Floor Seams

[LWilliams]

I have a 6 month old southern estates single. Upon our first walk through once the home had been delivered and set up, we noticed that a floor seam had popped up in two places the entire length of the house. This affects every single room, but is not as noticeable in the carpeted rooms. You can see and feel the seam everywhere that there is linoleum. Our manufacturer is scheduled to come out and fix this by cutting the linoleum, fixing the seam,and putting quarter round down to cover the new space caused by the cutting. I am sick. We waited a long time for this NEW house, now the floors are messed up and my linoleum will be "cut & patched" in every room. Is there any other option you know of? I would love to just get a refund of some of my hard earned money instead, but I know that isn't how it goes. Also, I was told this is one of their most common problems.....yet it is still happening.

[David Oxhandler]

I dont understand why a seam would be opened the entire length of the home. In most homes the flooring is laid in a "brick pattern" so that the seams alternate and are not continuous.

It may be one of their most common problems but I have worked on hundreds of homes over the past 30 years and dont ever remember seeing this... perhaps I dont understand what is going on??? Do you know why the seams are lifting? Has the service department at the factory told you why this is happening?

Is the problem down the center of the rooms running from the hitch end towards the end that would be the back as the home goes down the road... or from the front door side to the back door side (the short way)?

As far as cutting and trimming with quarter round that can be done and look better than new if the person installing the trim has the experience to do a neat job. Vinyl floor can also be cut and patched with an end result that is unnoticeable. Again the results depend on technique and experience.

Most builders are working hard these days to give the home owners satisfaction. So you will probably be pleased with the results. To protect your warranty rights. Take photos of the problem before the fix... take photos while they are fixing it and take photos of the finished job. Keep exact records of the problems and the dates and names of people that you talk to at the factory. Record the dates and names of the people who make the repairs. Dont be afraid to ask questions, before during and after the work is performed.