Solid Oak flooring questions

[obr1]

I have a question regarding a solid oak floor I have had put down. I had somebody install this but personally I think they have made some errors so would like some additional info.

I have had 26 sq m of 150mm x 18mm rustic lacquered solid oak flooring fitted. I have had wood floors before and have not had irregular gaps between some of the boards. on various boards in areas of the floor there are gaps varying from 0 to up to 1.5 to 2mm. The fitter is trying to tell me this is normal and that the boards will vary in width, and this is usual and that they will fill any gaps with an acrylic filler. This does not seem normal to me and I have not seen tis before. I have fitted floors myself before and had others fitted and not see these sort of gaps or heard of fitters filling gaps between boards.

(They have left an appropriate gap around the edges)

In my opinion as the boards were put down if there was a mis-match in the board dimensions or gap or runout they should have put that board aside and used another one.

Does anybody have any experience of this and expert knowledge that they can share with me. The fitter is claiming he has not bought a cheaper grade flooring than he originally showed us, although I am not convinced it is the same as the underside profile differs from the sample we had and I would have thought factories used a common profile on all batches.

Only good thing is we have not paid anything yet, not even a deposit, as they have previously done some very good work for us on an expensive 'vinyl' floor. The other thing ringing alarm bells is they have done all their cuts with a jigsaw when I would expect them to use a pull saw for ease, but that may just be their choice.

Appreciate any advice, thanks

 

[WoodYouLike]

A proper jigsaw can be used with a job like this.
The 18mm Solid Oak lacquered 150mm sounds like "Masterchoice" (not that it would be our choice, but then again we're not masters )
Many short lengths, i.e. many joints?

 

[obr1]

Supposed to be random lengths between 1200 and 300. Doesn't seem to be many 1200! mix of 300, 400, 600, 800 mainly, and lots of knot filler!!

Managed to fit one area like parquet flooring where they have put lots of 300 mm lengths together

The boxes have a product code PROMO150RLOAK and notes inside pack have small text at bottom saying imported by Spectrim Distribution.

Took a left over piece to a local store today along with some photos and they have never heard of anybody using filler between boards to fix gaps. Seemed to think the product may have a very slight run out in the end joints which given we have 5m runs would magnify any error. Also they didn't use an air gun to nail the boards down so if a few nail heads didn't go fully home they would hold boards apart.

I have sent an e-mail to Spectrim to see if they can advise if the product used is a standard or seconds quality product.

 

[WoodYouLike]

Supposed to be random lengths between 1200 and 300. Doesn't seem to be many 1200! mix of 300, 400, 600, 800 mainly, and lots of knot filler!!

Yeap: cheap offers in Solid Flooring - lacking in quality, known to have width difference (sometimes even in one board, where one end is wider than the other).

Seemed to think the product may have a very slight run out in the end joints which given we have 5m runs would magnify any error.

A very slight run out? More a standard run out by these type of products.

Sorry, but you can absolutely not expect to get quality product for prices B&Q, Wickes and other sell these "random length" products for.

Hope you get an answer fro Spectrum, but don' hold your breath.

See here too: Solid Floors - what to note and please note the images further down that page.

 

[obr1]

The fitter/supplier is adamant they haven't switched products on us, but the problems are exactly as described in the 'Difference in Width' section of your links.

The product we ordered and specified was certainly not cheap and wasn't via a large reseller ... but suspect they have used a cheaper product to try and compete on price with local timber floor specialists who shift bigger volumes, as the price was little difference between the two, but as these guys had done a very good karndean installation for us not so long ago we went with who we knew!!

They clearly know that they have done something wrong despite insisting otherwise, as they have agreed to come and lift and remove the flooring, (at one stage they even offered to leave it and walk away ... but don't want a badly fitted floor that isn't what we spec'ed in our living room!).

So we are both parting company amicably as it has cost us nothing.

We are now going to get the right floor we spec'ed from the local timber floor expert. The price is almost the same as the other company were doing the job floor and they seem reliable and were helpful when we took the sample and photos in over the weekend.

The product they recommend and have suggested we use is Natures Own Brushed and Lacquered 150mm oak (18mm thk, random length). Any experience or comments on this. It looks like the product we original chose at the other suppliers to be honest before they 'switched' on us! (they also offered a product from Tuscan that looked lovely but was another £5 /m2 or so, and was brushed and UV oiled - think this was 19mm product (although know there was a 20mm one also). Appreciate your thoughts or any experience on these products, thanks.

 

[WoodYouLike]

The problem is: every supplier calls products differently so hard to compare or to know where to compare it with I'm afraid.

Ask them to 'guarantee' more long lengths than the one you have before, higher quality products normally have maximum 15% short lengths.