Help: Today the glue down engineered flooring job became an unmitigated disaster. Subcontractor troops left big spaces between planks, glue all over the place and a generally uncraftsman job.
Question: What can be done to remedy the mess. Forget the responsibilities aspect. I am talking about the technical part. Used Bostik’s Best glue. Can the floor be ripped off w/o destroying the Advantech subfloor? Can it even be ripped off? Can the cracks be reasonably filled w/ filler and look decent? Can the glue be gotten off the aluminum oxide prefinised surface. Who should I shoot? Myself or the crew? Should I cry a lot, or is this mess salvable?
Don
The GlassMasterworks – If it scratches, I etch it!
Replies
If you are the cu8stomer and you have a contract for someone to provide materials and install in a proper manner, then the answer is easy...tell the contractor it's not acceptable, and he needs to do whatever it takes to fix the problem. Take pictures...lots of pictures...lay a ruler or coin on the floor adjacent to a gap for a reference, and get close ups.
Do it right, or do it twice.
Bostik's Best has one helluva grip. Pulling up the flooring? Tough job, but I've never used Advantech so I can't comment on if it will shred.
I'd agree in taking pictures. Then depending on how you feel about this, I'd want to try to salvage what can be salvaged. If the job was done that poorly, who can say if the installers can be trusted to fix the job right. Your best remedy wth then may be witholding payment and moving on. Have to be careful with that, though.
I'd try to get as much of the squeeze-out as I can off the flooring. Not all aluminum oxide finishes are the same, so procedd carefully when you start. I'd start with a plastic scraper, something akin to a credit card, and try to shave the excess off. If you've a steady hand, you can use a wood chisel and ride on the bevel.
Once the excess has been removed...
Bostiks does have a product...something like "Bostiks Urethane Adhesive Remover" or something like that. Comes in a liquid, and I think, treated rags or towelettes. I read up on it as part of an advertising package a while ago, and I thought that it was supposed to remove both wet and cured adhesive. Not sure if there's a timeline involved, but I'm sure time is of the essence.
As to the gaps...If the boards aren't going to be r&r'd, gaps can be filled and blended. How well? Many variables in that one.
Sounds like a tough one, Don. Sorry.