Kimmel Carpets & Floor Covering

We did notice a couple of gaps right away, as well as a couple of soft spots, but were told that wood contracts and expands so didn't think anything of it... and since we were to have a followup checkup to address any concerns in a month, didn't really worry about it. Mike came out to fix a soft spot (it's a floating floor, but this really had a lot of give.) but it didn't seem to help. So, after the holidays, contacted him again because we noticed some of the boards were chipping/splitting at the ends, and the gaps still remained. After Mike said any problems were "manufacturing defects", we had an National Wood flooring Association certified inspector come out 2/16 to look at the floor. Mike said if the inspector found any issues, he’d fix them. When the inspector arrived, he immediately noted several problems with the install: Multiple boards weren't click-locked into place lengthwise. This has contributed to the feel of 'soft spots' -- since the boards have more flex, because they weren't fully clicked into place, as well as bending/slight fracturing within boards and the deterioration/chipping at the ends of others, because of additional movement (rubbing board-on-board, which has damaged some tighter edges). Inspector saw one, possibly two spots in particular where there's significant gapping between boards end-to-end - which we noted after installation, too. Inspector questioned if the underlayment has the proper overlap, and if it was laid parallel to the floor joists, as it should have been laid perpendicular. This could also contribute to the lengthwise "soft/bounce' of specific boards. (I verified – from pics Mike took and posted to his own FB page – that the underlayment runs parallel to the boards.) I contacted Mike, and he texted me that the inspector didn’t know what he was talking about, but he *did* agree to come out to make repairs (which he said would take a couple hours) on Mar 3 in AM. However, the night before, he emailed to say it would be PM, which we couldn’t do due to scheduling. Communication was sporadic for the next few weeks, but Mike told me he could be there 3/23 in the AM. So, we emptied the pantry and took the furniture out of the kitchen to ready for repair. Then, on 3/22, Mike sent a short text saying “plan on Thursday” (3/24), and that it would be ‘probably two days total” work. So, I changed work stuff around to be off Thursday, when Mike said he’d arrive between 9-930. However, Mike no-showed on the 24th. My texts and emails went unanswered, and calls rotated between voicemail and hang-ups (where I could here someone answer but hang up without saying anything.) Today’s 3/30, and I’ve yet to hear a single word from Mike via phone, email, or text. I understand (as a small biz owner myself) how work can get busy, and that “rework” doesn’t put money in your pocket, but the fact is this flooring was installed incorrectly (a fact verified by the NWFA inspector) and all we’ve asked is for him to reinstall it and replace the damaged boards with some of the remaining ones we overpurchased at the beginning. However, Mike’s not answering calls, emails or texts (while continuing to work – his FB page shows job updates). Now, his phone doesn't accept calls.

We hired Kimmel Carpets and Floor Covering to treat the sub floor of a house that we purchased that had odor from the previous owner's cat. The agreement was that company owner Mike would treat the floor with a substance to eliminate the source of the odor, and then seal the floor after the treatment. We made it clear that time was an issue so that we could get new flooring installed over the damaged sub floor and then move into our new house on time. We were not present when the service was performed, although my wife arrived toward the end of the work and paid Mike. Because the sealant had just been applied, the smell of the sealant overpowered any lingering cat odor. As a result, she was unaware that the cat odor had not been eliminated. The first sign of trouble was what we found upon checking the house after the sealant had time to dry. The odor remained (admittedly reduced, but still there). Instead of a solid coat of sealant, we saw that it had only been applied in a few areas, and it was clearly a light application at that. We paid $300.00 to have only a few small rooms treated; I expected to see more than just a splash of the product here and there. I spoke to Mike on the phone. He agreed to have a subcontractor of his come out to put down a solid coat of sealant over the entire floor. The work was supposed to occur on the weekend of August 1 and 2. This was the final contact that I had with anyone from the company. I tried calling and texting throughout the weekend for status reports; no answer, no returned calls or messages. When we finally made it down to the new house on Monday it was obvious that absolutely nothing had changed. Nothing had been done at all. Obviously I was irritated, but I know that sometimes unexpected things occur and I tried giving the benefit of the doubt. It has now been four days since the contact in which he promised to have the issue corrected. Three text messages and four phone calls over the span of those four days have gone unanswered. In order to meet our own deadlines, my wife and I both wound up taking the day off from our own jobs to go down to the house and apply a coat of sealant ourselves. We had to postpone the installation of the new flooring, causing us to delay the move into our new house. If it were simply a matter of a diligent effort having been made but not resolving the odor issue, I could accept that and continue to work with this company to resolve the problem. However, the first effort appeared to be anything but diligent due to the light application. That situation was made worse by Mike promising me that the repairs would be competed by a certain date but then utterly failing to do any repair work and completely cutting off all contact after that failure. To me, that is a completely different matter. I would not recommend this company to anyone.

During both the phone and in home consults we were quoted a specific price. Despite providing all materials and several job specific tools and paying well over 90% of what was initially quoted, we were asked to pay the balance of a much larger bill minus $100 before when the job wasn't close to finished. We were threatened with a lien against our home for work this "contractor" has not completed. When wall/appliance/door damage was brought into the conversation the owner of this company dismissed our concerns without a willingness to admit fault. Would not let this company into our home again.

As noted in previous reviews, the company did not call us back. I spoke with someone who said they would be over to do a quote on our commercial floors that night since they were in the vicinity. Did not call, did not come over. I gave them a C because it seems the average response from companies from Angie's List - no response at all. This is the 5th company I've contacted via AL with no call back. 2 flooring, and 3 asphalt. I'm getting an impression of AL companies, and it's not a great one.

Didn't go anywhere because he never showed up and never called for two different appointments.

He showed up with one other guy to do the install I think. I cannot see the seam of the carpet which is good. There was a little too much of a step up between the carpet room and the kitchen floor and my 2 year old kept tripping on it. I called him about it and he came back out right away to fix it by adding more volume under the carpet near the kitchen although the step is still more noticeable than it was before he replaced the carpet for some reason.He did not remove the debris but I suspect that is why it cost less. He did cut the old carpet into 4 foot sections so I just put some in the trash every week until it was gone. I liked that because it kept the cost down I think.Previously and at a different address he pulled up existing carpet and replaced the pad under it. He charged $120 for this week.And most recently, May 29, 2013 he came out to my house right away (like within 2 hours) to help me pull up wet carpet and remove the carpet pad. He helped me lay the wet carpet out in the garage and prop it up with a fan under it to dry. He then scraped out and removed the existing pad and placed it on the curb. I had to go back and put the pad into trash cans and remove it. Not sure what he will charge for this work but I am very grateful that he was so responsive and came out right away to help me.