I am laying an engineered floor for someone. (Kulim) After a couple of rows I noticed that some of the boards had varying widths. very slight about 1/32 and occasionally 1/16".

which may not seem like much but the accumilation was making it immpossible to keep the rows straight.

The people were away for for 3 Days and I figured me and a helper should be able to do 600 sf in the time. I desperately wanted them to come home to their nice new floor.

It had been a few years since I had layed my 1st hardwood floor, and I sure didn't recall it going like this.

I ended up straighening the rows by remilling the humps that were created in the rows with a 6' straight edge and a razor sharp chisel, then resanding the slight bevel with 240 grit paper.

I impressed myself with the results, but not the ammount of time that this took, or the fact that once I got a row stright again. I was stuck doing the same thing a couple of rows later.

Finally the moring of the night they were 'sposed to come home, after getting only 5' of 12' rows down. I said to myself there's no way it should be like this. so I call the manufacturer, to complain. They informed me that the boards should be uniform and to call the store.

The store called the rep. and I ended up speaking to him. he said I did the right thing by stopping and that he could come in a weeks time, to file a claim.

I felt terrible that my clients floor was not done when they came home. but they understood.

The problem now is....

the rep will either discount the price of the floor or take it all back and they can choose another. only, this was the only floor the clients liked in the price range...the others were double the price.

I told them I would do my best with this product if that's what they want. They agreed (offered) to pay me any discount they would recieve, but at this time we have no idea how much it would be.

it easily is taking me 3 times as long or more dealing with these boards to make it so it looks half decent.

...sorry for the long post, any thoughts or ideas appreciated

You were right in stopping the work. The quality, or lack of it, of the flooring is NOT YOUR FAULT, so you shouldn't feel bad for the customer. It was they that chose that off brand that is poorly milled because it was cheaper, so it is they that should take responsibility for their choice. The store should take back any unused flooring and issue a refund, but then you all would need to rip out what has already been installed and buy something else and install that. Also, you should be paid for your efforts to fix this poorly made product. If you can make it work and the homeowners are willing to pay you for your time, that's probably the best anyone can hope for it this point. And your extra time charges should NOT be based on any refund or discount the homeowners receive but on what it actually takes you in time to remedy the problem. So sit down and figure out to your best ability how many EXTRA hours have been spent by you and your helper fixing and making this poorly milled floor work. Then times that number by you and your helper's hourly wage/charge and THAT is the amount the homeowners should pay. If they can get it from the store/distributor, good for them but that isn't your problem, UNLESS you sold them the flooring to begin with.

So, here's a great lesson for all you buyers out there. You get what you pay for most of the time. If you buy the wood at auctions, purchase off brand products no one ever heard of, and if the price seems to good to be true, then you got what you paid for, low quality flooring that will be difficult to install, cost you more in labor to install it, not have good customer support should a problem arise, etc. "Let the buyer beware."

thanks for response...they definately chose and bought the product... I recommended the store that I use...and they went with the competion, because they had the product they wanted.

I feel your pain brother! I am on a 1300 ft job right now of 3/4 x 2 1/4 solid squared edge 4-sides that is the same way. A 1/16 difference, that occurs in the 18" or under lengths. I suspect something to do with the MC at time of pre-finishing. It's a living nightmare when you are as anal as I have become to be.

My client has fired off a registered letter of complaint to the company. Monday morning I am contacting their rep.

OK, I feel better now

Glad to know I am not alone....I just couldn't live with just slapping the boards in, and saying there you go, now pay up.