I recently had a hardwood floor installed and completed by a professional company. The floor has an uneven sheen and is not level in some spots. Almost a 1/4 inch out over areas of less than 3ft. I would like someone with a little more experience with hardwood flooring to weigh in.

Would this type of install be acceptable? Is this poor preparation? What would you need to do to fix this? Any other thoughts? Thanks in advance for any comments!

the floor appears the result of different mill run/lots....there shouldn't be a variation of that type.

the dips are nothing and didn't need to be addressed unless that was part of the installation quote.

leveling a floor is always an added cost and never part ofa standard installation.

was this over concrete or plywood?

Professional?

So hard to believe an installer would not catch that finish difference! Screaming red flag in my book. They would most assuredly be thinking when they're going to get your call to come back.

The rest? I disagree with James on the part of "dips being nothing." I'm guessing he didn't word it properly. While it is true floor prep is an extra cost, it should have been recognized and taken care of prior to the installation. I don't see the level touching the floor on the left side of the picture. What's up with that?

Floor leveling is one of those things most installers never get paid to do. What I mean is that if the installer puts it in his bid the home owner will find another floor guy who says "oh they all are like that dont worry you dont need to spend that money". Then when the floor gets laid he notices the dips and wants the guy who was cheaper due to not leveling to fix it on his dime. Classic.
Your sheen difference is from two different run/lots being mixed. Your manufacture may say you should have worked out of multipe ctns at the same time but that's too much difference for that to even help. Should have stopped when noticed.

Kevin,

I caught that too with the level. My guess is he is demonstrating where level would be by compensating and cheating it up..If this is the case, the floor is probably within standard and is not an issue.. it does not demonstrate a swell or dive, but a gradual decline.


What I meant is that they are minor and would not effect the outcome of the install..Of course certain installations may be more compromised such as a floater where there may be excessive movement in these areas.

It doesn't mean the install wont be successful and thus, leveling would not have been necessary if it wasn't requested.

However, those issues should be discussed with an owner.

and I agree with Kevin also...

The other side of the level is touching the floor. The reason the level in the picture is off the floor because the floor drops and the level leaves contact within 3ft. I guess to say the floor is not level is an understatement the floor dips the amount you see in the picture underneath the level within 3 ft.

Is that kind of difference/dip deemed acceptable? I appreciate everyones comments. Thanks for your help.

The bigger problem you have is the different sheens. The previous poster was right, they must have used 2 different lots where the one had a different finish or it didn't get finished.

Or it sat out and oxidized in the warehouse? Either way its not suppose to look like that and I would call them back.

The dip is not a big deal... At least compared to the sheen. If you can walk the floor and notice that dip, don't worry about it.

As someone else mentioned finishers don't get paid to lay a flat sub-floor. HOWEVER a professional would inform the client there is a dip in the floor and here are the options BEFORE they start.

Sounds like the person installing it, didn't bother checking the floor.

Also it could be signs your floor joists are sagging under the home, which I would look further into just to be safe. You may be able to shim the floor from the basement if that's the case.