Been asked to install laminate about 40 m2 in a decent hall,lounge and kitchen areas.It was laminated before so renewing floor.It was fitted about ten years ago with a minimal gap to the perimeter and then a clear seal applied to the skirtings.The customer wants it fitting exactly the same as before.It has given her no problems before and doesnt want scotia.Iam a bit sceptical (any ideas) on what i should do?.
Tell her about your sceptical thoughts, explain what can happen if there is not enough expansion gap or if the gap is filled. If she still refuses to have it any other way, you at least told her about the risks involved and tell her also that in the event the boards do come up you won't be hold responsible. Some clients are like that, you can tell them over and over again why this or that is not possible, but in the end they pay the bill (but safeguard yourself against free call-backs, we do).
Matt would having it in writing do any good if push came to shove - I always thought that we were supposed to be the professionals and having disclaimers and such would not hold up?
Having in writing you discussed everything with your client, warning him/her about consequences of methods/materials he insist on, does stand up in most cases. Get his/her signature on it. We are indeed professionals and should - in some circumstances - turn down a job, but we have to make a living too. And some clients think they know best, so ask them to sign for their own ideas and the consequences of it when warned by the professional it would be better to change tack. Then again, nothing wrong with having a standard set op tips/advice/disclaimers on your quotations and order confirmations (and not just in the small print!).
It never used to but it seems that it does now. But if you do have it in writting to show them if something did go wrong it stops them turning around saying " you never told me that" like they all seem to do! It would be very rare that they would go on to try and claim money back from you then. However there are always some people that will try it on so they dont have to pay you or try and claim money back etc.
So the conclusion on my part is would anyone bother doing the job in this manner of installation or not?!.The laminate that was fitted ten years ago was fitted without any probs by the father so it will have been FOC,its not to say that it could go wrong this time though would i be right in saying.
i would not fit it myself. There are a few reasons why it has not failed before, but for you to be lucky like they was last time is not hopefull.
As i thought Matt cheers for the info.If i had fitted it and it had gone wrong then EWE would have had to pay for the beer at Mflor lol.
