Expansion gaps around door frame look rubbish

Nice floor, what wood is it? I wouldn't be happy with that finish tbh and why the door bar? trim the architrave/skirting or remove and fit later

B J

 

Yes horrible, should have undercut the door frame.
I wonder if the title "builder" means he doesn't lay floors often just a extra sideline

 

There is a way round it...do it properly.
He should of undercut the frames so it slid under all round, since it's at the door and is a final board as such, I'd get him to get another pack of boards and re-do them properly.

 

I'm not a "chippy", but even I would have under-cut the architrave....That is a bodge !

 

What a shame to have an issue when everything else was seemingly done well.

But - no question - it should be better.

When your builder said "there's no other way", he was either unaware of how it should be done, or else was trying to palm you off. Either way, not good - tho' the first is marginally better...

There's a wee cutter that will trim into the architrave at the required height, and that will allow the flooring to slip under. It's more work, certainly, but can you imagine how much better it'll be?!

How is the flooring stuck down?

 

it aint rocket science !!

 

I agree with the others. All that filler-rubbish.
And I'd get some doorstrips more like the oak colour of the floor.

Mr. HandyAndy - Really

 

"The builder has not agreed to redo this yet so not sure at this point where we stand."

Where you stand is, on a poorly-finished floor (see what I did there...?)

Have you paid him the whole amount yet? That will help determine the course of action.

Ie: If he doesn't agree to redo the work to the required standard - and he will no doubt try to argue to begin with - then you can withhold an amount that will pay a proper flooring fitter to do the work.

If you have already paid him for the work then it's more difficult but you can still do it. First you'd need the independent opinions of professional fitters along with quotes to redo the work. You then give your builder the opportunity to put things right or else you'll you'll commission someone else to do it and then sue them (Small Claims track of the County Court). You will almost certainly win, but hopefully this threat will be enough for him to redo it instead as it'll ultimately cost him less.

All this needs to be done properly, tho' - written evidence that you are rejecting the current standard of work, have provided options to the builder, etc. Get advice on this if necessary.

Don't go all guns blazing, tho'; be empathetic. Calm. Reasonable. Sit the boss down and tell him you are pleased with almost everything he's done, but that you simply cannot accept the standard of floor laying. Tell him that as soon as you saw the finish around the door frames you knew it wasn't 'right', and you have since had this confirmed from a number sources. Sorry - but you cannot accept it...

He'll hum and haw - let him for a minute. And then just say, 'sorry - I cannot accept it'. He'll know what that means...

(I guess this is a case of a 'general builder' doing a wide range of tasks. But, to be blunt, he should be capable of this work.)

 

It's up to you about the wonky pipe depends if he put the rad in and what's under the floor it is hard to bend chromed pipe without the coating suffering, maybe use it as one of those things you don't like but will concede if he does the rest. I would expect a real wood trim around the pipe though!

 

As Teabreak says, if that is a newly fitted rad, then it's unacceptable.

Do you know why it's wonky - was there a reason given?

(But - good call - use it as a bargaining tool. 'Compromise' works wonders; "Oh, all right then, I'll live with the pipes if..." )

Also, I'm chust not sure about these joining bars on the floor. My out-laws have engineered flooring through the whole house - hall, 3 bedrooms, bathroom, hallway, sitting room and kitchen - not a single joint.

(Oh, and use moneyclaim.gov.uk should you need to go the 'claiming' route - easier and cheaper than County Court. And use the sheriffsoffice.com should they be stubborn after losing the case...)

 

i agree it definitely looks better flowing through without thresholds but to be fair, a lot of flooring manufacturers specifically state not to do this and to leave expansion gaps between rooms/doorways. So it's playing safe to add thresholds rather than risk voiding any manufacturers guarantee, although he could of discussed this and made that clear, a lot of people will accept it may invalidate guarantees and do it anyway as it looks better and really isn't much of a risk.

 

In that case it's shoddy. Sorry - no other word for it.

There are numerous DIYers on this forum who renovate their own houses (I'm one), and we would not in a million years do anything as naff as have feed pipes at a slope. And these are pros. It's careless, lazy. Probably both... .

If you can live with it, that is a very good bargaining tool.