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Mostly it’s just about taking the time to get a decent fit
Bingo!
Thanks again for this. All sounds sensible. It's essentially how I did the infill pieces o fitted yesterday (template, cut, check, chisel, check, sand, check, fit).
The results you've got look great. If I'd done that DIY I would certainly forgive myself the small gap by the door. Hell, the gap by my door as posted upthread is big enough to jam my fingers into.
I'm stumped as to how the joiner will remedy this without lifting at least 50% of the boards (based on the locations) or cutting out the tongues of a few boards on key areas so he can lift. While he's at it well chat about how come none of the board and ends are straight, why I'll need to use a skirting of 20mm thickness in some places while 15mm is the typical thickness already used elsewhere, why the mitres aren't cut flush, why the silicone fillets aren't even cleaned up, why silicone at all, why are there creaky boards given that he said he was going to fix them down and shim the joists up, why he's left footprints all over the new boards (I've some sympathy but just buy a few sheets of correx to stand on for goodness' sake), why he wouldn't wear a mask while working in the flat despite covid, and why he badgered me for prompt payment despite not outlining payment terms before starting or on the invoice.
I feel like I know the answer to all the above, i.e. he works quickly and doesn't have the time (maybe doesn't have the skill, I don't know) to do it right. But I didn't set the time limit, in fact I invited him to come back for a whole day so he didn't rush it.
Cannot fathom a non shit resolution that doesn't involve relaying some or all of the floor, which probably means a different joiner, which in turn means fitting out kitchen then removing it again on the new year as almost everyone is mega busy. And the obvious elephant in the room, there may not be any hope of recovering costs from this job. But, if I am to escalate this I must first ask for his proposed remediation. Or, so I understand.
This isn't necessarily addressed to you btw, I'm just talking into the LFGSS void to get my thoughts in order.
Cupcakes-
Tbh, I think they’ll be most likely to offer some cash back - everything else would be too much of a faff, and they clearly weren’t that keen on faffing about! How keen they’ll be to actually hand back cash, is a separate issue.
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I’d try think of the different possibly remedies. Which ones are and aren’t suitable to you and concerns you might have over them. Try not to rush a decision.
I would try put this in some form of writing either email or txt. Even as a post meeting summary.
I’m sure there must be some guidance on citizens advice or trading standards etc if you are really worried none of the remedies will be suitable.
Nef
GoatandTricycle
Absolutely, although they may argue that the frames and skirting were put in after.
Here are some photos from mine.
I was able to get them to fit without a gap by test fitting with scrap boards and using those to make a scribe template, cutting away until the profile fit without any gap, and then transferring said profile onto the board I was going to use. If there wasn’t space to fit a whole piece, I’d scribe one for either side and have them join in the middle of the frame, I then added support between joists, so I could screw the ends down, and then cover the screw hole with a plug cut flush. I’ve marked the boards 1 and 2, and circled the plug.
Mostly it’s just about taking the time to get a decent fit, and being careful taking a small bit off at a time, and seeing how it fits.
There is a tiny gap on the boards by the pipe, but it’s hidden behind the door so I didn’t worry about it.
Nb, each board is two “planks” wide as its junckers flooring. It’s about 130mm wide and made of smaller pieces joined to make full boards, but the process is identical.
Edit: also, I pulled up old boards and installed new/reclaimed ones, pretty much the exact same scenario as you.
Photos 1 and 4 are left side, 2 and 3 right side, of the same doorway.