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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask the fitters to stop fitting my floor today

485 replies

Ncfgjdo · 25/04/2023 05:54

So this situation is absolutely ridiculous and I am perfectly aware that my pregnancy hormones are clouding my judgement here and I'm in an incredibly fortunate position, but I could really be doing with some urgent WWYD advice as I am so stressed over this. I am 33 weeks pregnant and have moved into a complete renovation project (not ideal I realise!). The last few weeks since I got the keys I've had to make a lot of quick (expensive) decisions re the design of the house to allow me to get in to it before the baby's born. I'd thought that would be really fun and exciting, but I'm actually really starting to feel pretty stressed over the whole thing and no longer trust my own judgement. I'm becoming quite teary and doubting every decision I make. One of the major outlays has been flooring. It accounts for a significant lump sum of the budget and the fitters started work yesterday and will complete today. As soon as I saw the flooring down it looked completely different from I had thought it would from when I saw it in the shop. I did immediately mention this to the fitters but they assured me it was the correct one. I'm not blaming anyone else here but me, as I do appreciate flooring looks different in natural/ artificial light etc but I immediately hated it. It really looks nothing like I thought it would. They are about halfway done. Should I call the shop and ask them to stop and at least try to salvage some of the unused packets of flooring? (It's herringbone design and there's a LOT of it as the floor space is massive) or should I let them finish and suck it up and not lose thousands of £?) I'm so angry at myself for making the wrong choice and of course I'm not suggesting that I don't pay for the flooring or wiggle out of fitting fees etc. I also realise this is causing me way more distress than it should- my hormones are all over the place.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
27
Eattheeel · 25/04/2023 19:38

Anyway, now you know that they've supplied what you've bought, and you've learned how flooring, furniture, kitchens (and may I add tiles - Walls & Floors, I'm looking at you) always rebadge their supplied product to stop people using them as a showroom and buying direct cheaper. . ..

....can I say that I've been in your situation loads of times hating something I've spent a considerable amount of money on (carpet colour, worktop colour, positioning of windows, blind size, sofa colour) and my advice is that if its something that anyone else entering your house would look at, think it was nice (or not notice it) then just go with it. It will be fine and you will get used to it. The problem is that it's not as you planned/imagined, but it is still intrinsically nice, and you will forget the comparison and grow to love it. The only time to incur money changing things, is if it is so bad that someone would enter your house and immediately be struck by how bright/big/small/pink/jarring your choice is, and immediately think you've made a mistake and must be unhappy.

Emdubz · 25/04/2023 19:51

Eattheeel · 25/04/2023 19:38

Anyway, now you know that they've supplied what you've bought, and you've learned how flooring, furniture, kitchens (and may I add tiles - Walls & Floors, I'm looking at you) always rebadge their supplied product to stop people using them as a showroom and buying direct cheaper. . ..

....can I say that I've been in your situation loads of times hating something I've spent a considerable amount of money on (carpet colour, worktop colour, positioning of windows, blind size, sofa colour) and my advice is that if its something that anyone else entering your house would look at, think it was nice (or not notice it) then just go with it. It will be fine and you will get used to it. The problem is that it's not as you planned/imagined, but it is still intrinsically nice, and you will forget the comparison and grow to love it. The only time to incur money changing things, is if it is so bad that someone would enter your house and immediately be struck by how bright/big/small/pink/jarring your choice is, and immediately think you've made a mistake and must be unhappy.

This is very true. I’ve also hated things I’ve chosen and then come to realise it was the better choice after all. No consolation right now I know but I hope it turns out to look better than you think.

Original poster
Ncfgjdo · 25/04/2023 20:23

The plot thickens.... the fitting has been an absolute disaster!! You couldn't write it. Will be on to Tapi first thing (again!). Haven't paid the fitter yet thankfully (despite them calling me at work to demand payment before inspection) and insisting that they wait in my house until I got home! If I don't laugh I'll cry! 🤣

OP posts:
Zonder · 25/04/2023 20:31

Take photos quick and send them back to the store.

ApolloandDaphne · 25/04/2023 20:32

What have they done?

Original poster
Ncfgjdo · 25/04/2023 20:53

For a start they've not finished the work and have no idea when the next batch can come in stock (the fitters are a separate company). There are raised parts of the flooring, uneven edges with missing beading and they have scored along my brand new painted and plastered walls 🙈 not to mention they have dumped all their rubbish across my grass including their lunch rubbish!

OP posts:
ReadersD1gest · 25/04/2023 20:56

Ncfgjdo · 25/04/2023 20:53

For a start they've not finished the work and have no idea when the next batch can come in stock (the fitters are a separate company). There are raised parts of the flooring, uneven edges with missing beading and they have scored along my brand new painted and plastered walls 🙈 not to mention they have dumped all their rubbish across my grass including their lunch rubbish!

Oh op... I'd make them take it back and refund you if they can't even finish the flaming job 🙄

BeetyAxe · 25/04/2023 21:02

Oh my god I’ve just read this full thread. Firstly, I think you’ve been made a mug of about the Ravello/Krono issue-they seem to be two different products which are wildly different in price and I wouldn’t accept this. But the fitters sound horrendous and I feel for you so much! So upsetting and frustrating when things like this happen, never mind being pregnant. Hope it’s all resolved without issue.

Emdubz · 25/04/2023 21:06

Do the packs have batch numbers like tiles or wallpaper do? If so you don’t want different batch numbers as they can vary in colour slightly. What a pain in the arse 😞

Original poster
Ncfgjdo · 25/04/2023 21:09

I think I've reached my tolerance limit with them now!

OP posts:
Silentbarking · 25/04/2023 21:23

Ncfgjdo · 25/04/2023 21:09

I think I've reached my tolerance limit with them now!

This could work in your favour. You may yet get the colour you wanted albeit via a different route.

Original poster
Ncfgjdo · 25/04/2023 21:26

To be perfectly honest I'd be reluctant to let the fitters back in to do more work given the damage they've caused. Also just noticed they've broken one of my kitchen kickboards and not put any back on! Incase you haven't worked it out by now- don't use Tapi!! 🤣

OP posts:
theblackradiator · 25/04/2023 23:28

I think your new flooring looks nice. but I definitely wouldn't use tapi myself.I called in recently for a quote for laminate for my small room and I couldn't believe the ridiculous price. it's not even that great quality flooring.

pilates · 26/04/2023 05:35

@Ncfgjdo - you need to do an email this morning to the company listing all the faults and then follow-up with an appointment to call in and discuss. Do not pay any more money, particularly the fitters.

Roselilly36 · 26/04/2023 08:47

We had a similar issue with carpet right, a few years back, having vinyl fitted in our brand new kitchen, the fitters made a complete hash of it, you could see the floor boards under the range cooker, one the the fitters did not move from the corner of the kitchen, I soon realised this was due to the corner post being damaged during the extremely poor fitting. I called the store and was told if I paid them (the fitters) I would have no recourse. It was sorted out, new Lino and kitchen repaired. It was hassle I didn’t need and on the day I felt quite vulnerable, as I was home alone with a baby & toddler, and as you can imagine they weren’t happy at all when I said I was phoning the shop, and then said I wouldn’t be paying them!

ssd · 26/04/2023 09:19

This sounds a nightmare

I can't scroll back on my phone, but did they fit the wrong stuff after all?

Original poster
Ncfgjdo · 26/04/2023 09:44

@Roselilly36 yes the fitting company have been incredibly intimidating! They even insisted that they wouldn't be leaving the property until they received payment when I was still at work and the the work was incomplete! I can assure you that no money will be leaving my account until the issues are sorted.

OP posts:
ReadersD1gest · 26/04/2023 09:47

Ncfgjdo · 26/04/2023 09:44

@Roselilly36 yes the fitting company have been incredibly intimidating! They even insisted that they wouldn't be leaving the property until they received payment when I was still at work and the the work was incomplete! I can assure you that no money will be leaving my account until the issues are sorted.

You're not letting them back in, are you?!

BlueRedCat · 26/04/2023 10:56

How long has the fitting job taken? I had herringbone laid over 2 small double bedrooms and a small hallway. It had a border which complicated it but it took 3.5 days. If they have done it quicker than that then I can see why it might be a shoddy job.

Silverperch · 26/04/2023 12:32

As I said there is absolutely no love in the building industry, it's all about who has the money. Well done for not paying sight unseen. You would never see them again had you done so.

Heronatemygoldfish · 26/04/2023 14:42

If you need to take them to Trading Standards, use the term 'Not Fit for Purpose'
which is the key one for rejecting products.
"Under the Consumer Rights Act you have a legal right to reject goods that are of unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described, and get a full refund - as long as you do this quickly."

PrtScn · 26/04/2023 14:51

MuffinToSeeHere · 25/04/2023 06:06

I think honestly it's more sensible to suck it up even if you hate it. You're not really realistically going to save much money if you ask them to stop now as you will still have to pay them and you've already had half the flooring put down so all you'll get back is possibly a refund on some of the boxes.

A safe level complete floor you hate is much better than no floor at all. Don't cancel unless you're 100% sure this will be rectified and new flooring fitted before your baby arrives.

This, and you could always stick a rug down to reduce how much you can see.

CC2283 · 26/04/2023 15:16

I feel you, just at the end of a reno project with two small children. I had herringbone and when it went down I thought it looked too grey and hated it. However, now it’s actually finished it doesn’t look that grey and I really love it.

TreadLightly3 · 26/04/2023 16:44

Good for you @Ncfgjdo When I had massive problems with Tapi I insisted they provide different fitters to complete the job - you should too. It ended up being that involving the regional manager enabled a resolution.

One of the problems I ended up suffering from is that Tapi are short of fitters so seem to use any old guys where I live. They even asked me if one I’d used before privately would be interested in working for them!

Superkiltywoman · 26/04/2023 17:53

I think you are correct and they are fitting the wrong colour.
I googled it and the description says pale-brown, not silver.

To ask the fitters to stop fitting my floor today