Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Am I overreacting?

Well I had my kitchen floor Dupont Laminate flooring installed by Home Depot installers.
If you remember my posts, I had started to use several bags of the leveling compound and never came within spec, so I threw in the towel; in fact it was still substantially out.

Several problems:
Despite asking them to level the floor, they never measured it and installed over my uneven floor. There are several areas where you can feel the spring; also you can hear the table rub against the wall when you walk in front of it. Along some edges you can press the laminte down 3/4 inch.

They installed a transition strip in a opening that they were installing laminate on both sides of(a doorway with no door) I could not tolerate it and had them redo it.

The grout lines (I have the tiled look laminate) are off from 1/4 to 3/4 of a grout line width.

The installers spoke al most NO English and I could not communicate with them!

After reinstalling about 20sq ft due to transition strip the cuts were way off, they used a grout material to fill in!

While the floor looks great it has several severe problems as noted

I’m really TERRIBLY dissatisfied with this installation. My fear is that the tile will eventually crack due to the stress from the unevenness.

ANy ideas what I can and should do???

Yes it is laminate, with Tile look. I've read several post here, indicating that laminate will crack if not installed flat.

I used this site to try and do it myself, unfortunately the installation got more and more difficult... I'm not a perfect human being and realized my limitations and THOUGHT I was paying for a professional, I.e. in the same way I might use a mechanic or a doctor...I can't do EVERYTHING myself.

So now I'm asking for advice on my options on having HD remedy this situation.

I have had other people do just 3 things on my house.

1) Replacememt windows - I was unhappy with them
2) Excavation and concrete for an extension - it was a nightmare
3) Framing the extension - finally I was happy with a contractors work (it was my cousin otherwise not sure if I would have had the confidence to go with another contractor after #1 and #2

So... I understand your frustration. My nightmare was the excavation and concrete. The guy, left after excavating and I didnt see him for 3 months! I was the winter, and so-so weather but i got no return phone calls and when i did catch him, it was excue after excuse. Finally he poured the walls, and it was another 3 months after framing that he finally poured the basement... afte I dug it out thinking Id never see him again!

If your that unhappy, just keep hounding HD. Wish I could help - hopefully someone here can.

I remember you. I am very sorry for your predicament but I saw this coming a mile away. :wall:

I am not fussing at you at all :) , but you are not going to get a floor installed at that price and have your floor prepped with a portland leveler too.

Having said that, it is the installation company's fault for not doing this.

Who did you ask to flatten out the subfloor? It should have been on the big box work order to bring so many bags to prep and you would have been charged "extra" for that part.

I would set up a meeting with the store manager and the installed sales associate and let them know that you are an educated consumer and know this was not done. If they don't offer to replace the floor then you will need to hire an independent certified floor inspector to write up a report.

Let them know you are reserving that option.

Home Depot contract includes 1 large bag of the self leveler in the price! Any additional is a flat $60 price. So after reading that and being assurred by Home Depot Flooring personnel PRIOR to installation that they would level the floor. I don't this my expectations were unreasonable(verbal & written commiments). Its mind boggling that they couldnt even line up the grout lines correctly!! Frankly, I'm not sure what else I could have done. All my prior experiences with HD installed products have been great(gradge door, entry doors & carpeting)

Flooring requires a flat subfloor. It is the installer's responsibility to make the floor flat prior to installation. Flooring failure due to improper preparation of the subfloor is the retailer's responsibility.

Your not alone. HD and Lowe's is a flooring failure inspectors dream come true. Job security to say the least. Home Depot hires an installation company that subcontracts to a contractor, that subs it out to an installer, that pays someone barely minimum wage to install your floor. Can you see how you got the illegal immigrants?


I would light a fire under HD's(you know what) :wall: