Hi

First post here, so please be gentle if I miss any important details.

My folks ordered and paid in full for wooden flooring and installation of that flooring through their local B&Q branch.

Within a couple of months, the floor started to rise, so much that it would scrape against the underside of the doors opening into the room.

This was reported to the fitting company, who came and took readings and advised that the floor was a little dry and to add wax. No improvement in situation. It was reported to them again. Readings taken. Advice given (and followed) to add wax to floor. No improvement in condition.

Spoke to fitting company again, who strung it out about being busy etc, before finally saying that they weren't going to come round and to take it back to B&Q to carry out an independent inspection.

Inspector visited and issued a report.. (don't have it to hand to post here) but the following two points were made:

• That the floor was free of manufacturing defects
  
• That the atmospheric readings in the room, whilst on the dry side, should not be enough to cause noticeable issues
  
• That there was insufficient gap left around the edge of the room for floor expansion
  

They've never argued that the floor was faulty (though it has been scratched by the door opening over it (from the bowing), and that it was the fault of the person who laid the floor.

B&Q have just written to advise that they will not accept any liability and will take no further action in repairing the work of their contractor.

It is now approx 1 year since the floor was laid, but approx 6-7months before the issue was first flagged.

Anyone able to advise a legal standpoint on this? What's the next step? Write back to B&Q? Trading Standards? Small Claims?

Thanks in advance.

well, bandq supplied you with the contractor,it must be between them to sort your floor,i laid a laminate floor myself a couple a years ago and it did what you describe! seemingly you are supposed to put spacers round the outside as you lay it,I didnt! it lifted same as yours,but a proffesional company should know that! Im sure you need to contact trading standards but someone more in the know will be along im sure,good luck.

Hello,

I know your message was literally years ago. But I am wondering how you got on in the end.

We are having major trouble with b&q. They are saying the same after inspection.

We had it laid 4 weeks ago and having a disaster with it too, all lifting at the joints. The tongue and grove is awful: I'm so disappointed. I've had an inspector round who has said we have had it laid wrong which is rubbish, we have had it professionally laid. There is so many complaints on here about this floor!!