Hardwood flooring totally ruined by tradesman

[MrsCremuel]

Feeling quite shaken. A plasterer came over today to do a job for us, and in the process has completely ruined our hardwood floor. He said we could just centre the sofa when I asked if he needed it moved so we did. We told him it must be lifted or it would scratch the floor so my DH and he moved it.

Well he’s obviously dragged it here and there in the process and there are massive scratches everywhere. He has chipped other places not near the sofa where he must have dropped things - lots of deep holes. Absolutely gutted. Baby due October and don’t need the stress.

Spoke to the flooring company and as it’s tongue and groove and glued, they would have to replace the entire floor and the hallway as it runs seamlessly into the hallway.

The guy got very shouty and was blaming me for not moving the sofa, when he specifically said we didn’t need to. He was doing is a favour apparently! It got quite heated and he won’t pay for the damage but I’ve said we will get advice from the flooring company and claim through his insurance.

I’m not paying for this! I don’t think he os going to give us his details. I can see in check a trade who is insurer is but what do I do next?

Feel pathetic but trying not to cry, I didn’t back down but he was quite intimidating. DH didn’t say anything which I am miffed about but I did stand my ground anyway.

That's awful. Take lots of photos so you have a record.

Is he self employed? I would get lots of photographs, a statement from the flooring company and send him a bill and tell him to go through his insurance. Have you paid him for the work he's done?

If you know who his insurance company is, can you contact them direct? Maybe speak to your own house insurance company first to see if they can offer advice.

If it's solid wood it can be sanded and re finished and it'll look like new,no need to replace it all.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor sorry it’s engineered hardwood flooring

Are you insured?
Claim on your insurance and let them pursue plasterer maybe?

Totally unacceptable, do you have pictures of it before the work was carried out? Otherwise ot could be your word against his should he deny it.

Also when your baby becomes atoddler you may want to put rugs down or better still carpet over it temporarily.I say this while eyeballing my little whirlwind ds who is in process of dragging a side table across the room after the other day causing dents in my wall with his toy drill i would def have rethought the decor choices if i could go back!

The state of it

@Popcornbetty not sure I do have photos of it before. We usually have a rug down but it’s been sent off for cleaning.

I would be livid with that!

Have you tried moping it? It's amazing what smooths over when you do. Just so it's a bit better while you are waiting for it to be fixed.

**mopping

Mopping as we speak! That’s not even all of the scratches. I’ve mopped a few times and they just come back. I don’t think I can claim on his if he doesn’t give the insurance company permission. Makes me very angry that he can get away with this.

Are you in London?

Contact royal repair- they will fix this. Very reasonable too.

If he has breached the conduct T&Cs of checkatrade then you should flag that to them as well.

Is it just that one set of scratches? From a practical point of view in terms of what you do next and stress levels, and since you are about to add a baby into the mix, if it were me I might just learn to live with it (once I'd finished feeling sad) and then replace the floor once the child(ren) were older.

But obviously it is your home and your floor, so you are perfectly entitled to make different choices!

They don't look like deep gouges, just that the protective coating has been scratched off. Would it be worth waxing it or whatever treatment it's had?

Engineered wood usually has 2/3 layers so you can sand it down, restain and varnish / oil / wax. Also if it is oiled / waxed then redo that and it will make it look better. I think you might even be able to get coloured oil/ wax which should be even better.
Such a PITA. People always think we are weird when we say shoes off. I like my floor, have kids and your shoes have shit on them.

I agree. That would be better repaired than replaced and yes he should cover the cost. Lesson learned for all of you.

Engineered hardwood just means there is a layer of real wood with more stable engineered wood underneath. Most engineered hardwood has enough actual real wood on the top layer to take at least one of bit two sandings. Can you ask the flooring company how thick the top layer of wood actually is? Then ask for a quote to sand and stain the floor instead of replacing

Some workmen are bulls in a China shop unfortunately. My window cleaner is the same. Please don’t just push my sofa (sideways on). It is far enough from the floor length windows to clean them. But not far enough to walk. He can’t be bothered to walk round so he pushed it and the screw in the legs bend. Does it every time.

Firstly, if you're offered a re-sand then you will end up with a completely different-looking floor - you have what looks like a brushed and oiled floor and that has a textured finish - if you sand it all down you'll lose this.

But I think it's not as bad as it looks. If you get some floor oil, put a little on a rag and rub this in you'll be amazed how much better it looks. I had exactly this type of floor and with a bit of oil the scratched vanished (or as good as)

You could get a professional wood floor company in and they should be able to sort it out.

I called the flooring company who did it and they said the cost to sand the floor would be the same as replacing it, unbelievably. And they won’t come out to repair for months as they are prioritising new floors.

I am feeling the injustice at the moment. You work hard, save and scrimp and then someone can just come and piss all over it. I think I’d feel better hold he hadn’t reacted in such an awfully aggressive and childish way.

@FreeBritnee what lesson am I supposed to have learnt?

I know it sounds mad but before panicking try rubbing them with a cut Brazil nut or walnut, it’s amazing what that will do.

I’m not surprised you’re upset
I know it looks bad but Unfortunately these types of floors do scratch and wear over time so especially with a little one these things would happen.

Try the nut thing and see how that goes
Also engineered wood can be sanded and refinished so you can know it can be made good as new at some point but of course the sanding is messy

…and you may not get the exact same finish in terms of texture and colour as someone above has said

@Suprima I’m in Kent but will check them out to see if they cover my area, thank you. Redoing the entire floor feels excessive but the I don’t know floors!

@NautaOcts thanks, will look into this.

@TobyHouseMan that’s a good point re texture and you are correct re the type of floor it is

We already have a toddler and there are a few little scratches here and there but nothing like these.

Go through your legal cover home insurance. He doesn't sound as though he'll be forthcoming with details.

Do you owe him money for the work he did? If yes withhold that for now.