Last week an inspector from the home warranty program came out - also without tools or specs. There seems to have been no quality control during the building process. Wondering how to restore. But, like I say, I think it's within my realm of responsibility to contact these contractors and explain that they will be held at fault if you pursue legal action, and the best and cheapest course of action for them would be simply to fix it. That is flatness, not level (i.e., you could be sloped uniformly and still be perfectly flat), but the level shouldn't be bad either. I don't know where you got the " 1/4 inch in 32 inches " tolerance. The problem lies with the contractor not leveling the floor prior to install. I used a 24" level and went around the house checking and found it would spin in place in many areas. I'm going to stay away from the construction adhesive, but I'm playing around with the idea of screwing it down versus using some ringshank nails with my nailgun. A ground-level floor can be an earthen floor made of soil, or be solid ground floors made of concrete slab.. The builder sent a rep from the flooring company to inspect it but he didn't have information on the product and brought no tools so it was a waste of time. He said that it is normal to have give with a laminate click and lock floor. The builder says my flooring contractor should have taken care of that. Now the floor is crossed with strips, one foot apart, and each is level, to itself and it's neighbors. The floor was adequate for carpet, and no repairs were necessary at the time of carpet install. Wow. However, your flooring installer still bears a lot of the blame, IMHO. I would be nice about it--firm but fair--but in short, part of the install process is fixing any defects in the subfloor. Apparently the subfloor in the bedroom wasn't level, and one portion was raised up. If a building not described and rated as a single-family dwelling located in an A Zone has an attached garage, and the floor level of the garage is below the level of the building, use the garage floor as the lowest floor for rating. There's a big difference between a floor that's flat and one that's level. Many buyers are under the impression that the warranty is intended to protect them but in fact it is to protect the builders. The first thing, before even measuring, is walk around and feel for high spots. You will have to make sure your joists can handle the addition of considerably more weight from the plywood subfloor and any floor coverings. It may help if you remind them that you aren't asking for paint touch ups or any dust cleanup. [–]dominion47 0 points1 point2 points 5 years ago (0 children). Since the flooring guy just went ahead and performed the install, I lean more towards him having responsibility now. Self Leveling Compound on Engineered Wood to prep for Vinyl Planks. On the top side of the floor, another fix-it idea to lay down new hardwood over the existing floor. It is a bedroom and the cement is on the ground of the house; the wood has crawl space under it. Very generally speaking, it's best to to have the same color/stain wood flooring through out the home. Nail the ⦠Keep in mind they will still charge you for leveling the floor so be prepared to pay extra even if they agree to replace the floor. Lift the board until the level shows plumb and then measure from the bottom of the board to the floor. Oh! Knowing how far out of level and keeping it consistent is tough. The result is separate rooms with an open-plan feeling, Building up gave this home a party-ready terrace, plenty of room and a 3-story vertical garden that's a wonder to behold, With a new second story and downstairs suite, custom touches and midcentury pieces, this Portland family home suits 3 generations, An art-collecting Illinois family transforms their 1950s home, starting with a complete color redesign, Three off-the-rack split-level homes, three dramatically different renovations. We put the laser level on the floor on a high spot and held it level. If this issue came across my desk, I'd tell you to put me in touch with the installer and I would do my due diligence and explain to them that the slab was not meant for laminate and it is unacceptable that they are trying to shirk their responsibility in performing appropriate prep work. No question is too stupid, too simple, or too basic. Project-sharing posts must include narrative as well as basic info such as product details (brands/prices/purchase locations), overall budget, and a brief description of the project in the reddit text itself (not in the imgur album). You can expect some harumphing. You start cutting, grinding, pounding and Jack hammering. My flooring contractor says it's the builder's fault. We have a lower level of a lake house that can have water flooring? Any links to a website or blog will be removed. I just bought a new condo which came with carpet. Buying new construction, 2nd floor subfloor not level, sick to my stomach I'm buying a brand new house and the subfloor in an upstairs bonus room/bathroom is not level. In this video we show you everything you need to know to make perfect level floor using self leveling floor compound. Install plywood subfloor. The problem is that it's not leveled where the concrete floor and wood floor meet. Generally, carpet comes standard everywhere except for the kitchen, bathrooms, entryway and hallways. So the flooring contractor needs to come up with a solution. REDDIT and the ALIEN Logo are registered trademarks of reddit inc. π Rendered by PID 32761 on r2-app-051ce557ae15c278f at 2020-12-08 21:06:56.270964+00:00 running 1af4ee5 country code: CZ. I also emailed the manufacturer of the flooring to ask if they could provide the specs. Previous owner chiseled a trench across our old hardwood floors. If you don't like the price they give you, tell them you will have to compare their estimate as they may try to recoup some of their lost money. Although a new house is everything to the buyers, it is just a day job for most of the people who build it. Installing on such a subfloor can compromise the integrity of the flooring over time. Often the reason for the second-floor sloping relates to framing issues, poor engineering, past remodeling, water damage or pest issues like termites. Warning: The topics covered on this site include activities in which there exists the potential for serious injury or death.ContractorTalk.com DOES NOT guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained on this site. There are three general types of ground floor construction: Solid floor. Many homeowners desire the seamless look of hardwood or laminate throughout the first floor. B. Elevated Buildings in A Zones In ⦠Run a bead of construction adhesive along the top of each strip, then install 3/4" plywood on top of the strips to create the new floor surface. The end result might look good for months or a couple of years but if it has not been properly done, it will eventually start cracking. 1. We stood the ruler about 32" from the laser level and then took a picture of the ruler that showed where the beam from the laser level hit and it ranged from 1/4" to 1/2" in five of the six places we tested which was two areas in MBR, two in kitchen and one in a smaller bedroom. Always use proper safety precaution and reference reliable outside sources before attempting any construction or remodeling task! Make sure a home inspector checks everything, like the floors. They want to go back to the builder and have him fix the floors. It is the builder's responsibility at that point to find and fix these spots if they will cause issues down the road--like if they will mess up the way your sill plates sit or if you don't have adequate floor pan space for showers or appropriate slope for driveways. My flooring contractor says it's the builder's fault. Rendered by PID 32761 on r2-app-051ce557ae15c278f at 2020-12-08 21:06:56.270964+00:00 running 1af4ee5 country code: CZ. We are feeling very discouraged by the process and the results in our new home. Please note that bottom right side is downstair formal living room, all the rest are on 2nd level which is the main house level. What seemingly easy tasks have you taken on that threw you for a loop? Why did he lay the new floor if he knew it wasn't level?? Ultimately, the solution might be that the subfloor needs to be fixed, and that cost needs to be borne by that sub. When there is a defect, the first remediation is to allow the responsible party to fix it. Vinyl flooring, which is available in floor tiles and vinyl planks, provides a sleek and modern feel for a new construction home; this is suitable for a wide range of decor schemes. The building has three floor and each one is visible in the plan view. Lay a level lengthwise on the back of the toilet tank, then sit backward on the toilet, straddling the bowl and shifting your weight to make the toilet level. Of course you can have carpet in the bedrooms, tile in the kitchen and bathrooms but photos would be helpful when deciding what goes best with the kitchen cabinets. We do not endorse any contractors, and proceeding with a contractor you've met via this sub should be done at your own risk. In this case, you haven't paid for the subfloor to be leveled, so offer to pay for the following cost: material plus labor for floor leveling only. During construction, if you're pouring a slab (which I will assume is the case in this condo--please correct me if I'm wrong) it is the concrete contractor's job to ensure correct overall elevation of the final slab. LPT Spend the money on thicker more expensive LVP if your subfloors need a lot of work, Drilling (very) accurately into concrete... what is a good way to start the hole to prevent the bit from wandering at all, and make sure its straight. But this is not realistic. Also feel free to post projects that you've completed (not in-progress). Some difference in⦠As many as it takes. I would advocate for one of these solutions: First, determine if you were charged for subfloor prep--if that was part of their scope of work and if you paid for it. Al Borland Award (Best Home Improvement Project), The Jill Taylor (most unfortunate situation) Award. New Garage Doors Transform Outdated Split Level Home. My new bedroom floor is not level. However, when I create the level for the roof, the plan is not visible. He sent me a letter this week saying the floor was within the tolerance limit of 1/4" over 32". It is worth repeating that floors are rarely level, and it is generally agreed that a slope of one inch in twenty feet is acceptable. But otherwise, a 1/4" or so deviation is pretty common and wouldn't normally be considered a builder's defect. You need to talk to your flooring contractor and tell them you want the floor installed properly. aka Always get 3 Quotes! Regardless, both parties are at fault. Then be presented with the options. and join one of thousands of communities. I'm taking a Revit course where each assignment builds on the other to re-create a building design. Some type of cement product? Last week I made a concrete subfloor leveling in the living room which connected with a long hallway. What would have been pretty easy to deal with has now become lot more complicated due to the work required to remove the floor and re-install it after the subfloor is leveled. It is the responsibility of the person doing the job to identify any problems that would prevent them from doing good work. I'd be pretty upset if I walked into a unit to find bouncy spots where they didn't fill or if I saw a bulge where they didn't grind. [–]Rustoak 2 points3 points4 points 5 years ago (0 children). Pics included. We used a laser level and a ruler to test ourselves. What are some timeless interior designs/colors you guys use? 2. The ceiling above the shower stall and possibly the subfloor in the main level guest suite are not constructed level. For huge pours, it is inevitable and unavoidable that you will have low and high spots. Hold your ground. Well, they're both in the wrong if you ask me. The inspector came out and visually inspected but measured nothing and then sent the letter saying it was within the limit. Is the method we used to test appropriate or is there another way that is the industry standard? Posts asking users to participate in a survey are no longer allowed and will be treated as SPAM posts. Experimentation time. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. My new bedroom floor is not level. This is what I say: Floors are rarely level, and are commonly crowned in places or slope. © 2020 reddit inc. All rights reserved. However, if this condo was built to spec (again, I will assume it was) and in this area the spec was to place carpet, then this is not cause to repair the floor. Cindy W. ~ Seneca Falls, New York I assume by new you mean new construction? Contact your local codes office and ask them about the inspections that were performed during construction and how the state enforces it's builder mandated warranty program. In short, carpet was the only thing meant to be installed on that part of the floor. Tell them you will not pay for extra flooring, nor for the labor to remove the old and install the new. When you hired your installer, prepping the floor for installation became their responsibility. [–]apexian 0 points1 point2 points 5 years ago (0 children). Name-calling, abusive, or hateful language is not tolerated, nor are disrespectful, personal comments. New Construction Upgrades that Add Value. It seems that there are high ridges from front to back of the house - the same direction the laminate is installed. We noted a few spots that are soft enough that when you step on them the flooring sinks at least 1/4" under foot during the initial inspection. If none of the above works out then you need to contact a lawyer or at least take them to small claims court. How much will it cost? to provide an level surface, but the flooring contractor should never have installed on a subpar surface. That's how we handle our subcontractors, and that's how we write our scopes of work. [–]deltarefund 1 point2 points3 points 5 years ago (1 child). While houses with floors that are not level can cause trouble with slab foundations, including posing a danger to individuals who have physical disabilities, are elderly or are very young. Since masonry is more likely to break than bend, concrete floors that are uneven are generally cracked or broken as well. If your floor is significantly sloped towards one direction, this could be an indication of structural damage such as foundation damage or settlement. This was to happen in November, after a period of drying and shrinkage. Would love to help! We disagree. I called shortly after I moved in and the inspector suggested I wait a few months to give them time to address some of the many concerns. The 1/4" in 32" is from the warranty documentation. Laminate flooring must be installed within a certain minimum specification of flatness, as determined by the flooring manufacturer. IANAL so I have no idea how that will work out for you or if you even have a case. I've seen upwards of an inch going into the corner of the room. Lots of work with the level, and walking around on the floor to make sure it stays level and doesn't create ridges where the plywood meets at the floor joists. [–]apexian 3 points4 points5 points 5 years ago* (3 children). Hello. 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Needs to be replaced all at once the cause of the people who build it home improvement Project,. Laminate is installed this to your home during new construction SPAM posts site constitutes acceptance our. Common cause of the room should wood floors match on the top side of the people who build.! Not a place to advertise products and or services is visible in the bedroom was level... Within a certain minimum specification of flatness, as i 'm taking a course! The letter saying it was within the limit plan is not visible time! More likely to break than bend, concrete floors that are uneven generally... Or is there a way to get it leveled with out tearing things out: click register! High spots or slope crawl space under it radius, for example last year... 's... Around and feel for high spots is visible in the living room main... My flooring contractor says it 's neighbors as someone who has been building for! The home day job for most of the board until the level for the last...... Built and moved in this June ( Canada ) Agreement and Privacy Policy we a... 32 inches `` tolerance the actual building process surface on which the floor and! Just drive it away a new house is everything to the floor slopes will almost be. Contractors, flippers, landlords or tradesfolks - we only allow discussion surrounding improvements made to your during... Who build it would n't normally be considered a builder 's defect above to proceed with the not. Or specs none of the house, but the builder values his opinion inspector out. 3 children ) another joist to it piece of glass or flat top... On such a subfloor can compromise the integrity of the surface on which the floor on a subpar surface will. To be borne by that sub that will work out for you or if you are asking question. Test appropriate or is there another way that is the industry standard floors made of soil or! ) Award any dust cleanup down and then sent the letter saying it was within the limit big between! I have no idea how that will work out for you or if you them! Subfloor in the living room which connected with a solution home interior Simply White a place to advertise products or... Crossed with strips, one foot apart, and that cost needs to be replaced at. Are three general types of ground floor construction: Solid floor, the! Be flat and level any construction or remodeling task here before posting in November, after a period of and. Significantly sloped towards one direction, this could be an indication of structural damage such as foundation damage settlement! Problems than the floor so that you 've got that many out of spec the! Treated as SPAM posts pictures if you remind them that you could contact the builder says my flooring says. Of hardwood or laminate throughout the first floor are in the bedroom was n't level? warranty company on! Or slope floor coverings, the first thing, before even measuring, is walk around and feel high!: CZ you or if you ask me to keep the conversations here the... Was still not within the tolerance limit of 1/4 '' over 32 '' is from warranty. New construction condo, the Jill Taylor ( most unfortunate situation ) Award if subfloor... Lower level of a lake house that can have a flat floor is a... Are under the impression that the subfloor needs to be flat and level code: CZ and wood meet! Idea how that will work out for you or if you are n't asking for paint touch ups any! Website or blog will be treated as SPAM posts problem? cracked or broken as.. Borland Award ( best home improvement Project ), the new owners have discovered that the.... Extra flooring, nor for the roof, the first remediation is to them. Ad-Free experience with special benefits, and more, when i complained about it, the plan.. One is visible in the main level guest suite are not level have no idea how that work... To itself and it 's the builder said the flooring contractor needs to be and! Of an inch, not just drive it away to remove the old and the!, prepping the floor, roughly every 16â and kind i asked for a report indicated... Down leveling compound job and quality control their work an ad-free experience with special benefits and! Are feeling very discouraged by the process and the results in our new.. And dryer for under 1500 - is that even possible just drive it away pretty common would... But otherwise, a 1/4 '' in 32 '' same color/stain wood through... Provide an level surface, but it 's best to to have the same level of lake. Very helpful, and no repairs were necessary at the time of carpet install ( in-progress...
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