Alberta Floor Covering Assoc & Flooring Problems

[Ford Prefect]

I'm having some problems with some oak flooring I had put in last year ... the boards started developing splits within a few months. A lot of splits ... side splits, end splits and splits in the middle of some boards. At last count I found around 60 such boards.

The boards were properly cured before being installed, and the house has been humidified according to the manufacture's specs since it was installed. I do not feel the problems have anything to do with my installer, but the rather the wood itself. I have been trying to get either the retailer the wood was brought from or the manufacturer to come out and look at the problem. The retailer says it's the manufacturer's problem, and the manufacturer mostly ignores me, although their rep has tried to blame it on my installer.

I feel it's the manufacturer's problem, but I can't even get them out to the house to do an inspection. So I'm now considering getting an inspector from the Alberta Floor Covering Assoc to come out and take a look at the problem. It'll cost me $300 or $400 dollars to get one of their inspectors to come out, plus mileage probably.

My question is, has anyone on CP ever had a similar problem, and if so did they have any dealings with the Alberta Floor Covering Assoc? If they did, was the association helpful, or are they more of an apologist for the industry and tend to back up the floor covering manufacturers and distributors, or do they actually look after consumer interests?

I'd really like to get a sense for whether the Alberta Floor Covering Assoc is sympathetic to consumers as I would like to use their report as the basis for a small claims suit against the manufacturer. After looking at their website though I have some concerns that they might be more sympathetic towards industry members than consumers.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated. At the moment I fear I may have bought $10k worth of firewood.

[TheDragon]

Where'd you buy the wood from, and who installed it? Also, are the splits just in the finish, or are the boards themselves actually splitting apart? Have you noticed if the floor is heaving up or down in any spots? (Lots of questions, but it could be lots of problems.)

[Bigtime]

Do you happen to know what the moisture content of the flooring and subfloor was during installation? Like TheDragon said it is yet another question that could help supply an answer as to what is going on with the flooring.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by TheDragon

Where'd you buy the wood from, and who installed it? Also, are the splits just in the finish, or are the boards themselves actually splitting apart? Have you noticed if the floor is heaving up or down in any spots? (Lots of questions, but it could be lots of problems.)

I bought the wood locally here in Drumheller. Taiga is the distributor in Calgary they bought it from.

It's the wood that's splitting, not the finish. I can stick my jack knife blade into some of the cracks.

The floor is not heaving. It's a 17 year old house and everything is pretty well settled.

The installer used floor leveler where required on the sub floor, and covered the sub floor with tar paper before laying the oak.

As for the wood moisture content, I don't know what it is or was at the time of installation, but I know the installer measured it.

My concern isn't so much about what's causing the problem. That seems pretty obvious ... crappy wood.

What I want to know about is the Alberta Floor Covering Assoc and what their reputation is like.

I'm also interested in the best way to go after the manufacturer on this. They seem to be pretty slippery to deal with.

Edit: I think I misunderstood what TheDragon meant when he asked if the floor is heaving. The floor itself isn't, but there is a couple places where the oak floor boards are. I realize this is an installer's issue most likely. The two places that the oak floor boards are heaving don't seem to be related to the cracked boards though ... it's not even in the same rooms as the cracked boards.

[TheDragon]

Bummer.

Can't say as I've ever dealt with the Alberta Floor Covering Association, but I did hardwood floor repairs and service a few years ago. The company I worked for sold hardwood themselves and always had a stringent service and warranty policy, and in situations like these, we'd be probably be out there tearing it up and swapping it out for a new floor while either eating the cost or backcharging it on either the installer or manufacturer. It's a shame the retailer is being so neglectful in this instance.

Good luck, at any rate.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by TheDragon

Bummer.

Can't say as I've ever dealt with the Alberta Floor Covering Association, but I did hardwood floor repairs and service a few years ago. The company I worked for sold hardwood themselves and always had a stringent service and warranty policy, and in situations like these, we'd be probably be out there tearing it up and swapping it out for a new floor while either eating the cost or backcharging it on either the installer or manufacturer. It's a shame the retailer is being so neglectful in this instance.

Good luck, at any rate.

Ya, I'm a little miffed at the retailer. It's not their fault, but they could be doing a lot more to back me up and help me out.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Ya, I'm a little miffed at the retailer. It's not their fault, but they could be doing a lot more to back me up and help me out.

I understand your frustration, however the retailer has to deal with the manufacturer or vendor as far as the warranty claim goes. I know a lot of the flooring stores out there that charge an all-inclusive price (supply and install) always have higher prices because they do count on having to rip up and replace some floors that they may not get credit back from the manufacturer.

Has the retailer at least asked you to supply a nice "Warranty Claim" package that would include the following:

-Original sales invoice
-Photographs of the concern
-cover letter describing the concern and history of the floor up to the concern occuring
-moisture content on day of install
-humidity levels in the home

Then they can send that to the vendor/manufacturer. Ultimately it is up to them as the warranty holder to decide how to proceed at that point.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I understand your frustration, however the retailer has to deal with the manufacturer or vendor as far as the warranty claim goes. I know a lot of the flooring stores out there that charge an all-inclusive price (supply and install) always have higher prices because they do count on having to rip up and replace some floors that they may not get credit back from the manufacturer.

Has the retailer at least asked you to supply a nice "Warranty Claim" package that would include the following:

-Original sales invoice
-Photographs of the concern
-cover letter describing the concern and history of the floor up to the concern occuring
-moisture content on day of install
-humidity levels in the home

Then they can send that to the vendor/manufacturer. Ultimately it is up to them as the warranty holder to decide how to proceed at that point.

Yes, the retailer has done that much. Where I'm disappointed in them is in not helping me get a response from the manufacturer. This has been dragging on for over 6 months, and I'm no farther ahead now than I was 6 months ago. I know that a rep from the manufacturer comes out to see the local retailer here in Drumheller on a monthly basis, but not once has the local retailer brought the guy out to my house to look at things, despite promises they'd do just that.

[Bigtime]

That is definitely frustrating. I'll come clean and tell you that I am in the industry here in Calgary and that 6 months is really too long to be left hanging. It is one thing if the vendor has sent out and inspector and submitted a report to their manufacturer and the delay is on that end.

I can tell you pretty fairly that there is nothing that rep from the vendor will be able to determine by looking at your floor. You need to get a NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association) certified flooring inspector on site to complete a proper inspection.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Yes, the retailer has done that much.

Demott?

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

I have been trying to get either the retailer the wood was brought from or the manufacturer to come out and look at the problem. The retailer says it's the manufacturer's problem, and the manufacturer mostly ignores me, although their rep has tried to blame it on my installer.

Almost all hardwood has a lifetime stuctual warranty on it from the manufacturer. Trust me, no retailer wants to get wrapped up in an AFCA inspection. Push your retailer to address this issue under threat of calling in the AFCA. They will get a distributor rep(not a manufacturer's rep) to see it if they think they are about to get hung with a claim.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Almost all hardwood has a lifetime stuctual warranty on it from the manufacturer. Trust me, no retailer wants to get wrapped up in an AFCA inspection. Push your retailer to address this issue under threat of calling in the AFCA. They will get a distributor rep(not a manufacturer's rep) to see it if they think they are about to get hung with a claim.

Thanks. That pretty much confirms what I though. Contacting the AFCA is the next step I was planning, and your confirmation helps reassure me that's the correct next action to take.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Demott?

No, Sunrise.