QUESTION: What is a Certified Floor Covering Inspector?
A Certified Floor Covering Inspector has gone through intensive training and continuing education to become an expert in his field. When there is a problem, he is qualified to determine how and why this occurred. In his report, he can identify the party or parties that are at fault and what needs to be done to correct the problem if possible.
QUESTION: The retailer says I should be patient and he will have the manufacturer’s representative look at it when he gets in town.
The manufacturer’s representative is not always an expert in the product and how it should be installed. The manufacturer’s representative may not be able to give an unbiased opinion as to whether a product was installed properly or not.
QUESTION: I see that you are located out of town. Why shouldn’t I call a Floor Covering inspector who is local.
If a Floor Covering inspector is located in the same city or area as the retailer, he may be well acquainted with the retailer, and he may do work specifically for that retailer. For that reason, he may have a difficult time being totally impartial . If one engages an Inspector from out of town, they know they have someone with no agenda and who is not beholding to any local retailer.
QUESTION: The retailer says if I wait until he contacts an Inspector or the manufacturer sends one, I won’t have to pay anything. If this is true why should I hire my own inspector?
It is true that if a manufacturer contacts an Inspector, the manufacturer will often pay for the cost of the inspection. On the other side, some of the manufactures will not send the completed report back to the consumer, or even to the retailer. Some will send their own summary of the inspector’s findings. While one would hope that these coincide with the inspector’s conclusions, there is no guarantee of this . Additionally, if a copy of the report is sent back to the retailer, there is no guarantee that you, as the consumer, will ever see it. If the report states that the retailer is at fault, he may well bury it and you will never see it. If you contract your own Inspector, you are the one the inspector reports to, you are the one that will receive the report, and you are the one who decides who it goes to. In many cases, the party at fault pays for the cost of the inspection and report. If the report concludes that this is a manufacturing or installation error, many times the commissioning party can be reimbursed for his costs by the party at fault.
QUESTION: I am a retailer and there is a problem on a job I completed. Why should I be the one to contact an Independent Certified Inspector?
You need to take control of the inspection. A Certified Floor Covering Inspector is not going to shade the truth one way or another. But if your installers are doing something incorrect, you need to know about it. The sooner you learn about this, , the sooner you can correct the problem so it does not occur again. To put it bluntly, with every business, their most valuable commodity, is not their product, nor their service, it is their reputation. It can take many years to develop a good reputation. Unfortunately it does not take nearly that long to lose it..
QUESTION: I am a builder. My customer says there is a problem with her floor. The manufacturer says it is installation related. The installer said he did everything right, but it is a manufacturing defect. My customer does not care what the problem is , they just want the matter fixed. What can I do?
This is the time to call an Independent Certified Floor Covering Inspector. They are professionals who have no agenda in the matter. They are trained to accurately ascertain what the problem is and answer questions such as::
QUESTION: I have gotten the report from the manufacturer or dealer, but I don't understand it. It is filled with technical jargon. How can I get a report I can understand?
You have a right to receive a report written in clear plain language that can be understood by a layman. Contact Pioneer Inspection for a clear concise report you can understand. QUESTION: Are all Certified Floor Covering Inspectors equal in their abilities? NO! Many Floor Covering Inspectors do this only on a part time basis. They may also be retailers, selling various floor covering materials. They could be installers, or only perform inspections in their spare time--possibly doing only 2 or 3 inspections per month. A full time Certified Floor Covering Inspector has made this his career. He is a professional in his field. He makes his living doing inspections and as such is dedicated towards increasing his knowledge and staying abreast of the various changes in the floor covering industry. An individual such as this will spend upwards of four weeks a year in continuing education, honing his skills and learning about new floor coverings and their installation methods.
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