I bought a condo, a rehabbed limestone/concrete "store". It is a concrete slab condo, and in each unit are various hardwood floor installations from oak to beech to brazilian cherry.

The problem is, when I bought my unit I withheld a considerable amount of escrow until the floors were repaired. I used to lay 14 mm hardwood flooring in Europe and this floor had the signs of a water leak--some kind of water damage--evidence of swelling. They made some comment that there was a sprinkler leak and since the unit was unoccupied, the water sank into the wood and caused the ripple effect. It wasn;t severe, and only with one split board, so I agreed to them replacing it.

The floors looked good then I moved in.

Then 4 weeks later the boards started separating at distinct places in the room, and with my level I could see the boards were rising not pulling away. There is a significant bow putting pressure where it met the wall.

Now I was convinced that I had definite mositure damage, and the Developer under questioning admitted they did not seal the concrete subfloor in any way and just used a "sleeper system" of plywood and some #15. Also, there was water penetration into the roof and may have come into the walls of the building (thus maybe the concrete is holding water in some places).

I discovered ~40 of my neighbor's units have the same problems.

What is to be done? Is it unheard of to do a class action suit for damages of this type?

I know very well there is no quick fix repair for this and if we want resolution we must have the floors come up and be redone properly or put tile down like they do in the countries where concrete and rock are the usual base of the home.

thanks for any assistance

km

Sounds like no one has an understanding of solid wood, and its properties or characteristics.

i am hoping that means you think we have a case.

What you need is your own certified wood flooring inspector.

http://fits4.org/ilist/ilist.html

Also

www.NWFA.org

thanks

we will do so Monday morning, and seek advice from these people as "moisture expert" the developer claimed to have was just a contruction worker they pulled off the job and gave some hygrometer to.

any other comments are welcome.

needs expansion gapping? Maybe?

NWFA inspectors and NOFMA inspectors are recognized by the Hardwood Flooring Industry.
Don't know who that fits is, but only nwfa/nofma are recognized.