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.
pim1985 schrieb:
It’s good that there are enough craftsmen and service providers who truly understand what customer satisfaction and professionalism mean. I am happy to repeat my post and thus the question about the building components.
ypg schrieb:
Is this a concrete staircase with an expansion joint to the concrete ceiling? ypg schrieb:
Just because young tradespeople ignore the technical standards to please customers, it doesn’t mean it is correct. 
I am referring to the statement paraphrased by the original poster from the renowned parquet installer:
From the pictures, I am sure that proper joint filler was used. The joints are a bit large; to my knowledge, with fully glued parquet, the joint should be somewhat smaller. And yes, more care could have been taken with the choice of color for the joint filler.
pim1985 schrieb:
In the window area, it is cut with sharp edges and sealed with wood-colored acrylic.
From the pictures, I am sure that proper joint filler was used. The joints are a bit large; to my knowledge, with fully glued parquet, the joint should be somewhat smaller. And yes, more care could have been taken with the choice of color for the joint filler.
Tolentino schrieb:
I am referring to the statement paraphrased by the OP from the well-known flooring installer:
In the pictures, I am sure proper joint filler was used. The gaps are a bit large; as far as I know, with fully glued parquet, the gaps should be somewhat smaller. And yes, more care could have been taken with the color choice of the joint filler.Of course, as a layperson, it’s easy to confuse terms like acrylic, silicone, or joint filler, and one might use the wrong term. The important thing is that the workmanship is simply poor. All the expansion joints are too large, uneven, and unnecessary. As I said, there are plenty of craftsmen who deliver aesthetically pleasing results and haven’t stayed stuck in the 1980s. And yes, thankfully, there are many modern, young tradespeople who continuously update their skills. Let’s see how the correction appointment goes. One thing is certain: if he can’t fix it, someone else will.H
hanghaus202328 Jan 2023 11:10Use your energy to fix the cosmetic defects. In my opinion, a legal dispute is hardly worth winning.
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