New flooring - refund?!

tillypops

Hi all

We had 3.5k worth of LVT laid on the concrete downstairs of our new build by a local flooring company - woodpecker brand, sold as requiring no screed prior to laying. We noticed on day 1 of moving in that there was a significant dip in the flooring around the patio door and the fitter who was still at the house finishing up as we were given entry, acknowledged the dip but said he was short on time and had no option but to the lay the floor (even packing other areas with cardboard!). We raised this issue immediately with the flooring company AND our builders and have gotten absolutely nowhere with either of them for the last 10 months. Over this time period all the boards have buckled, they bounce away from the floor and some have even chipped.

The flooring company blame the builders for the dip, the builders say the flooring company shouldn't have installed the flooring if it was that bad.

As the customers we feel we are getting batted back and forth like a game of tennis. We feel that essentially it is the flooring company who are at fault as their fitter should have stopped the installation and made us aware of dips in the concrete floor. They arranged for the flooring manufacturer to come and assess and want us to wait for his report. When he visited the property he agreed the flooring is not laid to the standard they would expect. But he also checked for moisture levels and said it is off the scale.  

We feel so helpless - how do we resolve this? The manufacturer are suggesting more testing needs to be done regarding moisture levels which will probably mean months longer of waiting for what? So they can go back and blame the builders?? 

Then we are no further forward 😔

Bradden

I think the fitters are 100% at fault. If the floor wasn't level they should have notified you prior to installation.

The_Fat_Controller

OP has topic already on the go and started before this one !

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6353900/new-build-flooring-nightmare#latest

TELLIT01

As it's a new build I wonder if the concrete had dried fully when the flooring was laid.  How soon after it was laid did the person from the manufacturer visit? 

It seems very odd that a flooring supplier would state that no screed is required as most concrete floor 'bases' are laid in the expectation that screed will then go on top to level things and cover over imperfections.

Alderbank

Woodpecker do say that their LVT can be laid on concrete. I am sure the assumption is that it is a polished and level concrete surface.
They are very fussy about rH and specify the relatively low maximum of 70% (many manufacturers are happy with 75%).

The description of the damage is what you would expect from excessive humidity rather than a change of level.
tillypops, what was the rH before laying commenced and how was it measured? The measuring equipment and technique is important.
Did the fitters ask you about rH measurement or did they assume that the floor was safe to lay the LVT? Concrete floors take a surprisingly long time to dry out, the old rule of thumb was a month for every inch so a 150mm slab takes around 6 months.

sheramber

He was finishing when you get entry.

Was the flooring laid before you took entry?

Who arranged it?  Yourselves or the builders?