Hi New here and seeking some advice….thanks to anything you can contribute. I moved into a new build property in March 2015. We purchased the flooring for the whole house from a local carpet / flooring shop. The retailer told us they would arrange the fitter and we would pay them on the day. Long story short….. 12 months later, laminate flooring problem. Retailer not interested and told us ‘top live with it as out of fitting warranty’. We paid for an Independent inspector at a significant cost to us. It’s been fitted incorrectly and is deteriorating. I wrote to the retailer on more than one occasion and they just ignore my letters leading me to think they are not responsible. My question is - who is liable should I start a small claims case? Is it against the retailer as they effectively sub contracted the job.
Retailers responsibility for the fitter used normally. What is the issue with the fitting?? Was it an issue when first fitted?
It’s with the shop who you instructed to do the job. Can you post some pictures up. Was it a chain type shop or local shop ( for local people )
Hi, Thanks for the replies. I can reply a bit more in-depth now as at a computer. Laminate was fitted from front door, down hallway and into living room, with the kitchen also in laminate running off the hall. All was fine for approx 12 months after fitting, area between hallway and kitchen begins to bounce when walked over. As time progressed the bounce gets deeper and area starts to spread along the joints (few mm drop), creaking etc. Approached the retailer and they came out and had a look and advised it looked like we had a leak. I knew this wasn't the case, so he sent out a fitter to come and take a look (also advising we were out of fitting warranty as over 12 months). Fitter arrived and stated he could see the problem but as he didn't fit it wouldn't do anything - but if we wanted him to fit a new floor he would. He advised learning to live with it!! Not happy with the results, I paid for an independent inspector to take a look. Report findings were no room for expansion and laminate was tenting. Clearly states that its a fitting issue and due to the areas it would inevitably get worse. We've now got different areas starting to show similar symptoms in kitchen and living room. I approached the retailer (local chain with branches in a few places around the Midlands), shared the report findings with them and they haven't even acknowledged it. I know that i have a case to push things further, but want to ensure i am picking my fight with the correct party before progressing.
Was the kitchen fitted on top of the laminate? Any other large objects put on top of the floor after installation? Any breaks/thresholds in the doorways? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I cant upload photos, it says they are too big. Was a new build, kitchen was fitted before laminate. Heavy objects.... usual kitchen appliances. No breaks thresholds at any of the doors.
Did they take a moisture reading of the subfloor? Most new builds I see still have a lot of moisture in the subfloor when the customer moves in. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The reading should of been done on the estimate. That way they would know if they needed to put down a dpm. I can’t believe the shop won’t do anything about it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
There should be door bars in all doorways to allow for expansion on laminate, if flowed through will cause issues, sounds like not enough expansion gap and no door bars will be the cause
Shop has literally just ignored me since they said it was a leak. Im going to drop them a final letter to remedy or propose a soloution within 7 days. If not, ill go small claims.
Did the independent guy not put on his report that it needed expansion trims at the door ways? or did he just put no room for expansion to cover all aspects. Go back to that guy and ask him if he will stand by his report in court
The no room for expansion covers it all .Photos show more than one area which has been picked up. Yes he would stand by his report. But I want to make sure my beef is correct and with the retailer.
What qualifies him to write the report? I've seen reports from people who quite frankly don't know their arse from their elbow and it shows in their reports. Make sure he won't get torn apart in court.