preparation (before laying the parquet) was inadequate. Otherwise, there would be no reason for the adhesive to detach by adhesion failure from a substrate (screed) that has already been in use, along with its auxiliary layers (primer/filler).
Then it will be necessary to consider whether, given the areas already detached and those that may still detach in the near future, a reinstallation with prior renewed surface preparation of the installation area might be the safer option for you.
With the upcoming visit of the representative from the adhesive supplier, you will later be able to prove that there were issues with the parquet installation.
For the purpose of later documentation, I had recommended that you put the complaint about defects in writing.
So, let’s wait to see how the field representative of the adhesive supplier and then the installer will respond to the matter.
My suspicion is that you might still remember these threads in this forum quite vividly and painfully in the future. I say this from experience…
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I wish you the best,
Regards: KlaRa
For those of us with professional experience, it is sometimes not difficult to foresee the near future.
The adhesive supplier will likely conclude that the subfloor preparation (before laying the parquet) was inadequate. Otherwise, there would be no reason for the adhesive to detach by adhesion failure from a substrate (screed) that has already been in use, along with its auxiliary layers (primer/filler).
Then it will be necessary to consider whether, given the areas already detached and those that may still detach in the near future, a reinstallation with prior renewed surface preparation of the installation area might be the safer option for you.
With the upcoming visit of the representative from the adhesive supplier, you will later be able to prove that there were issues with the parquet installation.
For the purpose of later documentation, I had recommended that you put the complaint about defects in writing.
So, let’s wait to see how the field representative of the adhesive supplier and then the installer will respond to the matter.
My suspicion is that you might still remember these threads in this forum quite vividly and painfully in the future. I say this from experience…
-------------------------
I wish you the best,
Regards: KlaRa
B
Bauexperte6 Apr 2016 11:02WildThing schrieb:
We reported the defect immediately (verbally) Sigh... I really wonder why so many helpful people share their knowledge here for free if apparently no one takes it to heart.A defect notice, as my predecessor correctly emphasized _several times_, must be submitted _in writing_. I hope for your sake that KlaRa’s suspicions do not come true; however, I can understand them well.
Regards, Bauexperte
Well, the reported defect can already be sufficiently proven by the visit of the flooring installer, who cut out a piece of the parquet, and by involving the adhesive manufacturer.
A "written notice of defects" is of course always better because it specifies the content of the complaint. However, simply having it in writing is not enough; proof of receipt is required. If done correctly, this means sending it by registered mail with a return receipt or by courier with confirmation of delivery.
I would always proceed by calling or sending an email first. If there is no immediate response or a delay is noticed, then I would notify in writing (as described above) in any case.
A "written notice of defects" is of course always better because it specifies the content of the complaint. However, simply having it in writing is not enough; proof of receipt is required. If done correctly, this means sending it by registered mail with a return receipt or by courier with confirmation of delivery.
I would always proceed by calling or sending an email first. If there is no immediate response or a delay is noticed, then I would notify in writing (as described above) in any case.
I agree with Voki. Since the flooring installer responded immediately, came the next day, and even ordered new flooring for us, a written notification is no longer strictly necessary. He has already been here twice, trimmed the loose spots, and checked the adhesive.
The screed was sanded and then treated with a primer (thick, like honey, but hardens after drying). After that, the flooring was glued on top.
It could, of course, be that the wrong primer was used for the adhesive. However, I cannot judge that myself. We specifically hired a professional company to ensure the floor was installed properly.
The screed was sanded and then treated with a primer (thick, like honey, but hardens after drying). After that, the flooring was glued on top.
It could, of course, be that the wrong primer was used for the adhesive. However, I cannot judge that myself. We specifically hired a professional company to ensure the floor was installed properly.
Bauexperte schrieb:
A defect notice, as my predecessor rightly emphasized _several times_, must be submitted _in writing_. I hope for you that KlaRa's suspicions do not turn out to be true; however, I can understand them well.For the first step, based on experience, I also do not see a problem with reporting a defect verbally. Even after months of construction, a simple email or call to the site manager, including a photo attachment, is usually enough to get the contractor’s attention.
If there is no response after 10 days, a written defect notice can be issued. This written notice is not invalidated by earlier informal communication, but it is advisable to keep a record of the correspondence for your own reference and any potential future disputes.
B
Bauexperte7 Apr 2016 10:19Good day,
I almost think you believe that a defect notice is something terrible for a contractor. That is definitely not the case. Sending a defect notice with an exact description of the issue – and here, Volker is absolutely right, it must be done via registered mail or electronic registered mail (ERSch), so it is provable – is a completely normal business procedure. Usually, all contractors respond quickly and try to fix the defect; this has been confirmed by the original poster as well as Yvonne.
However, not every client signs a contract based on the German Construction Code (Baugesetzbuch); many contracts are also based on the VOB (Verdingungsordnung für Bauleistungen), especially for onsite trades like flooring or painting. These trades are often contracted after the main construction contract is completed; the contractors are then selected and hired directly by the client. Unlike contracts under the German Construction Code, where a defect does not pause the warranty period, the VOB contract actually provides for an interruption of the statute of limitations. This means the current 4-year warranty period is suspended until the defect is repaired and then starts over again. However, the exact time of this interruption can only be proven beyond doubt if the defect is described in detail with words and images and a defect notice has been sent.
Regards, Bauexperte
I almost think you believe that a defect notice is something terrible for a contractor. That is definitely not the case. Sending a defect notice with an exact description of the issue – and here, Volker is absolutely right, it must be done via registered mail or electronic registered mail (ERSch), so it is provable – is a completely normal business procedure. Usually, all contractors respond quickly and try to fix the defect; this has been confirmed by the original poster as well as Yvonne.
However, not every client signs a contract based on the German Construction Code (Baugesetzbuch); many contracts are also based on the VOB (Verdingungsordnung für Bauleistungen), especially for onsite trades like flooring or painting. These trades are often contracted after the main construction contract is completed; the contractors are then selected and hired directly by the client. Unlike contracts under the German Construction Code, where a defect does not pause the warranty period, the VOB contract actually provides for an interruption of the statute of limitations. This means the current 4-year warranty period is suspended until the defect is repaired and then starts over again. However, the exact time of this interruption can only be proven beyond doubt if the defect is described in detail with words and images and a defect notice has been sent.
Regards, Bauexperte
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