A question about hardwood floors?
Question:I just had my hardwood floors replaced because of minor flooding. I came to find out the person who did the floor replacement put the new floor over the old floor. The old floor was damaged, but was professionally dried and then left alone to dry further for 2 months. The old floor didn't buckle at all, it just lost its lamenent. My question is: Is it good that the company that put in the new floor didn't take out the old floor? After talking to many people, the opinion is divided down the middle. Some people can't believe that he left the old floor down, some people tell me that its actually better to have the old floor there instead of plywood. The floor looks great, but I just want to make sure that if I pay him, i'm doing the right thing. I don't want problems with the floor in a couple of months, of several years from now. Any help would be appreciated!!
Answers:
Did the installer tell you he going to take up the old floor? There is a charge to do that. I would guess it to be about $2 a sq ft . If in the contract you are being charged for something not done. I would not pay that. As far as going over the old floor that was nailed down I don't believe that is a problem since you say it was dry. If it one of those floating floors like Pergo I don't know what I would think of that.
No it is not good to put a new floor on an old one. If the old floor wasn't installed correctly than the new floor will have the same inperfections as the old. Also Soaking and Drying wood is the process when manufacturing it. It shouldn't be done much because you loose the integrity of the grain in the wood. It becomes more brittle and easier to chip and peel at the grain. Only floating floors should be installed over an old floor.
He should have removed the old floor for several reasons:
1. By putting a new floor on top of the old, he just raised the height of the room and that could cause tripping, snagging...
2. If the foundation shifts in the future, it could cause the old floor to shift and then make the new floor buckle.
You can have hardwood floors refinished again and that is what should have happened here if the shine was the only damage done.It would have been cheaper and you could still enjoy the first floor. The glue that was used the first time, evidentally held up well, because there was no buckling.
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