Hello,
I’m a homeowner that recently purchased a new home from a homebuilder in the PNW. We moved into our house in March, 2020. Right after moving in, we started to notice that the downstairs flooring was uneven – meaning there were somewhat subtle but definitely noticeable humps all along the flooring. I was initially just going to ignore it, but as the weather warmed up, it was clear that these humps were causing lifting/bubbling in our luxury vinyl plank flooring (Brand: TAS Flooring for what it’s worth).
I had the homebuilder come out today to take a look. They seem convinced that the glue from the LVP is not secure in places, so said they could fix that at the 1 year walkthrough. However, when I look at the TAS Flooring LVP installation guide, it references that the flooring should float, not glue down. I’m skeptical with all of the lifting in warm weather that these are glued down.
Secondly, the builder advised that as long as the flooring is uneven by less than 1/4″ over 16″ on each side of the high point, that it’s considered level and no fix is needed. However, the TAS Flooring install guide says otherwise – that the flooring needs to be even to 3/16″ over 10 lineal feet. Quite a difference compared to what the builder is saying would be considered uneven.
Would love to get the opinions of the experts of this forum as to whether that unevenness is cause for concern, and whether that unevenness might lead to the bubbling/lifting we are experiencing.
Thanks in advance for taking the time to help!
Replies
It seems, by your description, the flooring is floating - not glued down - but was installed without adequate expansion spacing/ margins along the walls. Hence, when the house warms up, the floor expands, and without the needed room along its edges, it pushes into the walls and starts to bubble up/ dome in the middle. The areas where it's not doming, are probably being held down by furniture.
Solution - Take the furniture out of the room. Remove the baseboard along one wall which runs parallel to the strips of flooring and trim another 1/2" off of the width of the last strip of flooring. Let the floor find its equilibrium in the following few days - BEFORE you move the furniture back in. Replace baseboard.
Hope this helps,
Frankie
Thanks Frankie! I definitely think that could have something to do with it. But the floors are uneven even in the cold months. Makes me feel like the unevenness is causing the bubbling or at least contributing to it. Possible?
Thanks again!
Ken
Sounds like Frankie nailed it. As to the builder's warranty, I think that if the manufacturer's standard exceeds what the builder is saying, then the manufacturer's standard would apply.
A couple things in your post lead me to believe that you have been unlucky enough to get a real shylock for a home builder.
Quote 1: “They seem convinced that the glue from the LVP is not secure in places, so said they could fix that at the 1 year walkthrough.”
Quote 2: “Secondly, the builder advised that as long as the flooring is uneven by less than 1/4″ over 16″(you probably mean 16 feet) on each side of the high point, that it is considered level and no fix is needed.”
In quote 1 the builder talks about fixing it. In quote 2 the builder says no fix is needed. Wow! That alone is a sign of trouble. And the fact that the builder wants to wait until the 1 year walkthrough. That could mean he/she expects to be out of business or operating under another name by that time.
Then the difference between what he/she says is tolerable and what the TAS guide says. (We recently had a fireplace builder pull one like that; fortunately we hadn’t paid him in full.)
The bottom line is that if you can’t live with the floor as is, pay a visit to your attorney.