Posted by Paul O'Dell - Floor Craftsman - Lancaster Fine Flooring on December 06, 1999 at 20:05:36:
In Reply to: Vinyl Flooring Questions posted by Jeff G on December 03, 1999 at 11:01:32:
I will try to answer as many questions as possible for you as most of your questions I have personally dealt with over the many years I have been a floor man.
1- "Stapling" the underlayment is the very best way by which to attach a subfloor to any wood-based substrate. The Pneumatic (air) nailer used countersinks the stape-head below the surface and leaves such a small profile-hole that it will never show through the new vinyl on a properly-prepared substrate UNLESS IT IS STAPLED OVER A CUSHION-BACKED VINYL FLOOR, PERIMETER-BONDED VINYL FLOOR, OR AN OBVIOUSLY LOOSE OR DETERIORATED SUBSTRATE. TO STAPLE IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO.
2- YES it is common to see the marks where bending occurs ....BUT IT IS NOT RIGHT .... IT IS AN INSTALLATION ERROR IF THE MARKS STEM FROM BENDING OR FOLDING OF THE VINYL ... IF THE INSTALLER DIDN'T BEND IT, THEN IT WAS BENT DURING SHIPPING ... STILL NOT YOUR FAULT ... AND IF IT WAS BENT AT SHIPPING IT WOULD ONLY APPEAR NEAR A SEAM OR AT A WALL WHERE THE EDGE OF THE MATERIAL IS. ANY MARKS FROM BENDING SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF INTERNALLY FROM THE PLACE YOU PURCHASED THE VINYL FROM.
3 - As to the "extensive amounts of sealant" between the sheets, that sealant should have a profile no wider than 1/4" and it should be more like 1/8". Any wider and it just plain looks crappy in natural light. It is not a great big deal and only picky snobs mention it, but it does nothing to hamper the life of the vinyl installation. Actually, even though extra sealant looks bad, it is better for the life of the seam because there is more there sealing the seam... and if it is a chemical welded seam, that seal will last longer.
4- NO... If the pattern of the flooring does not line up it is an installation error, unless there was a problem at the factory with the "run" of vinyl you purchased. As an installer, if seams don't line up, you adjust the pattern felt and/or front-roll and back-roll the vinyl to "shink" and "expand" the material as needed until the pattern DOES line up.
YOU HAVE RIGHTS AND YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE A NEW VINYL FLOOR THAT IS NOT ALL CUT-UP BY INSTALLERS I PREFER TO CALL "HACKS". HACKS ARE THOSE IN THE TRADE WHO, FOR WHATEVER REASON, DECIDE NOT TO UTILIZE THE PROPER INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND PRACTICES SET FORTH BY THE FLOORING MANUFACTURERS. THEY MAY NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY ARE BECAUSE THEY DIDNT LEARN FROM A REAL FLOOR MAN OR DECIDED NOT TO USE THEM FOR TIME SAVING.
TELL THEM YOU WANT IT DONE RIGHT ...TEAR IT ALL OUT SO THERE IS NOT A HEIGHT PROBLEM AND HAVE THEM DO IT RIGHT. OR YOU CAN HAVE A PRIVATE INSPECTION SERVICE INSPECT THE WHOLE INSTALLATION (BOTH OF THEM) AND YOU CAN SUE.