Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Oak floor installation - done correctly or incorrectly?

Hello, my client (I'm a kitchen designer) had her 4" wide planks white oak floor installed (NOT nailed from the top). The wood was mistakenly purchased by her as straight strips, 4" wide x random lengths, without having tongue and grooved parts to each piece. They are straight, square cut planks.

The flooring installer said that he would make the tongue and grooves in each plank, and install it as a tongue/groove floor, but he didn't do that. I don't know how he nailed the planks/installed the floor, but right now, it looks very tight and near perfect, if not perfect. It was installed about 3 weeks ago. It was installed over a plywood subfloor.

But, I'm concerned about the future. What will happen with this type of installation? Also, my client paid for this increased labor to tongue/groove the planks and that cost was not separated out, so I feel she should get some sort of refund from the general contractor, as this work was not done.

There are four seasons where the client lives, going from cold to hot and in between.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

The flooring installer said that he would make the tongue and grooves in each plank, and install it as a tongue/groove floor, but he didn't do that. I don't know how he nailed the planks/installed the floor...

IMO the first step is to find out how the floor was actually installed.

I know one thing...the tongues and grooves were not done. More than that, I don't know, but I will try to find that out.

right now, it looks very tight and near perfect, if not perfect. It was installed about 3 weeks ago. It was installed over a plywood subfloor.






There has to be a warranty placed on this by law. Have you discussed an extended warranty?

I know "he said", but what does the contract state specifically. That is all that matters.

There are millions of square feet of wood flooring that is glue down and sanded every year.

I'd leave it alone, and work off the warranty. If it is found not to be done to industry standards at the time of failure, then pursue the warranty, which does not start till the job is installed to standards.

I'm not involved with the sale or installation of it. She later was upset that the t&g wasn't done and confided to me about it. So, I would not have discussed a warranty with her, her GC would have, and I doubt that was done.

"then pursue the warranty, which does not start till the job is installed to standards."

That's what I'm trying to find out, if it was installed to standards, and if that type, non t&g, is even able to be installed to standards.

Exactly how should non t&g 4" wide planks be installed?

Glued

Top Nailed

screw & pegged.