Lafortune Carpentry, LLC.

My name is [redacted] [redacted] ( Lafortune Carpentry LLC) and I am responding to a complaint letter that I received on 4/8/2016Complaint # [redacted] was filed on 4/3/2016 by [redacted] I was hired by my client to install a bamboo floating floor at his residence on or about 9/7/2015All...

furnishings and obstructions were relocated by owner in order to facilitate installation.All baseboards were removed by owner to keep down the cost.All material was supplied by owner, including wood flooring and underlayment.My job was simply to install the flooring and underlayment. Baseboards and furnishings were to be installed by the owner after the work was complete..All of the flooring was installed according to manufacturers specifications, which include 3/8” to ½” clearance to all walls , pipes, etc.I completed the job on 9/10/2015, the customer was completely satisfied  and I was paid in full.Not until 4 months later on 1/15/2016 did I receive a call from the owner stating that the floor was separating and asked if I could stop by and look at it.Due to my schedule I could not get there immediately.Eight days later on 1/23/2016 the owner contacted me again.On 1/25/2016 I met with the owner at his residence. I have attached photos that I took on that date.At that point, I indicated that I had no idea what was happening to his floor other than it was shrinking.  I told him it was not my installation.I stated that I would have to do some research and get back to him.The gap in the photos ranges from ¼” to ¾”  in diameter.At the other end of the room, which is approx. 20 feet in length, I observed a gap of approx. 2 inches to the wall.In defense of myself, when the baseboard was re-installed by the owner and these type of shortages were present why would he not have contacted me sooner?The owner also states in his complaint that the gaps and shrinkage around the perimeter were very evident after a few weeks. I feel confident that the floor installation was done properly, and the gap and the exposed areas near the wall are due to shrinkage only.From my vast experience and all of the research I have done on bamboo floors brings me to the same conclusion.  It will shrink or expand greatly due to improper humidity.It is not recommended for kitchen and bath areas due to too spills and extreme moisture (expansion and swelling)It is not recommended for areas with little moisture.  (shrinkage)Humidity levels for bamboo should be between 40% and 60% at all times.Example: A dehumidifier in the basement set at 40% could do damage to a bamboo floor [redacted] One area of flooring that was done at the residence was the kitchen area, and another was the laundry area in a closet with doors.I have attached my phone records from 9/3/2015 thru 4/2/2016 in order to show the times I was contacted by my client.I did not receive several phone calls on or after 1/23/2016.  There are simply 3 phone calls made between us.I have also attached some web addresses confirming the problems with bamboo flooring and shrinkage.In all, I do not feel I am responsible for the shrinkage of the product purchased by the owner.All box stores are too eager to place the problem upon the installer as opposed to admitting that their product is not what they said it would be when they sold it.IT IS A PROVEN FACT THAT BAMBOO WILL SHRINK I feel it is not appropriate to demand the installation fee back, for I did not choose or purchase the product.  It was installed correctly and he was very pleased with the results . [redacted]Lafortune Carpentry LLC