As part of a renovation of our kitchen we had new flooring fitted last year. We bought vinyl from a large store and after months of delay it was delivered. Our builder fitted the vinyl over a new screed. It is quite light in colour and after a few month it began to darken in places. We contacted the seller about cleaning but it seems for vinyl soapy water is best. Eventually we sent photographs to the seller and they offered to replace the vinyl. We’re not sure this is wise as a replacement might develop the same dark patches. The seller sent a fitter of their own to meaesure up and price for fitting new vinyl. When he visited he suggested it was usual for vinyl to start to fade (or whatever) after maybe six months. This Is of course ridiculous unless there’s a serious fault. We now have seller estimates for fitting replacement vinyl. However, we assumed the the seller would make good all of our costs - I.e. fitting and new vinyl - but they seem to be saying they’ll cover half of the fitting costs as a goodwill gesture. We’d like to know what we can reasonably insist on. We won’t be using their vinyl or their fitting service as we have lost confidence and would like a refund of both vinyl and fitting costs in full. We might ask for compensation fit the inconvenience we’ve had but we’ve not decided yet. I should say the seller is a reputable firm that has in the past year seen it’s cudtomer service and after sales collapse into chaos. Thanks.
Your builder fitted it over a new screed, it sounds like a cock up from your builder not the firm you bought the vinyl from. I would bet he hasn’t done a true moisture test on the subfloor? What adhesive did he use to stick it down? Either moisture ingress or plasticiser migration would do exactly what you’re suggesting, photos would be helpful. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yet another case of incompetence it seems. I would doubt if 1 out 100 builders check the rh/moisture levels when undertaking a flooring project. It's another case of "hey, it's a manual trade...wonder if the decorator could undertake the re-wire for my home, he has a toolbox with a few hand tools .... Builders should at least be wise enough to know the possible drying issues with a new concrete floor....or maybe not
Thanks for the advice and suggestions. Just to be clear the floor isn't solid, it's timber with a layer of what looks like chicken wire and cement covered by quarry tiles. There's a large void under this floor and its construction is visible from the cellar. It is original - i.e. 100 years old. We've had screed and vinyl on it before for around 18 years with no problems. Don't know if this makes a difference to your views. I took pictures for the manufacturers who offered to replace it but didn't comment otherwise. The shadow from our lights do make it hard to tell ordinary shadow from whatever you would call the colour changes. Here are the 3 pics. The line down the right middle is an effect of the lights. The rectangle shadow on the L is cupboards. The varying shades across the vinyl are all colour changes. Thanks again.
I don't know how our builder did it. Obviously I need to talk to him. Are there other questions I should ask him?
A leak behind units with moisture getting trapped between ply and vinyl ?? May be sealed up to kick boards but could still get in from behind ?
