AboutJohn Michaels Expertise All questions pertaining to all indoor floor coverings regarding best products to choose, proper installation techniques, and proper maintenance techniques.
Experience We are a nationwide floor covering inspection service. We inspect all types of indoor floor coverings in every city and town in all 50 States and in all the Provinces of Canada. We see where errors in choice of product, improper installation, and improper maintenance lead to complaints being registered and we are then called upon to inspect those products and issue certified reports indicating from where those complaint issues eminate. We have done this type of work for over 40 years.
Education/Credentials Carpet, vinyl, and hardwood manufacturing, installation, and maintenance, prior to just inspecting, and a division of our Company specifies proper floor covering choices for residential and commercial uses.
Question Our ceramic floor was installed about 6 years ago. About 2 years ago we noticed several areas that had hollow tiles, the installer came out and removed about 40 tiles and reinstalled them and we thought it was the end of that problem. The same problem occurred again a few months ago but this time about 8 tiles actually raised off the floor along a grout seam. We hired a flooring inspector to figure out what the problem is. His analysis is that the installers did not properly prep the cement slab before installing and there is paint, drywall, other contaminants on the slab that is breaking the adhesive bond and will continue to break down. The installer is willing to replace the tiles that raised up but not willing to take responsibility for the rest of the flooring. Over 20 other tiles are now hollow sounding is scattered areas. This is a large tile floor area including about 4 rooms/hall areas. What would you recommend? Does the whole floor need to be replaced or can they keep patching it up? Who pays for all of this? So far we have spent over $1,000 with inspectors, tile removers, etc. and haven't even hired a lawyer yet. There also isn't any extra tile left, it was all used the last time they did repairs.
Answer Hi Linda;First have no more verbal conversations with anyone involved in the sale and installation of the tiles. If you have a certified inspection report indicating installation errors, then contact an attorney. I am NOT an attorney, so I can't give you any legal advice. If there are installation errors, they are latent errors, meaning they were done at the time of installation and begin to show at a later date, much later. If you contracted with a dealer to supply and install the tiles, check your sales contract to see if there are any limits of time for any installation warranties. If you contracted directly with the installer, check your contract. If you didn't make a contract, you have a problem. The entire installation may have to be replaced, and if the dealer and/or installer does not have the financial backing to correct errors, the only one making money is your attorney. If I were you, I would have an initial meeting with your attorney, which should be free, for his or her advice as to what he or she can do for you. Make certain the attorney understands floor covering. It is a very involved field. If your attorney indicates he or she can be of assistance, please feel free to have your attorney contact me for information as to where he or she can get legal advice from an attorney who mainly deals in floor covering issues and writes a column for a floor covering industry publication.
If you know the name of the manufacturer of the tiles visit their website and get contact information, which is usually an 800#. Call their technical services dept. and ask them to email or fax you the free published installation specifications for your tiles. Those specifications will be very detailed and indicate exactly the procedures the installer must follow for a successful installation. If you have a certified inspection report indicating installation
errors and you can find, in those installation specifications, where the errors occurred, you are on your way to possible successful legal winnings. That's about the best advice I can give you at this point. No more verbal communication, since hearsay evidence may not be accepted in your Court system. Everything must be sent certified mail with a return receipt requested and keep a copy of any letters sent on your behalf for your records. Your attorney should actually be doing that work. I would strongly suggest that you go the attorney route instead of trying to represent yourself. However, if you find that no matter who is at fault, if there is no way to get the monies needed for the replacement, you may have to 'bite the bullet', take your present losses, and handle the replacement on your own. Just be certain you have installation errors, and not a problem such as moisture in the concrete, which could become a homeowners insurance company's business.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to get back to me.
