My poor newly laid wood flooring

[Wantarest]

Hi

Our builders laid our engineered wood flooring and did a lovely job. Unfortunately, due to their poor planning and a series of other poor decisions, a substantial portion of the flooring got soak yesterday, including overnight, because of the heavy rain. The area affected is about 9mx4m. That area was not made watertight (that's a long story in itself).

My first option is that they rip the entire floor up, which is very expansive as it runs throughout the ground floor of the house as there are no more batches in the wood we ordered. Replacing individual strips or just the 9mx4m area would mean the rest of the floor will not match.

What are the chances that the area affected would not be permanently damaged? They think that the water only sat on the surface and there will not be permanent damage but how can I tell? Replacing the entire floor will be a huge hassle but equally, this is not the floor I paid for.

I guess, I want to understand whether the engineered wood flooring is likely to have been damaged given the water sat on top of it through out the entire night and up to this morning at around 10am.

We are so gutted!!! So are the builders. There was just 1week left to complete the job.

Hard to say, but they'd be taking it all up and relaying if it was my floor.

Would the builder’s not be insured for this type of event?

Are they accepting responsibility? Our floor was wrecked because they laid it too quickly, relationship with the builder has completely broken down as they are trying to blame the world and its dog instead of themselves

Yes they accept and know they are at fault. There is a roof, of sorts, but the tiles had not been laid - everything else was in place except for the tiles. Also some other actions they took compounded the problem. It was a level of stupidity and poor decision making.

The new kitchen would have to be removed. In other words the whole ground floor will need to be redone, including the utility room.

I don't have concerns about the quality of their work. They are top notch. It was overconfidence and a single stupid decision that led to this problem. They had put in measures to deal with the issue yesterday but did not double check that one of the solutions actually was letting water through.

They are very good builders however, my floor was soaked until about 10am this morning. It is almost unbelievable but it is what it is. It is a massive undertaking but I can't help but feel the whole job needs to be redone. I am not sure letting things dry out will be satisfactory. The engineered wood is high quality, yes, but it has had water seating on it and can I be truly satisfied that all will be okay? I just don't think so. I want to be reasonable but my floor had water seating on it for hours.

They are shattered and dejected but so are we. It is an awful situation. It was going so well and yesterday, they were desperate to show us how well things had progress and then in a blink of an eye, at around 4:30 all hell broke loose with the rain breaching the protective covering they had in place.

I have engineered wood flooring - and had a radiator leak overnight and it's never been the same. I would be replacing it all in your position - although appreciate this will be a nightmare!

I think in your place that I would try to get in writing that they will replace it at their cost if necessary but give it some time to see if it dries out ok.

How long do they think it will take to dry? It might be possible to help it along with dehumidifiers etc.

I am feeling so down. I just want to cry knowing the hassle and the difficult conversations that lie ahead. If there was more wood in the batch, then it would not be as overwhelming as it is. I can't see any other acceptable solution that replacing.

Literally everyone is dejected and if they dare try to argue their way out of this we will escalate and take them to task. I just hope it does not get to that. I know they are devastated and this is going to cost them big time. It was completely avoidable even at 4:30 yesterday.

We have the retention money but whilst that would cover new flooring, it would not cover the kitchen being replace - they would have to lift the kitchen units and utility units as the wood flooring goes under all of them. Best case scenario is a new order of the wood is a near perfect match.

Ask for their insurer's details immediately and claim immediately - as it's going to take some time to process. The manufacturers/ makers of the flooring should be contacted immediately too re. ''properties'' of the material relating to flooding.

Ultimately, they shouldn’t have been so stupid. Replace the lot!

I've taken to my bed with feelings of despondency. They have reassured that they will make good but they seem to think there is a case for assessing the damage and letting things dry. I just want the lot ripped up and replace. Best case, replace the large section subject to the suppliers having wood of the same batch in stock.

I know you want to get it sorted right away but it would be better not to have to rip it all out. Also is there a chance that if you wait there will be more chance of a matching wood being available?

Hope you get it sorted.

My daughter's new wood floor in the kitchen and extension was partly wrecked by a leak caused by poor plumbing done by their builders underneath the kitchen area. It was all replaced under their insurance. Not sure how their insurance company gets their money back (off the builders' insurance maybe, if they have it) but it isn't their problem. It was disruptive but had to be done.

I'd get it all replaced. What a nuisance.

My parents had a flood get in to part of an engineered wood floor and the wood pieces themselves were fine once they'd dried out. The area had to be relaid because the expansion of wet wood made it buckle, but it was just a case of taking the same wood up and relaying. I think your floor will likely be absolutely fine - at worst just need relaying and refinishing.

Any update OP?

So far the floor looks to be fine but I have asked for an independent assessor just to be sure. I can't see any noticeable cupping or other changes in the structure of the panels.

Fingers crossed!