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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 17:11

@Soontobe60

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.
Not sure what you are getting at? The sofa was moved to that spot and then he kept shoving it around obviously. A few other deep gauges elsewhere from god knows what.
OP posts:
Original poster
MrsCremuel · 12/08/2021 17:11

I’ve shoved a rug over it for now.

OP posts:
mumwon · 12/08/2021 17:55

There are flooring dye "pens" they come in different colours to match flooring - check old friend amazon wood pens for scratches try on one & see whether it works

MadeForThis · 12/08/2021 18:44

That would give me the rage every time I looked at it.

jaundicedoutlook · 12/08/2021 19:11

I’d do the following.

  1. Get advice from a good flooring company in your area on repair / replace. As you said you’re in Kent, Bishops in Crowborough (if that’s close to you) are very good.
  2. Contact your insurer and inform them of the damage and get them to sort it.
  3. Inform insurer of the identity of the tradesman - they will go after his liability insurers to recover their costs.
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 12/08/2021 19:14

I've heard about the walnut shell trick before ,worth a go!

Suprima · 12/08/2021 19:17

[quote MrsCremuel]@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![/quote]
They specialise in patch repairs of everything.

I had an issue similar where everyone was telling me how I needed the whole floor sanded and redone- but they repaired the area for 200 quid.

choosername1234 · 12/08/2021 19:19

It is possible that you may have to take him to the small claims court to force him to pay for the damage

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 12/08/2021 19:24

OP have you paid the plasterer yet?

Igloo71 · 12/08/2021 19:40

This happened to us recently but thankfully our kitchen company took responsibility and paid fully for all the repairs. The floor guy used this product:

www.rubiomonocoatonline.co.uk/collections/interior/products/oil-plus-2c-20ml?variant=30950904365107

I have used it myself since and it’s great at hiding damage. Gutting isn’t it? I completely understand your anger, upset and worry.

Heavymetaldetector · 12/08/2021 19:41

@mrspelligrinoPetrichor I used the actual walnut rather than the shell? I thought the shell would scratch it more?

Igloo71 · 12/08/2021 19:43

I should say, I literally lay on the floor and used an artist’s brush on the white scratches only. It takes the edge off the white (my floor is a very similar colour to yours)

LarryTheLurker · 12/08/2021 19:44

I'm dismayed by some of the comments here. Do not try to fix the floor, do not get it mended yourself at this stage. Your plasterer's negligence damaged your property, end of, and he is liable. If he has insurance, all well and good, but insured or not it is down to him and not you.

If you have insurance which includes legal cover by all means refer the matter to them, but if not treat it like a car accident claim where you only have third party. Get a couple of written quotes on headed paper, write to him with copies - not phone, not email - tell him you hold him fully liable for the repair costs, and you await either to hear from his insurers or from him with his proposals. Give him a week.

If you hear from insurers, fine, but if no response, write again telling him you will be having the work done in accordance with the cheaper estimate and will be expecting him to reimburse you in short order, failing which you will issue civil proceedings in your local County Court without further warning. I trust you have his home address.

He's very likely got insurance, but if he hasn't, you have to be prepared to go the whole way and sue.

jaundicedoutlook · 12/08/2021 19:48

Larry is correct above. You aren’t a party to his insurance - they indemnify him for his costs in repairing or replacing your floor.

mareep · 12/08/2021 20:24

I'd try and get a sample of the floor you had, so you can try any potential treatments before you try on the actual floor.

Chumleymouse · 12/08/2021 20:32

All you need to do is contact a french polisher and they will be able to remove/ repair the scratches easily. You could also try a magicman or plastic surgeon repair person, I’ve seen them do some good repairs on things that seemed unrepairable. Just tell the plasterer your paying someone to repair the floor with the money you owe him.

There is definitely no need to replace the whole floor or sand the whole thing, it’s easily repairable , you just need to get the right person.

Good luck.

Ideasplease322 · 13/08/2021 00:39

Just wanted to say that’s awful. I would be beyond angry.

Don’t settle for any half solutions, it needs to be fixed to your satisfaction.

Sorry, no helpful advice to offer, only sympathy

BluebellsGreenbells · 13/08/2021 00:50

You claim on your insurance and they will deal with his insurance on your behalf.

He doesn’t need to give his permission, you need to prove it was him you hired and him that did the damage.

Write a report of conversations and times cost etc - dig up text messages and quotes, and any witness statements about the floor.

Leave it with your insurance company.

callmeadoctor · 13/08/2021 12:01

Hang on, your DH moved it with him. Surely your DH has to share this responsibility?

callmeadoctor · 13/08/2021 12:05

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.

From the OP first post, your DH HELPED him!

TattiePants · 13/08/2021 13:40

@callmeadoctor her DH helped the plasterer LIFT the sofa to the middle of the room. The plasterer has subsequently pushed the sofa round the room scratching the floor.

callmeadoctor · 13/08/2021 14:45

[quote TattiePants]@callmeadoctor her DH helped the plasterer LIFT the sofa to the middle of the room. The plasterer has subsequently pushed the sofa round the room scratching the floor.[/quote]
I don't read it like that :
"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".

In any event her DH moved it with the builder, did he not hang around? Did your DH remind the builder that it should not be dragged? What are your DH thoughts?

callmeadoctor · 13/08/2021 14:46

She says "dragged it here and there in the process (of moving it?), she also says that her Dh and him moved it! Its not wholly clear I agree.

VeryLongBeeeep · 13/08/2021 15:01

I read it as DH and plasterer lifted it to the middle of the floor as had been previously agreed was needed, plasterer subsequently pushed it around himself.

LemonSwan · 13/08/2021 15:13

We did this in our first house!

Flipping nightmare and to be fair to the electricians and plasterers - we think half the damage was done by ourselves as we didnt remove the sheets until work was finished - ie. painting etc.

From now on we are prepping for work with this..

tradevault.co.uk/product/site-safety/temporary-protection/correx-protection-sheet-black-2-4m-x-1-2m-x-2mm/?gclid=CjwKCAjwsNiIBhBdEiwAJK4khpi3CxWpCnk1bvaSpOs0MxJFrWs8ErSjMhGmZ3iEBRhfHAX6a6nyOxoC8uoQAvD_BwE