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Original poster

Hardwood flooring totally ruined by tradesman

85 replies

MrsCremuel · 12/08/2021 15:09

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.

OP posts:

Original poster

MrsCremuel · 12/08/2021 16:16

@roses2 yes we haven’t paid him yet

OP posts:

Popcornbetty · 12/08/2021 16:17

Just seen your pic, i would be furious. Hope it can be repaired, some workmen can be like bulls in china shops and they always deny it later.

NinaBallerinaShoes · 12/08/2021 16:19

When I scratched my floor, I went over them with a brown pencil and they disappeared.

Killahangilion · 12/08/2021 16:20

You don’t really need him to give you his insurance details as you don’t claim against his insurance at all.

You need to get some quotes and then write to him asking him to pay £X to put it right and then if he ignores you or doesn’t agree to the amount, take it to the small claims court. Unless he denies doing the damage, the court will find in your favour.

He can choose whether to contact his own insurer or not, but the insurance company is more likely to pay you out of court.

FolornLawn · 12/08/2021 16:21

Is it an oiled finish? If so, re-oiling the scratches will hugely improve them. Not quite the point, I know.

makingmyway10 · 12/08/2021 16:21

I feel so sorry for you. I am very precious about my home and this is exactly the reason I hate having tradespeople in. To be fair most are great but we have had a few who just don’t care about your property other than the part they are there to fix/fit.

He absolutely should pay in some way for a repair. Especially as you were clear to him that furniture could not be moved. Write down exactly what happened and what conversation was had while it is clear in your head.

Then ask him in writing to pay for the repairs, be very clear that you will not let it drop. It needs to be resolved. Ask him to claim on his insurance. In the meantime get a quote in writing from the floor company.

I disagree with the posters who say to live with it.

memberofthewedding · 12/08/2021 16:25

I also disagree with posters who say live with it. For the present i would withhold any money you owe him and consult your own home insurance. Sometimes home insurance also includes legal advice. That would be my first port of call.

aiwblam · 12/08/2021 16:26

I've had people come in and wreck stuff. Not to the level of expense that you are facing, but I have had a carpet wrecked in my dd's room by cowboys and a shower installed that let water into the next room. Ended up fixing it at my own cost. Nowadays I don't let anyone in my house unless they have been personally recommended by someone I trust. If that means I have to live with broken stuff or stuff that needs repairing until I can get someone trustworthy, then so be it.

makingmyway10 · 12/08/2021 16:27

@memberofthewedding good call re. house insurance and legal advice

aheustsg · 12/08/2021 16:29

That's awful OP. For comparison, we are having work done at the moment. The tradesperson made a mistake and ended up damaging three rooms in our house. They were incredibly apologetic and have repaired/replaced everything. It's looking better than it was before.

PercyPigAndMe · 12/08/2021 16:29

I'd be hopping up and down too. And I'm also unsure what lesson you have to learn here, as another poster says!

I'd be withholding his money for now. Not indefinitely of course but just put that to one side for now. I'd be emailing him - needs to be in writing - saying that he has caused damage to your flooring and enclosing photos of the damage. I'd offer him the chance to put this right, either by paying for the damage or claiming on his insurance. He must have insurance? This is what it's for.

I'd then wait and see what his written response was. And take it from there. In the meantime, I'd contact my own insurance company to run it by them and also contact check a trade. But first, wait and see what his written reply is

makingmyway10 · 12/08/2021 16:37

Totally agree with @PercyPigAndMe

tara66 · 12/08/2021 16:38

There are ''repairs'' for scratched wood you can get at DIY shops. Felt tip type of products in shades of brown - buy a few and try to match up the colours on your floor in the scratches. Also different coloured brown wax sticks that usually come in packs of 3 that do the same thing.

AGreatUsername · 12/08/2021 16:40

I would absolutely not live with that. The scratches appear to have gone through the wear layer. Engineered wood will have between 1-5mm of wood on top, it should last at least two sand backs. HOWEVER while sanding and refinishing will improve that, if it’s gone through the wear layer they will still be visible.

I’d go through his insurance. Or seek advice via your own house insurance on what to do, they may even pick it up with the guys insurance. I’d be fuming and I’d also be giving OH an ear bashing for letting you face down the aggressive tradesman!!!

godmum56 · 12/08/2021 16:56

[quote MrsCremuel]@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor sorry it’s engineered hardwood flooring[/quote]
Decent engineered hardwood should be sandable too. We looked into it when we had the floor done (went for hardwood) and were told it could be sanded approx six times before needing to be replaced.

godmum56 · 12/08/2021 16:57

@aiwblam

this and me too

Soontobe60 · 12/08/2021 17:01

@MrsCremuel

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?

Lesson 1: make sure your sofa legs have gliders under them so the floor never gets damaged again! Lesson 2: put old sheets etc down in the flow whenever you’re doing any work that involves moving the furniture. Lesson 3: make sure tradespeople have insurance.

Original poster

MrsCremuel · 12/08/2021 17:03

@AGreatUsername the only solace I can take from DH’s total inaction is that he thought I was doing well on my own. But honestly, poor show. I’d never have kept my mouth shut if the shoe was on the other foot.

@PercyPigAndMe he has just asked for my email address so I expect the insurance details shortly. I’m withholding the money until I know there is some sort of solution in the process and will get everything in an email.

I really can’t let it lie, it will be faff but it’s not right that he can cause this damage and expect to get away with it. I’m not shelling out money we don’t have for other people’s mistakes, especially when he acted with such ill grace! Would have been a different story if he had taken responsibility but to try and blame it on me! Killer is the sofa is one of those comes in a box ones which we could alphabet disassembled in 15 minutes. I have a text where I ask him what needs to be moved out so his bad!

OP posts:

Soontobe60 · 12/08/2021 17:05

To be h9nest, those long lines don’t look like they’ve been made by sofa legs, as surely the scratches would be in one continuous line? Unless the sofa hovered.

NaturalStudy · 12/08/2021 17:05

Agree with @Killahangilion that you should just issue a small claim against him. It is very straightforward and you can do it yourself. Get lots of evidence that you have repaired it in the most cost effective way possible.

mm8989 · 12/08/2021 17:06

I have engineered wood, its top layer is thick and can be sanded multiple times. The only issue with deep scratches are that you need to take a fair bit off, this changes the colour, therefore it is best to do the entire floor.
Your floor looks like it needs a re oil anyway.

IntermittentParps · 12/08/2021 17:06

Perhaps leave off the 'lessons' for a bit?

OP, if you haven't paid him yet can you use that as leverage? He gives you his insurance details and them permission for you to claim, and you pay (if there's any balance after the cost of the floor is deducted).

And 'DH didn’t say anything' Why the fuck not?!

Popcornbetty · 12/08/2021 17:06

'Nowadays I don't let anyone in my house unless they have been personally recommended by someone I trust. If that means I have to live with broken stuff or stuff that needs repairing'

We are like this too and always research throughly beforehand where possible. However sometimes
you cannot wait, for instance we had a huge leak on a bank holiday and getting an emergency plumber out was near on impossible and obviously emergency rates to match. We were lucky that we found a company to come out and the guy was good and saved us having a huge part of our ceiling removed; he could quite easily have been a cowboy for all we knew! He also saved us some money on the hourly rate by paying him direct and not through the company for the second hour.

Original poster

MrsCremuel · 12/08/2021 17:07

@Soontobe60

He has insurance but I can’t force him to give me the details. I also called what check a trade says are his insurers and apparently he can refuse the claim bizarrely.

In all the work I’ve had done tradesmen have covered the floors and not caused damage. I specifically asked him if it would be ok relocated to the middle of the room and that we could move it if not and that we would need to lift it and he said it was fine.

Sorry, not accepting responsibility for this. He is a chancer.

OP posts:

Heavymetaldetector · 12/08/2021 17:11

In the meantime, sorry if this sounds like bollocks in advice, but honestly... Rub a walnut on those scratches! I don't know how it works but it somehow fills in the grooves with walnut and hides them. It might take the edge off for you. I totally sympathise with you on this one, that tradesmen needs to take some responsibility for other people's things

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