LVP floor warping because of a serious installation error

[slo town]

Our two year old COREtec “Luxury Vinyl Plank” floors are totally messed up and need to be replaced. The installer didn’t put a vapor barrier underneath the floor, insisting it wasn’t required because it was LVP.

It looks probable we will get the floor replaced for “free” but this is going to be a lot of work for me. Besides having to move furniture and such, I’ll have to redo all the brand new baseboards and maybe even the casing around the brand new pre-hung solid core doors I installed after the floors were put in. Doing this takes time and I am NOT happy about it! What bothers me most is that my fine wife thinks it’s no big deal because this is what I do. Well, at age 72 this is no longer fun and is instead an ordeal. At the moment the wife and I have very few words for each other. The “Juan Pablo” moniker my family gave me years ago is no longer amusing.

I may even go on strike on this one. I’ve already warned her that I may not touch a SINGLE THING regarding the floor replacement. Moving furniture, painting and installing new trim, and everything else associated with the job - I'll make her take FULL RESPONSIBILITY and let her make all the arrangements and hiring decisions. I’ll plan a solo road trip for a week or two. This stuff better be done to my satisfaction by the time I get back!

Grrrrrr!

Scott

 

[2heeldrive]

Well, that sucks. If it were me, I would cover it up with wall to wall carpet and call it good.

 

[wwillson]

Well, that sucks. If it were me, I would cover it up with wall to wall carpet and call it good.

OP wanted hardwoods not carpet and paid big $ for hardwoods. In my opinion carpet is an allergy factory and we don't have a single piece of carpet in the entire house.

 

[JTK]

I had no idea vinyl plank would puff up like ordinary laminate flooring. I thought that was the main purpose of it. I feel for ya.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

OP wanted hardwoods not carpet and paid big $ for hardwoods. In my opinion carpet is an allergy factory and we don't have a single piece of carpet in the entire house.

Its not hardwood, its vinyl

 

[cptbarkey]

I DIY installed about 1400 square feet of LVP about 6 years ago straight onto the foundation and didn't install vapor barrier. The only issues I have is furniture scratches here and there. It does look like they failed to install it correctly, but how eludes me. Perhaps it was all knocked together too tightly. When I installed it, it all clicked in and no forcing was necessary.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Good luck abandoning the wife during the project. Not a good plan IMO. I would try to get the contractor to deal with all that since it's their fault anyways

 

[wwillson]

Its not hardwood, its vinyl

Yes, I'm talking generally the difference between carpet and a "hardwood" style floor.

 

[Boomer]

Yes, looks like it was installed with no room to accommodate growth and the moisture issue played right into that by causing growth. Very poor installation! What brand of LVP was this? What were the certifications of the installer?

 

[doitmyself]

Please tell us what product was used and what "system" is underneath the LVP that has moisture problems. Do you have true waterproof LVP? Is there at-grade concrete under the LVP? Wet crawl space?

The need for vapor barrier is controversial. Concrete definitely yes. Above grade wood subfloor, maybe not. https://cfdistributor.com/blogs/cho...1mDPVhihbzK2lGTaCBvSc0FLnIdNSHNWaEKcpb7nEv-_O

 

[spasm3]

Yes, looks like it was installed with no room to accommodate growth and the moisture issue played right into that by causing growth. Very poor installation! What brand of LVP was this? What were the certifications of the installer?

Yes, I wonder if there is sufficient expansion room on each end of the runs. If it's too tight against the wall stud or the baseboard, it can't expand.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Yes, I would also like to know the product and what type of floor underneath, because I was thinking of going the LVP route. Not on grade but it is extremely humid here.

And yes, sorry about your trouble. That is a massive amount of work and I would be irate also.

 

[Pablo]

IMHO, LVP can handle a LOT of moisture.

Again IMHO, that looks like garbage product. Maybe they subbed an inferior product.

I have some in my office, bottom floor over plywood build up over the subfloor. Perfectly flat,

 

[slo town]

Please tell us what product was used and what "system" is underneath the LVP that has moisture problems. Do you have true waterproof LVP? Is there at-grade concrete under the LVP? Wet crawl space?

The need for vapor barrier is controversial. Concrete definitely yes. Above grade wood subfloor, maybe not. https://cfdistributor.com/blogs/cho...1mDPVhihbzK2lGTaCBvSc0FLnIdNSHNWaEKcpb7nEv-_O

Yes, I would also like to know the product and what type of floor underneath, because I was thinking of going the LVP route. Not on grade but it is extremely humid here.

And yes, sorry about your trouble. That is a massive amount of work and I would be irate also.

Flooring was COREtec Orignial Premium Calyso Oak. Floor was laid on a concrete slab. This was a professional installer. I asked him about the need for a vapor barrier and he assured me it wasn't required.

Floor isn't glued and is floating. They left ample expansion space for the floor. I checked for that.

Scott

 

[tnt_motorsports]

@slo town any chance the installer will do the baseboard and door trim? We just had to have our quartz countertops replaced due to a quality issue and the installer compensated me $500 for the sink / faucet plumbing R&R. The idea was they would pay for a plumber, but my wife said my husband will do it. They offered $500 and I said sold.

If you don't want to do it express that to them and hold them accountable to it.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Well, per installation instructions it says its waterproof. I also wonder if not enough gap was left?

• Required perimeter expansion spacing for Floating or Glue Down installation is as follows:
  For areas less than 2500 sq. ft. use 1/4" gap
  For areas larger than 2500 sq. ft. use 1/2" gap.
• WPC flooring is waterproof and reliably secures the flooring panels on all four sides. However, excessive moisture in the subfloor could promote mold, mildew, and other moisture related issues like the trapping of moisture emissions under the flooring, which may contribute to an unhealthy indoor environment.

https://pdmsview.shawinc.com/viewer/doc/5089

 

[slo town]

And yes, sorry about your trouble. That is a massive amount of work and I would be irate also.

I am pretty angry. So far the company I bought the flooring from and had install it seem to be understanding and cooperative and they are strongly suggesting they will replace it. But the hassle of it all. I remodeled the ENTIRE public area of the house, including a down to the studs remodel of the kitchen. When I did the remodel I did it with a quality standard that I expected to last until we either sold the house or passed from this earth. But now, just two years later I'm having to redo one of the most disruptive parts of the entire project. I'd rather paint the entire interior of the house 3 or 4 times over if I had a choice of that or replacing the floors.

Scott

 

[SC Maintenance]

I am pretty angry. So far the company I bought the flooring from and had install it seem to be understanding and cooperative and they are strongly suggesting they will replace it. But the hassle of it all. I remodeled the ENTIRE public area of the house, including a down to the studs remodel of the kitchen. When I did the remodel I did it with a quality standard that I expected to last until we either sold the house or passed from this earth. But now, just two years later I'm having to redo one of the most disruptive parts of the entire project. I'd rather paint the entire interior of the house 3 or 4 times over if I had a choice of that or replacing the floors.

Scott

Yes, I completely understand. We continue to put up with crappy flooring upstairs because whenever we think about replacing it the idea of moving everything is so uninviting. I think I will buy another house and just move. At least I will only have to move the stuff once.

 

[Zee09]

Wow what a mess

 

[CKN]

I wouldn't even run it the direction it's facing in the hallway.