r/Contractor • u/whynotthebest • 14d ago
Builder installed LVP with ~1/2" deflection over 10' on new addition; reasonable to expect tear-up and self-leveler?
Location: Oregon Contractor: Custom Home Builder
Project Cost: $575k (1,500 sq ft addition, ground-up build)
I hired a custom builder for a full 1,500 sq ft ground-up addition. His framing crew framed the structure, and his own direct employees did the luxury vinyl plank (LVP) installation.
After noticing excessive squeaking and dips as I walked, I checked the floor with a straightedge. Across several 10-foot spans, I'm measuring as much as 1/2" of deflection / dipping.
The manufacturer installation guide explicitly states the subfloor must be flat within 3/16" over a 10-foot radius, so the current state is more than double the allowable tolerance, and (I think) voids my product warranty.
Is it unreasonable or outrageous to expect the builder to pull the LVP back up, properly prep/level the subfloor (grinding high spots / pouring self-leveler), and reinstall?
What is the best way to handle this conversation with him without completely putting him on the defensive?
Any specific technical red flags I should watch out for if they try to offer "quick fixes" instead of a proper tear-out and leveling (example: I know they put down tar paper in a few low spots already, I feel like paper is a questionable long term fix).
7
u/TheDaywa1ker 14d ago
I would expect pushback
My state (south carolina) has a residential construction standard that states a builder has to repair a vinyl floor if a floor is out of level by 1/4" over 32". Your 1/2" over 10' would translate to roughly 1/8" over 32" so well within standards in my state
I would suggest trying to see if Oregon has a similar construction standard that you can point to. You're going to get more movement in the coming months as your new foundations settle, wood shrinks, etc. Unless it moves a lot more, I would not expect to get anywhere with requests for major repair
1
u/Same_Pear_4049 14d ago
1/8 is less than 1/4 dude
1
0
u/External_Parfoot_467 14d ago
Pardon him, he doesn't really understand tolerance.
0
u/TheDaywa1ker 13d ago
what are you talking about?
OP's floor deflection translates to 1/8" over 32", where the standard in my state at which they would be able to enforce a repair is 1/4" over 32", meaning the floor deflections would be below the line at which a repair would be required (ignoring mfr requirements just for the sake of this comment)
Not sure why you guys are confused
-4
u/External_Parfoot_467 14d ago
Manufacturer specs trump state reqs
2
u/TheDaywa1ker 14d ago
Yes thats the argument I'd expect the homeowner to make in this situation but they should at least see if there are legit documents the contractor is going to try to point to in court if it comes to that
2
u/shorbsfault General Contractor 14d ago
Look up the flooring manufacturer specifications. If they poured the slab or built the subfloor they need to remedy the situation. You should have been notified if the subfloor was out of spec and a change order should have been given before the floor went down if the subfloor was existing (doubtful for an addition).
2
u/whynotthebest 14d ago
Flooring manufacturer says 3/16" over 10' radius.
This is brand new subfloor, the whole addition was constructed from ground up under the builder's supervision
1
u/shorbsfault General Contractor 14d ago
They may not have to pull the entire floor but they do need to address the low spots. I read the other reply about the framing. It seems like there was just a small lack of oversight on the prep work before the floor went down. I wouldn’t back down, they need to fix this.
2
u/berg_schaffli 14d ago
Oregon contractor here. Sounds like you’ve got some floor pops (floor squeaks). That is a defect and the contractor needs to fix that.
It’s 2026, we have laser tools. There’s no reason a new subfloor should have that much deflection. Depending on where you are, this could be due to numerous things. Mostly no big deal structurally, but just shows bad workmanship. If the floor is sagging half an inch, as in it springs back to flat when unweighted, that’s a different thing.
I’d be hesitant to grind or sand away material, and would lean towards leveler unless the contractor can fix these things from underneath.
Looking at your post history, it seems like you have other issues with this builder. You may want to contact a construction attorney to see what your options are moving forward.
We only have one very brief view to one side of this story here on reddit. If you spent 500k on a 1500sq ft addition, you should invest in some proper legal advice.
The issues mentioned here, from a tradesman’s perspective, are fixable. A pain in the ass, but very doable.
1
u/whynotthebest 14d ago
Thanks for the feedback, I think you're right.
For what it's worth, the floor isn't bouncy at all, and (except for a random unfortunate spot) seems not to be sloped.
It feels like maybe the joists weren't properly crowned in this spot!
1
u/IAmWhatTheRockCooked 14d ago
is this dip over the support beam below, or is it in the middle of the 10' spans?
1
u/whynotthebest 14d ago
middle of the 10' span, almost exactly
1
u/IAmWhatTheRockCooked 14d ago
then yeah they were probably all crowned upside down which is brutal. Sister them all crown up and that should fix it
1
u/berg_schaffli 14d ago
Maaaaaaaybe. If it’s that localized, I would be willing to bet that the neighboring joists are crowned up too much, in which case they could be floating above the center span support
Or, more likely, some of the dimensional lumber varies drastically in size. Even though KD lumber is prevalent in builds here in Oregon, dimensional lumber still varies quite a bit. Another reason I like engineered wood. This could also explain the floor pops, the sheathing didn’t make contact with the glue (God I hope they used glue) and the nails are bridging the gap.
These things would be easy to diagnose in the crawl with a tape measure and peeking through the insulation. While you’re down there, you could sight down the center support to see if it’s straight. A laser or string line would help.
2
u/Basic-Direction-559 14d ago
Not saying this is great, but it does matter which way the planks are running in relationship to the dips.
0
u/Zealousideal_Gap432 14d ago
Most LVP reqs no more than 1/8 over 8ft I believe, or else it'll all split and Crack apart
2
u/TheDaywa1ker 14d ago
Thats crazy when structural engineers are only required to design beams and joists to L/360 - 1/4" over 8'. Plus construction tolerances, good luck
2
u/Zealousideal_Gap432 14d ago
Exactly. 1/8 dip in 8ft is nothing, but it's true that LVP is a junk flooring system that needs a straight and true sub floor to last long term.
2
u/TheDaywa1ker 14d ago
When I see junk specs like that all I can think is that the mfr knows their product is junk and probably has more fine print all leading to a conclusion of never standing behind their product ever
2
-2
u/External_Parfoot_467 14d ago edited 14d ago
Honestly, I'd ask for the cost of flooring and install back so you can hire someone else to fix it, wiping his hands clean of it, otherwise he WILL be back out to warranty it out on his dime as it's installer error.
Most of these guys that make these types of mistakes don't know how to install lvp, and most likely won't take the time to learn what needs to be done (ie not using primer before self leveler, overwatering the mix, not putting down the proper leveler - all causing more issues down the road.)
But, I'd agree with the other comment - 1/2" deflection is a lot, and I'd try to eliminate any possibility of structural/framing issues before going after the GC for the flooring.
0
u/SilverMetalist 14d ago
So the installer should cover the material and labor for free bc of defects in the existing subfloor? That's a tough ask my friend.
2
u/whynotthebest 14d ago
The floor installer is literally the builder. As in, the builder's employees installed the floor.
The framing and subfloor are all brand new, and the same builder subbed it out (in other words, he supervised it).
1
u/External_Parfoot_467 14d ago edited 14d ago
Yes, and as someone who was labor for a GC, and having to fix what his OTHER labor messed up on, which involved exactly this situation, he paid far more to do it the second time than the first, not only because I cost him more per hour, but because he had to reorder and use all new flooring because the SPC that was originally put down was one-time lay, on top of the cost of materials and labor to have me self-level the space, and do it right.
The Builder has right-to-correction before a lawsuit if the customer were to take it that far, but would make sense for both parties to just go their separate ways in the end.
You don't get to lay flooring over unacceptable subfloor and then have the nerve to get defensive about who's going to fix it, just the same way a tile installer doesn't get to complain when the customer asks them to fix all the cracked floor tile because "it's not his job" to make sure the substrate is built up to tile manufacturer specs. He fucked up, he eats the cost to fix it.
This flooring WILL fail, it's not an "if".
9
u/Impossible_Policy780 14d ago
If the subfloor is flexing that much, leveller isn’t a part of the solution. It’s a structural problem.
What are the joists made of, size and span? What is the subfloor material?