Seeking advice on quality issues concerning Swedish finish

[Heavymetaldave]

Greetings all,

I am a homeowner, recently purchasing a home in Nov 2013. I researched wood floors and decided to hire a contractor for the job. He used three coasts of Glitza on Peruvian Olive wood. I was careful in checking the reputation of the company, ensuring they were licensed, bonded and reputable.

When I inspected the finish, I noticed several issues:
- Dish-out from drum sander (in a very prominent location)
- Holes throughout the floor either not filled or the vacuuming process pulled the filler out prior to finishing.
- Cupped holes that had been filled, but are cup shaped.
- Repaired holes that had been re-filled, but the finish of the filled hole is flat, causing these filled holes to stand out.
- Dents in stair treads next to unfilled nail holes. These dents are from the nail gun.
- Dents in the stairs not next to nail holes.
- Heavy finish marks (looks like brush strokes) on the stair risers and treads.
- Dents in the floor at various locations.
- Tread on one step has “tear-out” condition on one side. The saw blade did not make a clean cut, causing a very unsightly edge that is splintered with wood being torn away.
- Picture framing, uneven sheen.
- Chatter marks from sanding.
- Large circular circles from disc sander.
- Cratering varying in size from 1/2 inch to 2 inches.
- Pooling of finish at walls and other areas creating lines and uneven finish.
- Hair, brush bristles and other debris in finish.
- Finish does not fill the grain of the wood.

Because all of the furniture was removed from the house and the lighting was inadequate, I used a flashlight to do my inspection. I marked all of the issues with post-it notes and met with the owner of the company. He stated that to inspect with a flashlight was unreasonable, and that most of the flaws were difficult to see without the light. He told me my expectations were too high, that it was a floor not a piece of furniture.

I compromised on the hair/debris issues, as he said they would disappear once the floor was walked on. He also said the pooling was not noticeable, as it was mostly along walls and not too noticeable without a flashlight.

I have now been out of my house three weeks because there are unresolved defects in all rooms. I would like to know what issues the members of this board think are reasonable, and where I might be too critical.

Thank you all in advance for helping me wrap my head around the issues I have identified.

 

[Floorist]

They all sound like reasonable complaints to me. I hope he isn't expecting to get paid. Keep track of all expenses while you are out of the house including meals, in case you need to get an attorney. Give him a written list of all complaints, dated and notarized. If he doesn't respond in a few days contact an attorney.

 

[Ernesto]

Defects and finish issues can only be claimed from a standing position in non-reflective lighting. He is right, floors are not to be considered the same as a piano finish, or your cars finish.

 

[Nick]

Hire a independent Certified Flooring inspector . We have some on this board .

 

[Ken]

This is exactly why I stick to prefinished wood, lol.

 

[Nick]

Nothing can beat a unfinished floor if you know how to sand , and pull a coat .

Dish out is from the Rotary Henry, and the chatter marks are from the paper not being tight on the drum, or the drum is not adjust correctly .
What you have now is Firewood . Get a Inspector.

 

[highup]

Have to agree with Ernesto. Not being able to see the issues on sight, we have to go by what you describe to us. When prepping a floor for a shiny vinyl, hard lighting such as from a halogen work light make a 1/32" bump look more like 1/4". That kind of lighting, or with a flashlight on the floor isn't really very fair. Using a floor light in that way makes the prepped floor a guaranteed success. I can't see how a person finishing a wood floor could use this method, because the floor isn't shiny until it's coated.
Around here, overly picky customers are called "Blue Tapers" You used post-it notes, so I don't know what category that puts you in.
That said, numerous and deep hammer dings, and unfilled nail holes aren't something I'd like or see in a sand and finished floor. Personally, I'd be less picky about the perimeter where furniture will always be located. Again, hard to tell without photos.
I am assuming that this is a brand new floor?