Floor Installation Issue - legal advice

[spierceisu]

I had some LVP flooring installed 2 years ago and am having issues with the planks curling up on the ends and creating bumps in the floor. The company that installed the floor is no longer in business. I reached out to the floor manufacturer and they said to go to another distributor to look at it. They sent me to the regional rep for the flooring and he reviewed it and found it was an installation issue and would not be under warranty. Since the installer is no longer in business, can I take the owner of the business to small claims court to try to get money for it or since the business is closed, am I out of luck? The only way to properly fix the floor is to tear it out and put new down as there are broken tabs on the flooring from jamming it together and I don't have money to buy new flooring again.

 

[MJ29]

I work insurance claims and occasionally have property claims of this nature. You can certainly try to pursue the installer in small claims. You might be able to get some assistance from your insurance company if you need to file a claim. It's not a sure thing that you'll be successful, but it is possible.

 

[chetsger]

I had some LVP flooring installed 2 years ago and am having issues with the planks curling up on the ends and creating bumps in the floor. The company that installed the floor is no longer in business. I reached out to the floor manufacturer and they said to go to another distributor to look at it. They sent me to the regional rep for the flooring and he reviewed it and found it was an installation issue and would not be under warranty. Since the installer is no longer in business, can I take the owner of the business to small claims court to try to get money for it or since the business is closed, am I out of luck? The only way to properly fix the floor is to tear it out and put new down as there are broken tabs on the flooring from jamming it together and I don't have money to buy new flooring again.

Flooring is near impossible to find someone to do it well. I'm gonna need some done soon and am not looking forward to the process, and my Mother in Law is in the business. They can't find good flooring people. Good luck.

 

[CascadeClone]

Flooring is near impossible to find someone to do it well. I'm gonna need some done soon and am not looking forward to the process, and my Mother in Law is in the business. They can't find good flooring people. Good luck.

LVP is easy AF to install. I've done a master bedroom, a basement bedroom, and a kitchen - all with different needs for underlayment. Honestly, it's cake to do, just get the right underlayment and measure twice, cut once.

It does take some time...

 

[Cyclonepride]

LVP is easy AF to install. I've done a master bedroom, a basement bedroom, and a kitchen - all with different needs for underlayment. Honestly, it's cake to do, just get the right underlayment and measure twice, cut once.

It does take some time...

It's easy to install, but there are things that can go wrong (especially with the newer SPC which is more brittle and less forgiving). There's aren't many subfloors that meet manufacturer specs for flatness, so prep work is critical.

 

[MeanDean]

LVP is easy AF to install. I've done a master bedroom, a basement bedroom, and a kitchen - all with different needs for underlayment. Honestly, it's cake to do, just get the right underlayment and measure twice, cut once.

It does take some time...

Leave small gap at the ends. This gives the necessary room for expansion. They can expand, which can cause bubbling/waviness.

 

[spierceisu]

Leave small gap at the ends. This gives the necessary room for expansion. They can expand, which can cause bubbling/waviness.

That is what the issue was. Some of the areas they pieces got jammed in and broke the tabs too so it was causing the issues I am having. The warranty only covers manufacturers defects and since the install company is no longer around, hoping I can find a way to get the issue resolved without spending another load of money. If not, I will just wait until my kids are older and go with hardwood.

 

[Cyclonepride]

That is what the issue was. Some of the areas they pieces got jammed in and broke the tabs too so it was causing the issues I am having. The warranty only covers manufacturers defects and since the install company is no longer around, hoping I can find a way to get the issue resolved without spending another load of money. If not, I will just wait until my kids are older and go with hardwood.

FWIW, if you have extra material and the problems are limited to a few planks, you can do spot repairs.

 

[spierceisu]

I have a few, but one or 2 of the spots are out in the middle of the floor. I don't have enough to replace all the parts that are bad and wondering if more issues are going to show up since things have been getting worse recently.

 

[spierceisu]

The rep for the flooring manufacturer also mentioned that some of the wall geometry would cause issues trying to install and that they just got in a hurry and jammed them in.

 

[chetsger]

LVP is easy AF to install. I've done a master bedroom, a basement bedroom, and a kitchen - all with different needs for underlayment. Honestly, it's cake to do, just get the right underlayment and measure twice, cut once.

It does take some time...

I have done it. I have two broken vertebrae in my back. Very close to all good but taking on a new to me 1500 sq ft OLD house is just not in the cards unfortunately. Reason is my wife hates carpet and other than the kitchen and the bathrooms... yeah.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Flooring is near impossible to find someone to do it well. I'm gonna need some done soon and am not looking forward to the process, and my Mother in Law is in the business. They can't find good flooring people. Good luck.

It doesn't pay well enough.

 

[CascadeClone]

Leave small gap at the ends. This gives the necessary room for expansion. They can expand, which can cause bubbling/waviness.

Our place, the PO did composite (rather than LVP) flooring in the kitchen and adjoining rooms, and left decent expansion gaps.

Then he put in new cabinets (very nice I must admit) and decided to do new trimwork to match. He did all that trim, but used something thinner for the baseboards, and so now some of the bigger expansion gaps are uncovered!

Someday we will re-do the floor with LVP, but today is not that day...