A client's comment about my seam placement made me stop and think

I was finishing a job in a big living room in Tacoma, running seams down the center like I always have. The homeowner, an older guy who used to build houses, watched for a bit and said, 'You know, putting that seam right under the main traffic path guarantees it'll wear out first.' He wasn't rude, just matter-of-fact. I'd always been taught that was the standard, cleanest look. But his point about long-term wear has stuck with me for days. Do you guys ever shift seams away from high-traffic areas, even if it's less 'textbook'?

3 comments

3 Comments

amy_murphy8525d ago

Shift seams toward the wall under sofas or cabinets, it hides them and saves the floor.

haydeng4725d ago

Ever think about how many "standard" practices are just about looks over function? That guy's totally right. I started shifting seams to the sides on hallway jobs after seeing the same wear issue. It might not look as perfect to another installer, but the floor lasts way longer for the actual homeowner. Sometimes the textbook way is just the one that's easiest to teach, not the smartest long term.

ruby_rivera7620d ago

Used to be a stickler for the center seam. Saw a floor fail right down the middle of a hall and it totally changed my view.