Complete flooring information and inspections

A flooring inspection by a flooring inspector (like me) is a common and fairly quick process.  Also, this is not the same as if a dealer or manufacturer "rep" stops by - but is along the same lines.  Typically, an inspection request happens when there is a perceived or obvious issue/s with the floor covering.  This may be during the installation, right after the installation, or even five or more years later.  First I would like to describe what an inspection "looks" like, and then the guidelines on how I perform an inspection.

An inspection consists of using direct observation (of the actual floor covering, issues and related areas such as the sub floor), meters/gauges, many photos for support and for use during the report writing, researching (in my office) and the actual report (click here for sample report).  The actual time for the inspection in your home can vary from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the number of issues, size of the installation and the complexity/nature of the issue/s.  When I arrive at your home, I'll first ask you to point out any and all concerns you have with the floor, and when you first started noticing them.  I will need to know when the flooring was installed, and if any acclimation (and moisture testing for wood flooring) was done before the installation.  I will then crawl around (after putting on my trusty knee pads) to get a close look, photos, etc.  Finally, I will ask some basic questions related to traffic, heating and maintenance.  Everything is done to avoid having to un-install or dismantle anything during the inspection process.  One of the few exceptions might be on a carpet with ripples where I would pull up some corners/edges of the carpet to look at the backing, and then reset the carpet back down in the areas I pulled up.  At times it is helpful to take a piece of the flooring (an uninstalled piece) to send it in for lab testing.  I will then go back to my office to research, look at the photos and make a report based on the facts observed/documented.  The report will be written as if it needs to stand in court in case that was to happen (quite rare), but also will be summarized in common language as well.  After all, if you paid for the inspection, you should know what it says!  (For example:  "there is concave bowing widthwise on 80% of the planks measuring up to .155" which translates to "most of the floor has cupping".  After you have a copy of the report (within 2 or 3 days of the inspection), I will not finalize it until you have read it to make sure I didn't make a mistake on any of the comments you made about the situation.

Guidelines for hiring me to inspect your floor/carpet:

1)  If you have a concern with your floor, first please email me with a general description of what is going on.  I check my email every few hours and will respond with whether I think this is a good idea to pursue or not and why.

2)  If you elect to continue with hiring me for an inspection, we will then arrange a date/time for the inspection.  I usually cannot pin down an exact date/time until within 3 or 4 days ahead as I am usually putting together trips and doing multiple inspections so as to use my time wisely.  I cover all of Washington state, northern Idaho and northern Oregon.  Any areas beyond that would have to be worked out.  If you are completely out of my coverage area, I may be able to recommend a good inspector to you.  A good starting point in that regards is www.floorreports.com 

3)  When I get to your home, I need to be paid before I start - cash or check please, written out to Central Washington Inspections.  I can give you a receipt at that time as well.  Please see the rates as applies to different types of floor coverings.