We are just about done with the first floor install, and it's going good for us on this job. Our only concern was the layout of the main room because we had to meet up around the stairs and walls that are in the middle of the room (shown above).
We knew we had to keep tabs on the floor, making sure we were right on the mark, so we pulled string lines to keep an eye out for any adjustments we had to make. In some new homes we do, the walls are way out of square, with no way to hide the mistake. What we have done on homes like that is pull strings and use the info learned from the NWFA install classes: we rip our own boards so we can make it look good. For example, we have taken off a 1/16 from four boards to give us the fit, or on some jobs we have taken 4-inch flooring and ripped it so we can make a few boards larger a 1/16 so we can gain. Your eye will not pick up the size of the boards, but it will pick up a wedge-cut board.
On this job we did not have to add or subtract, it was not off one bit...our string lines and layout were the key to getting it right and tight. The nice thing is we are on this job for the flooring but they have asked us to give an estimate for the bathrooms and showers ... yay, more work. One thing she has asked is to sharpen the price; but I have the same answer: Folks, I cannot drop the price or I become one of the other guys.
I got a call from a lady we did work for 3 years ago, she had a pipe break in the bathroom and the water ran into the bedrooms with cherry, so the flooring has to come out. We can lace in an area about 5 x 13 so the entire room does not have to be replaced, but we will have to resand the master bedroom. It is a good feeling when folks call you from years back. Now the trouble is the person who the insurance company had estimate the job: My estimate is about $2,000 and the other guy is $3,500. I did not lower my price one bit, and I know my price is not low, but as soon as it is an insurance job, contractors up the price. I cannot do that; my price is firm and fair, but to lie to someone is wrong.
An update on my friend Mike, as you can imagine he is beside himself. His family is in shock over the whole thing so please keep him in your prayers; tonight is the service for her and I will be there to give him a hug.
