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Update: That 'quick' moisture barrier delay turned into a month-long headache
Just finished a big laminate job in a ground-level condo (the kind with concrete slabs, you know). The homeowner was in a rush to move in, so when the moisture test showed a high reading, we agreed to wait one extra day for the barrier to set. Well, that one day turned into a whole week of waiting for humidity levels to drop, and then the adhesive took forever to cure properly. By the end, the whole schedule was messed up, and I had to push back two other jobs. Now I'm telling my crew, never let a client talk you into rushing the prep, even if they're breathing down your neck. If the moisture isn't right, everything else will go wrong (and fast). Stick to the drying times like glue, because trying to save a day can cost you a month. I'm still sorting out the fallout from that one.
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wendysmith6mo ago
Yeah, that line about trying to save a day costing you a month really hits home. It's so frustrating when you know the right process but get pushed to cut corners. I've been there, letting a client's panic become my problem (and then it definitely becomes my problem later). You're totally right to tell your crew to stick to the times, no matter what. The prep work always tells the tale for the whole job. Solid lesson, even if it was a rough way to learn it.
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mila_jones395mo ago
That one extra day turning into a month is the universe's way of charging interest. I've seen that kind of hurry-up-and-wait math before, and it never adds up. You can't argue with physics, even if the client tries to.
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victor_robinson366mo ago
Totally get what you mean about the client's panic becoming your problem. What worked for me was putting my foot down with a simple sheet of paper. Now I have a prep and dry time checklist that I make the client sign before we even start. It lists each step and the minimum wait time, no matter what. I point to it and say, look, this is what keeps your floor from failing in a year. It turns the schedule from my opinion into a simple fact they agreed to. It doesn't stop the complaining, but it sure stops the arguing.
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