It’s not finished until it’s done right

Written by EcoRenew Contracting Ltd. in Edmonton

As a general contractor in Edmonton, as in life, mistakes are never mistakes… so long as you learn from them.

Prior to establishing EcoRenew Contracting, as a general contractor’s assistant and during my own home renovations, I had very high standards for quality that would last. This is because I truly believe when one does something, it’s always better to do it right the first time. As Mike Holmes would say “Make It Right”.

Flooring installation re-done

Recently, I “held my feet to the fire” as it were; just after an Edmonton home renovation that involved a flooring installation for a full laundry room renovation. We decided we would remove the flooring that we had just laid – including pulling back the washer, dryer, and newly installed vanity. There was nothing wrong with our installation. However, the issue was that we were laying a vinyl plank tongue and groove flooring system over a concrete floor with a substantial slope towards the drain.

If the grade/plane of the floor is not relatively even throughout, there is a possibility of the flooring releasing from the “click”, with use over time, as the system is not evenly supported. I had already, or so I thought, taken this into account and extended the drain up. Doing so smoothed out some (but not all) of the grade. However, once the floor was installed, a noticeable softness or squishiness in the floor was still evident just around the drain area.

Always do it right

Rather than letting it be, hiding it from the clients and hoping for the best, I informed them immediately that we would be removing the floor and reinstalling it. Initially, they were apprehensive. I assured them that there would be no additional cost associated, and talked through what measures I would be taking to alleviate the issue. Then I explained to them the ramifications of an unevenly supported floor. After learning this, they were more than happy to let me rinse and repeat. I say this only to point out that doing it right the first time is not always possible, but you can leave the project ensuring it is finished correctly, and in my opinion, that is doing right.

Contact EcoRenew Contracting for your next home renovation.