Rant: My supervisor's rush orders on flooring installs are causing repeat visits, but he blames the materials.

I was on a big commercial project last month putting down luxury vinyl plank. The foreman kept saying we had to finish two days early for the next crew. We skipped the full moisture test on the slab, just did a quick check. Now, three weeks later, boards are lifting at the seams. Some guys say we should always follow the steps, even if it means overtime. Others argue that time is money and most floors hold up fine. I'm stuck in the middle, seeing the callbacks pile up but getting pressure from above. What do you all think? Is cutting corners ever worth it when the clock is ticking?

3 comments

3 Comments

angelagrant1d ago

I learned the hard way on a residential job ten years ago. I rushed a glue down install because the homeowner was moving in. Spent the next six months going back to fix bubbles, on my own dime. Your foreman's math is wrong. The few hours you save now gets eaten up by days of callback labor later, plus it wrecks your reputation. Never skip the prep.

jason_lewis31d ago

Actually, Angela's right about never skipping prep, but callbacks don't always take months now. With some of the newer adhesives, you'll see those bubbles or lifting in just a few days if the slab wasn't ready. I've seen jobs fail over a single rainy weekend because the concrete wasn't fully dry. The rush is still a huge mistake, but the clock ticks faster these days.

the_zara23h ago

Wait, Jason's point about newer adhesives is scary. Which specific ones have you seen fail that fast, and does it change how you check for slab moisture now? Like, are we talking about those "quick grip" formulas or something else?