Mohawk Hardwood Flooring - Hamway Flooring Hardwood Floor Rots Both companies have denied any responsibility for spots staining the floor Their inspectors found no specific home defect or flooding problem They said I should claim this on my home owners insurance but if there is no home defect they are asking me to commit fraud Tampa Florida

Six months after the Mohawk Longstrip floor was installed in my home I began noticing small discolored spots. In time, they began to grow larger, and several more appeared.

I contacted Hamway flooring (the installer), and one of their workers came to my home to inspect. There has been no flooding, no leaks in the roof. The spots are ramdomly patterned through out the floor.

This gentleman felt it was most likely due to a condensation problem, where the water droplets would accumulate in lower areas of the terrazzo floor, due Florida to humidity and temperature gradients between the warm, moist air and the cool flooring surface. This type of floor remains relatively cool and is naturally porous. There are no visible cracks or defects. It is a lake home, on a raised block.

This explanation seemed reasonable. In the Mohawk literature, regarding this product, there is no mention of this potential problem or risk to the consumer.

I was told that this problem would be taken care of promptly by Hamway, and there would be no additional cost to my family. Nearly 2 months passed and no company representative contacted me, so I called them. I was told that this worker was no longer with Hamway, but they would come again to my home and correct the problem.

Nearly seven months and several inspectors later by the installer, Hamway, and the manufacturer, Mohawk, they have done nothing.

Both parties told me that I should file a claim with my home owner's policy for damages. I do not think this is an honest thing to do, because there is no home defect. They are asking me to commit fraud.

One of their inspectors, Ray Darrah of RHDarrah Consulting stated that "moisture tests of affected areas: 20%+". Of course it should read plus 20%; the meter was placed right on top of the wet spot. It should have read 100%. After we pulled a plank the moisture, under that portion of the floor, was clearly visible between the floor and the impervious cushion. When the cushion was cut in this same area, it too had moisture between the cushion and the terrazzo floor. No floor defects were noted in this area.

Another test was to use visquene, taped directly over the terrazzo. This was done to see if moisture would show, assuming the floor was defective. They inspected several days later and no moisture was seen, no defective floor. Hamways' salesperson, Benjamin Bee, states he will not do anything to repair the problem, because he doesn't know what the problem is. Fair enough... Refund my family's investment and replace the damged planks. When the oak wood floor gets so bad that it looks like one giant ugly stain, I'll rip it out and replace it with carpet.

As a side note, I had a carpet on this area for over 14 years, the same carpet, without a moisture problem, and no mold or mildew. Hamway took out the old carpet, and I am sure they would have seen moisture damage if there was any.

Also they claim that moisture studies were done. I do not belive that they were; certainly not accurately, or done by acceptable or reproduceable standards. They have shown me no records that this study was done prior to installation. I don't believe there are any.

The bottom line is, that I believe their former employee was right. This is a condensation problem. Because of our Florida humidity, this floor should never have been installed in this home. At the very least, the installer and the manufacturer, have an obligation to the consumer, to adequately inform the consumer, that this potential risk exists. This was not done. If it was presented to me, it would then be my choice to accept that risk. In that case, I would assume the liability. But I was never given that opportunity.

I believe there are other home owners, especially in Florida, who have had similar condensation problems with this type of Mohawk flooring and padding. I believe all cosumers who have purchased this product should be contacted and questioned.

Thank you for your interest.

Jerry
Tampa, Florida
U.S.A.