DO NOT HIRE – Costly Mistake That Ended in a Lawsuit
Hiring The Flooring Studio (Rick Quintanilla d.b.a The Flooring Studio) was one of the most damaging decisions we’ve ever made as homeowners. In 2022, Rick installed Luxury Vinyl Planks (LVP) throughout our new-build home. Unfortunately, he failed to follow the manufacturer’s installation guidelines — specifically, he skipped essential steps like performing the moisture vapor emissions testing (outlined on the installation guide for our flooring) on our slab and installing a moisture barrier. By late 2023, our floors were visibly curling and buckling. When we called Rick for a warranty visit, he came to our home, identified a "moisture problem," ripped up some of our flooring, and left. We were in contact in the initial weeks following the warranty visit, but when we requested documentation of moisture readings to provide to a forensic engineer investigating the situation, one of the many specialists we had out to find the cause of the moisture in those initial months, Rick told us that he did not have them. It had become clear after we had exhausted all testing with our builder, plumbers, drainage specialists, HVAC specialists, etc., that this was an installation issue and this was when Rick stopped communication. We hired a NWFA CWFI, certified flooring inspector to confirm what we suspected: The Flooring Studio’s improper installation was the root cause of the extensive damage. The inspector reached out to Rick for installation details — a request Rick ignored. This ultimately led us to file a lawsuit against Rick and The Flooring Studio for poor workmanship and deceptive trade practices. We won the lawsuit; however, even after a legal ruling, there has been no accountability from Rick or the business. As a result of this negligent installation, we now have widespread curling and trapped moisture beneath the flooring, which is going to require us to complete whole-home repairs and force us into temporary housing for months once we are finally able to begin the work. Rick has refused to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation or take responsibility for the damage he caused. To this day, since fall 2023, we are left with a severely damaged, torn-apart home and no resolution. This company and Rick’s lack of professionalism, responsibility, and integrity has been not only disappointing but financially and emotionally devastating. I urge others to think twice before trusting The Flooring Studio with their home. We trusted them, and we’re still paying the price.
By Jordan M.