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Okay, here's the situation....

Posted by Name Withheld By Request (aka BlueKopo) Oct 7 '13, 10:01

Three weeks ago, my wife and I had new windows installed. We're happy with them and the guys who did the installation, there was an accident when they were removing the old kitchen window. While removing the outside window, the inside window tipped over and broke on our floor, damaging the vinyl with two nicks and a scratch, all three noticable, but mostly superficial.

The company was apologetic and while there is disclaimers for damage that may occur to stucco or other window-related aspects of the house, there was nothing for floor damage. They offered us a $200 discount on the spot, but that felt low and we told them we would get a quote from a flooring company and then come back to them.

The quote came in for about $800 to fix the kitchen (our flooring was a complete "off the roll" sheet cut-to-fit so the whole flooring needed to be replaced). Turns out the superficial nature of the damage was the problem. Had it cut right thru, they could do some sort of lift and re-glue, but because only the top layers were damaged, it would likely damage it more to try and lift and fix.

Also, our hallway with more cuts and closets is the same style and that would have to be replaced too as the age of the floor (8-9 years) meant to the flooring quoter that it would be impossible to find the same sheet to match. The whole job would be about $2,500.

So we asked for the window company to come closer to the kitchen value. (My wife is kicking me for not actually stating "$800", but I did say it would be one-third of the overall cost and was where the damage was situated.)

They have offered $500. I find that fair, but my wife is hesitatant because A) she doesn't feel it right that we still have to pay to replace the floor when it was a good floor before the job and the accident wasn't our fault; and B) she doesn't understand where they got $500 from ("Great, you recongize that $200 was too low, but $500 doesn't get us a new floor either.")

So we don't know what to do. Are we being fair with our ask? Should we play hardball with the company? Thoughts? Opinions? KD said she wanted an "independent arbitor" to weigh in and I suggested you all.

Responses:

$500 sounds cool, can always solicit a second or third opinion -- nm - budice Oct 7, 10:45
I'm with the group...I say take the $500. -- nm - Jim Oct 7, 10:22 1
- and make sure that any future contracts do not limit areas that are covered. -- nm - zork Oct 7, 10:25
You asked them to come closer to the kitchen value. They did. I would accept the $500. - loyola Oct 7, 10:21 5
- heh -- nm - zork Oct 7, 10:24
- And new windows, I'm sure. -- nm - Name Withheld By Request Oct 7, 10:22 3
  - They'd probably settle for your old crappy windows -- nm - oblique Oct 7, 10:25 2
    - Oh, we used to dream of having windows in our shoebox in the middle of the road. -- nm - the Four Yorkshiremen Oct 7, 10:29
    - I dunno, they're drafty as hell and get wicked condensation. - Name Withheld By Request Oct 7, 10:29
gouge through it so that they can do the lift and re-glue -- nm - zork Oct 7, 10:20 1
- Flooring guy says that's a bad call. They glue this stuff down so well nowadays, he says lifting really chews up the existing floor. -- nm - Name Withheld By Request Oct 7, 10:23
remind them of the power of a complaint on Yelp or angie's list -- nm - zeitgeist Oct 7, 10:16
Call Meg? -- nm - prayformojo Oct 7, 10:14 1
- she don't do windows -- nm - zeitgeist Oct 7, 10:17
Frankly, I would feel lucky about getting the $500. That's generous of them. -- nm - David Oct 7, 10:12 2
- agreed, especially if they said they are not liable in the first place. nm -- nm - groiny Oct 7, 10:18 1
  - They weren't liable for wall damage like stucco, finishings, that kinda thing. Their waiver didn't include flooring (somewhat surprisingly, I say). -- nm - Name Withheld By Request Oct 7, 10:20
My parents went away on a week's vacation. (sorry couldn't resist) -- nm - Was Bar Was Oct 7, 10:08
Could you live with the scratches and not replace the flooring? -- nm - spamlet Oct 7, 10:08 2
- I could. Mrs. L is a little sadder about that option. That's why this is important to her. -- nm - Name Withheld By Request Oct 7, 10:23 1
  - big a nice throw rug...b) cover the vinyl with pergo...I did our kitchen for a couple hundred bucks -- nm - zeitgeist Oct 7, 10:49
I say take the $500 and pocket it. - znufrii Oct 7, 10:06 7
- I wanted to leave it for a bit not to sway the outcome of the thread, but yeah, that's my feeling. Mrs. L thought I might be a little to easy going... - Name Withheld By Request Oct 7, 10:21 1
  - you're lucky that you've had the floors that long without any damage to them before this -- nm - zork Oct 7, 10:31
- That's sure as hell what I would do. -- nm - Dr.Vermin Oct 7, 10:19
- this. -- nm - decline Oct 7, 10:08
- i bet if you took a picture and went to Home Depot they could even show you a way to 'fill' the nicks to keep it from - Andie Oct 7, 10:07 2
  - Actually, the guy who quoted it already gave us the "What to do" (clear nail polish). We'd be at least three years from replacement anyhow. - Name Withheld By Request Oct 7, 10:19
  - yup. $20, tops. -- nm - znufrii Oct 7, 10:10
i think i would take the $500. you *might* get them up a bit with a lot of back and forth etc, but maybe not and i am not sure it would be worth the - Andie Oct 7, 10:04

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Okay, here's the situation....

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