Very Bad Professional Sand/Polish job - How to fix/reslove?

[fsck]

We paid for a someone to sand and polish our floors with very very poor results. I've attached some photos which highlight some problem areas and are pretty indicative of the state of our floor. I'm hitting some walls trying to get the floor people back to discuss a resolution and i'm concerned that they might cut some corners.

My thoughts is it would need to be resanded to get rid of the existing drip marks (as per the first image on the left) but i am also concerned it would have soaked into the wood and would then need to take too much off the top again when it's sanded.

So, my question is, what is the best way to fix it?

P.S. A water based urethane was used if that makes a difference.

[Larry McCully]

The only way to fix it is to totally resand it again. Have you paid for the job ? . If so i would take it directly to the dept of fair trading, and recover your money.

[Larry McCully]

You will still be able to sand it again. Polyurethane doesnt soak in . It sits on top of the timber, If you were to slice a bit of the end of a coated board, you will see no saturation into the board. Resanding should only take of about 1mm.

[fsck]

I paid in full before completion - bit of a mistake but i had faith.

The Sander / Polisher person is popping out tomorrow in the morning to have a look. I'll keep this thread up to date with what eventuates.

Thanks - Ben

[Dusty]

My recommendation is, you give the guy who did this a fair dinkum smack in the mouth, then get all of your dough back and have a real sander do it for you, and only pay him, after it's been done to your satisfaction.

Don't let this idiot re-sand it, any fool willing to walk out and leave a floor like that and say that it's finished doesn't deserve another chance.

#*!@ him.

[Gaza]

what the..........

do what dusty said and in the balls too.

[glock40sw]

what the..........

do what dusty said and in the balls too.

Ditto.

Also, spread the word that the bloke is a butcher.
And let him know that you are going to tell all & sundry as well.

You should get full refund. If not, Fair trading.

Keep all photos, communications and record all conversations.

They will be needed if Arbitration is required.

[Larry McCully]

Get a another sander out to give you a written report on the condition. This will give you knowledge on what you can expect from a contractor and also go to a timber supplier and grab a brochure on timber floors. Show him the brochure a state that you want the same quality of finish in the pictures. It is not hard to provide a perfect finish . that contractor is lacking in the knowhow, what you see on the floor is a common fault with the water based sealers that are used. If you want to use a waterbased finish, the best thing to use as the first coat or the sealer coat as the pro's call it , is to use a sealer used for solvent based polys. It does not stain the floor as water based sealers do. (that is a innercircle trade tip)

[Larry McCully]

what the..........

do what dusty said and in the balls too.

OUCH

[Gaza]

Get a another sander out to give you a written report on the condition. This will give you knowledge on what you can expect from a contractor and also go to a timber supplier and grab a brochure on timber floors. Show him the brochure a state that you want the same quality of finish in the pictures. It is not hard to provide a perfect finish . that contractor is lacking in the knowhow, what you see on the floor is a common fault with the water based sealers that are used. If you want to use a waterbased finish, the best thing to use as the first coat or the sealer coat as the pro's call it , is to use a sealer used for solvent based polys. It does not stain the floor as water based sealers do. (that is a innercircle trade tip)

What you are suggesting is using toby rapid seal with toby water based, the waterbsed selaers that are used with waterbased coatings have to be matched to the typre of timber.

Bona sell two differnt selaers for use with mega / traffic a high tan sealer is used with timbers like blackbutt,

Although we have used rapid sealer with bona its best to use a complete system.

This bloke should not have put on the first coat after the selaer went pear shaped, he is trying to the ditch and run.

[fsck]

He finally rocked up, looked at the floors agreed they were poor. His explanation - "Too much hardener in the polish, must be a bad batch"... hrmm??

Anyway, he has agreed to resand and have another go in two weeks, starting the nov 10th, finish on the 13th. The timing is awkward as we are not staying at the house currently and very eager to move back home, not to mention my wife is 30 weeks pregnant.

I'll keep this thread up to date.

Another question, how long do we let the floor cure?

[OBBob]

Wow ... if his reputation is worth anything to him you'd think he'd be straight back. You shouldn't need to wait two weeks ... if yopu really want to give the guy another go then I'd be atleast perparing a back-up plan 'cause he may not show in 2 weeks.

[123]

I wouldn't count on him showing up in a couple of weeks, then again, in saying that, sometimes the coatings don't go to plan, even some of the best floorsanders out there have problems from time to time. you may have to get an accredited member of the timber flooring association out there to do a report on the floor if it all goes bad!

A good lesson for everyone, don't pay until all work is complete and satisfactory!

[pawnhead]

I would think that he ought to give you top priority, and push his other customers back since you were first in line, and his reputation should be at stake.

I'd be pretty cranky, and I wouldn't be too happy at being stuffed around if I was waiting to move in. It's often the squeaky wheel that gets the grease, and if he's planning on doing a 'no show' then it's better getting cranky now than later.

[Wongo]

I agree. A good responsible tradesman should fix it right away. He didn’t show you any urgency here. If he really cares he will find time. What about at night or on the weekend?

To ask you to wait for another 2 weeks is quite arrogant really. If it was me I would do whatever it took to fix it.