Home maintenance dispute - laminate flooring

M22saver

Hi all

I have a problem with some laminate flooring that has been installed in my flat and wonder if anyone has experience of a similar dispute?

The flooring was installed as part of an insurance claim following a leak from the upstairs flat. The water had gone and my flat was completely dry prior to the flooring installation.

A few weeks after insallation, I noticed that the floor had started to expand and buckle. I called the building company who installed it and they came back to trim the edges back. This solved the problem until a few weeks later when the same thing happened again, in a different area of the living room. I called the builders and they came out again and cut the edges back some more.

After this happened for the third time, the builders alleged that the floor (picked out of a brochure by me but purchased by them) is of substandard quality and stated that they had fitted the floor 'exactly as instructed'. I then got hold of a copy of the proof of purchase from the builders and got in touch with Homebase, the retailer. They put me in touch with the manunfacturer of the floor who said that there is 'nothing wrong with the floor' and have 'never had any complaints before'. They also alleged that the builders are at fault as they did not follow two points that are on the instructions (they didn't use cork expansion strips and did not leave the floor boards out in the room for 48 hours prior to installation to acclimatise them to room temperature).

Sorry to go on here but I thought I'd better give the full story! I'm now stuck with a dodgy floor that is awful to walk on and don't know how best to get this dispute resolved as neither the building company nor the manufacturer will accept any liability on their part.

I would like to avoid solicitors and courts where possible due to the likely costs involved but do any of you have any advice for me? It would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

peachyprice

Who chose the installer?
Did you arrange it yourself and claim for the expense on your insurance, or was it all done through your insurance company? If the latter, I believe the installer had a contract with your insurance company, not you, and it is they who should be sorting it out. This could be a lucrative account the installer won't want to lose.

M22saver

Hi, thanks for the quick responses!

Unfortunately, the building contractor were not employed by the insurance company. I had to get two quotes and they were the cheapest so the insurance company told me to go with them.

peachyprice

That's a shame.