Laminated floor poorly installed by tradesmen

akesha

Hi all,

I have a couple of joists that makes my first floor to be unlevelled, having like a hill in the hallway.

I hired a tradesmen to fix it, but he didn't know much about laminated floor, and after levelling the hill, he tried to install it again with a very poor result. There are gaps of maybe 3 mm between some of them and they seem not levelled at other points.

We discussed a lot, because he didn't know how to fix it (he explained that it was more difficult than he thought in the first place, because the floor is unlevelled), and he even didn't want to come another day to try. And when he thought I weren't paying, he even threatened me (he lives in the area) saying that he know where I live :eek:

At the end, I payed him less than we agreed at the beginning, but I still have the hallway unfixed. I don't know if I should fix it myself, hire someone new to do it, or even put carpet again, which is a pity because the laminated floor is installed only for a few months.

What should I do?

Sleeper12

akesha wrote:

I hired a tradesmen to fix it, but he didn't know much about laminated floor, and after levelling the hill, he tried to install it again with a very poor result. There are gaps of maybe 3 mm between some of them and they seem not levelled at other points.

What type of tradesman did you use? A carpenter should be able to handle this with their eyes closed.
Did this tradesman try to refit the old laminate flooring or was it new boards? Laminate flooring snaps in place. Usually when it is taken up it can't be put back down properly as the parts that click together tend to break.

akesha

I hired a general builder, I didn't know the problem underneath until he removed all the flooring, so it didn't occur to me that a carpenter could do the job.

He reused a lot of boards, I think he only used around 4 new boards. He even screwed a couple of them because they didn't fit

Now I am not only worried about the floor, but about the threat as well. He lives nearby, and he said he knew a lot of people and that he knew where I live.

massy086

akesha wrote: »

I hired a general builder, I didn't know the problem underneath until he removed all the flooring, so it didn't occur to me that a carpenter could do the job.

He reused a lot of boards, I think he only used around 4 new boards. He even screwed a couple of them because they didn't fit

Now I am not only worried about the floor, but about the threat as well. He lives nearby, and he said he knew a lot of people and that he knew where I live.

Screwed them??? This sounds like he botched it together can you post some pics of the said floor

akesha

Sure, attached four of them.

massy086

akesha wrote: »

Sure, attached four of them.

ouch!!! That doesn't look good and no room for expansion. Is it a v-grove floor also is it a large area. My hope is you didn't pay him too much as tbh I'd be ripping that back up and starting again with new boards tbh

Bonzo Delaney

akesha wrote: »

Sure, attached four of them.

Unfortunately for you he hadn't a bulls notion of what he was at whatsoever and was chancing his arm and bullied you in to paying him he'll get his comeuppance some day.

I reckon it looks like a new floor along with the sub floor levelled firstly
Don't get to hung up about getting caught out by that cowboy
Chalk it down to a Life lesson and always get someone whose recommended

stronglikebull

akesha wrote: »

And when he thought I weren't paying, he even threatened me (he lives in the area) saying that he know where I live :eek:

Threatening someone is a criminal offence, and you should report him to the Gardai. As for the shoddy work, you can go to a solicitor and sue him for the cost of repair. If it's looking like an expensive job to fix, it may be worth the cost and effort. A solicitor will give you advice cheap enough anyway.

rustynutz

Rip up the floor, call the 'builder' and tell him call to your house as you have the remainder of his money, when he arrives beat him around the head with the floor boards........ Ok, I'm joking obviously, but that's what I would feel like doing. As someone else said get someone reputable to put down a new floor and if the original thug/builder bothers you again tell him you've had to have his shoddy floor replaced by someone who knows what they are doing and if he bothers you again you will go to the guards about his threatening behaviour and legal action to recover the cost of the replacement floor.

King Mallie

rustynutz wrote: »

Rip up the floor, call the 'builder' and tell him call to your house as you have the remainder of his money, when he arrives beat him around the head with the floor boards........ Ok, I'm joking obviously, but that's what I would feel like doing. As someone else said get someone reputable to put down a new floor and if the original thug/builder bothers you again tell him you've had to have his shoddy floor replaced by someone who knows what they are doing and if he bothers you again you will go to the guards about his threatening behaviour and legal action to recover the cost of the replacement floor.

Not sure if your allowed to name the person on this site that did this work but assholes like this should not be allowed to con people.

muffler

King Mallie wrote: »

Not sure if your allowed to name the person on this site that did this work

That would be a big NO

Steve

As was said, screwing the floor is a big mistake. These floors are supposed to 'float' i.e. have room to naturally expand and contract as humidity changes. If you try to fix them down then they will either warp, crack, or at worst move brick walls.