Heard a homeowner say they'd never pay for floor prep again

I was picking up some adhesive at the local supply house yesterday, and a guy in line was telling his friend about his DIY floor job. He said, 'I saved a ton by skipping the floor prep, just glued the planks right over the old vinyl.' My heart sank a little. I've seen the callbacks from jobs like that, where the floor fails in six months because the subfloor wasn't flat or clean. It made me think we need to explain the 'why' better, not just the price. I always show clients the high spots with my 6-foot level and explain how a 1/8 inch dip over 10 feet can cause problems later. Maybe we should make a short video showing a failed floor next to a good one? How do you guys talk to customers about prep work so they see it's worth the cost?

3 comments

3 Comments

jesse_smith1010d ago

Ever show them the actual failed boards you pulled up from a previous job? Like a physical "this is what you're paying to avoid" sample.

kimblack9d ago

Honestly that approach can backfire big time. Some clients just see a pile of broken junk and think you're trying to scare them into a sale. It makes the whole conversation feel like a used car lot trick instead of a professional consultation. You're better off showing clear photos in a report and explaining the failure process calmly.

cora81310d ago

Yeah @jesse_smith10, I keep a box of fried parts just for that, it works every time lol.