I watched a guy in a Charlotte hotel lobby try to fix a floating floor with a hammer and it made me cringe

I was waiting for a client, just killing time, and this guy was trying to bang a warped plank back into place with a rubber mallet. He was hitting it so hard the whole section was buckling. I finally walked over and showed him how to use a pull bar and a tapping block, the right way. That was six months ago, and I still tell every new guy that story. You ever see someone use the wrong tool and just have to step in?

4 comments

4 Comments

nora_murphy18d ago

That poor hotel floor! Makes you wonder how many DIY jobs get totally wrecked before anyone with a clue walks by.

wells.evan18d agoMost Upvoted

My buddy in Phoenix tried to re-grout his shower himself and used the wrong mix, it all washed out in a week. Felt like a real @andrew_baker9 moment when he had to call a pro.

miles_chen8d ago

Oof, that's rough. @wells.evan, did your buddy at least figure out what the right mix was supposed to be after the fact? It feels like those specific mistakes are the real lessons that stick with you.

andrew_baker918d ago

Just saw a video where someone tried to fix a sink with duct tape and it flooded their kitchen. I mean, @nora_murphy, you're totally right. I've definitely been that person who messed something up and just quietly closed the door on it. Maybe it's just me but I feel like half of home improvement is learning what not to do the hard way. That hotel floor probably has a lot of cousins out there in bad tile jobs and weird paint colors.