How many times do we battle the silly moves of new construction? I will not push the blame on the GC or the builder this time around, but rather the installer. If you have been reading my posts over the years, the statement "Get the house ready for the wood, and then the wood ready for the house" will ring clear. This time around, it is so real that the installer needs to get the full blame. Now, I understand we battle the low-cost so-called floor experts, but when you do silly things, you get what you ask for. Yes, a new house is on a timeline; yes, we need to be a huge part of the sale of that house, but you have got to be ready to keep the builder in check.
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How many times do we battle the silly moves of new construction? I will not push the blame on the GC or the builder this time around, but rather the installer. If you have been reading my posts over the years, the statement "Get the house ready for the wood, and then the wood ready for the house" will ring clear. This time around, it is so real that the installer needs to get the full blame. Now, I understand we battle the low-cost so-called floor experts, but when you do silly things, you get what you ask for. Yes, a new house is on a timeline; yes, we need to be a huge part of the sale of that house, but you have got to be ready to keep the builder in check.
What am I talking about? Here is the meter on a big install that failed the inspection:
If you are doing your job, that means keeping up with the conditions at the job just as soon as you are awarded the job: You have to keep going back and forth during the construction. I like to keep tabs and notes during the entire job, because if you stop trouble up front, it is easy to get the GC to fix problems fast with little pain. This job is one that is a mistake waiting to happen, and it did.
The builder asked the installer to install the flooring in this home with no power; the HVAC and, in fact, the back door were not installed yet. So, who do you blame? The installer did not share any concerns with the GC before the job, nor did he refuse the job. The wide flooring was installed at 7-9% MC and the subfloor was in the low 20s with no way to dry it out.
These days part of my job is being called out and trying to get the installer to understand that you just do not do this! The response was, "It is done all the time." I have been told the wood is bad: things like, "it was too green," "the milling is bad," "the wood is too dry," and, my favorite: "it is just wood, just like the trim." When a guy told me that, we went to look at the base, and it was all MDF-not wood and not really a wood product at all.
So, the reason for this post (I'm not trying to be ugly): You know better!
All Things Wood Floor, created by Wood Floor Business magazine, talks to interesting wood flooring pros to share knowledge, stories and tips on everything to do with wood flooring, from installation, sanding and finishing to business management.
