A homeowner in Cincinnati told me my floor prep was 'overkill' and it got me thinking

I was installing some LVP in a kitchen remodel last fall, and I spent a full day on subfloor prep. I was filling every tiny dip with leveler, sanding every high spot, the whole nine yards. The homeowner, an older guy who used to be a general contractor, watched me for a bit and finally said, 'Son, you're doing great work, but that floor is flatter than a pool table. For this floating floor, you're burning time and their money.' He argued that for a lot of modern floating floors, chasing absolute perfection beyond the manufacturer's spec is a waste if the subfloor is already within tolerance. I used to think more prep was always better, no questions asked. Now, I still do a thorough job, but I actually break out my 6-foot level and the product's installation guide first to check the spec. If it says 3/16 inch over 10 feet and I'm already there, I move on. Has anyone else had a client's comment make you change a core part of your process?

2 comments

2 Comments

patricia_wells2d ago

Honestly, that reminds me of a guy who wanted me to re-caulk his entire shower over one tiny hairline crack. Tbh, sometimes good enough is actually good enough.

the_tessa2d ago

Ugh, I feel that! I just put a tiny dab of clear silicone right over the crack and called it a day. It held up for years, no need to go crazy.