Description of the Common Problem on flooring installation projects.

The most common problem we encounter on any type of flooring project is the flatness of the subfloor or concrete. The manufacturer states how flat the subfloor or concrete has to be in order to receive a warranty. As contractors we have to obey the directions and make sure that the floor is within the specs of the manufacturer. The issue with this is that it is an unforeseen problem until we remove all old flooring and cause the contractor to add more labor and material to the final price.


Causes:

The cause of an unlevel floor is foundation settling, earthquakes, cracking, or simply the builder not prepping the floor to hard surface manufacturer specs. Most builders prep differently depending on what floor is being installed at time of the home purchase.



Result:

Most installers do not prep the subfloor or concrete to manufacturer specs which will leave the floor failing, breaking apart, excessive noise when walking, or excessive movement when walking on. If the floor is not leveled properly then the manufacturer will not warranty their product. If the problem worsens the entire floor will need to be replaced



Solution:

With every project we start we start with a demo of all the old flooring and then evaluate the subfloor or concrete to ensure we address all level issues right away. We can show the customer all concerns and work with the customer to create a plan of action. Our goal is to be transparent with these situations with the customer so they know they are getting a great finished product that they will be proud of for many years.

Description of the Common Problems on flooring installations continued

The second issue we see with flooring installation is moisture intrusion. Moisture issues can ruin all types of flooring. This can be avoided if we perform a moisture test and install the proper moisture barrier for the flooring being installed. This problem is mostly seen on concrete subfloors. It can be caused by a leak in the house, from water coming in from outside the home, or can be from nature. Causes: This issue is mostly found on concrete subfloors and can be caused by a leak home, groundwater intrusion, poor drainage, and insufficient vapor barriers. Result: If moisture intrusion is not addressed then the flooring will swell, cup , possibly break the locking systems. Eventually untreated the floor can start to grow mold underneath the planks and become harmful for the homeowner. Solution: Our team will perform a moisture test on every floor that we install. After the test we will provide you with documentation that states what the readings are so you can guarantee the floor will last. STEP 1 Demo old flooring STEP 2 Inspect the subfloor or concrete visually. STEP 3 perform an RH Reading test. If test is over 75% then a moisture barrier will be needed. If a barrier is needed they come with an additional warranty for moisture.