Business Practices & Customer Relations Flashcards

When estimating flooring material for a room, what typical waste factor percentage is added for a standard straight-lay tile installation?

Answer: 10%

A 10% waste factor is standard for straight-lay tile installations to account for cuts, defects, and future repairs.

What additional waste percentage is commonly recommended when installing hardwood flooring on a 45-degree diagonal?

Answer: 15%

Diagonal installations require approximately 15% extra material to account for the increased number of angled cuts at walls and doorways.

What is a 'change order' in a flooring installation context?

Answer: A written amendment to the original contract when scope changes

A change order formally documents any modifications to the original scope, price, or timeline agreed upon in the contract.

What professional practice should a CFI installer follow when discovering unexpected subfloor issues (e.g., rot) during a job?

Answer: Stop work, document the condition, and notify the customer before proceeding

Stopping work and notifying the customer ensures they can authorize and pay for the additional remediation work, keeping the installer and customer aligned.

What does a 'maintenance guide' provided to a customer after installation accomplish for the installer?

Answer: It establishes that the installer provided care instructions, reducing liability for customer-caused damage

Providing written maintenance instructions protects the installer by demonstrating due diligence; damage from improper care by the customer then falls outside the installer's warranty.

Why should a flooring installer keep records of batch/lot numbers for materials used on a job?

Answer: To ensure color consistency for future repairs and support warranty claims

Lot numbers allow the installer to source matching material for future repairs and provide documentation needed to support warranty claims with the manufacturer.