I bet you’re thinking, “This ought to be good. What does this guy know that I haven’t already tried? Getting architects and owners to agree to pay for floor-prep work is about as easy as it is to get a concrete contractor to provide a perfectly flat and level floor in the first place.” And the answer to this question could very well be “You just read it.” He who pours the concrete that does not meet the specs should fix the floor so that it does meet the specs or pay someone else – like you – to fix it for him. Sound simple? It’s not. Part one: the problem The problem is getting the concrete guy to meet whose specs; his Division 3 specs or our Division 9 specs? The Division 9 specs most times spell out precise finish floor requirements as if it were the tile installer’s responsibil- ity even though he did not pour the concrete. The Division 3 specs in general do not get specific when it comes to finish floor requirements. The Tile Council of North America (TCNA) gives very definite require- ments for substrate tolerances but does not spell out whose responsibil- ity it is to provide them. We therefore have a dilemma. A couple years ago the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC) in conjunction with the Flooring Contractors Association (FCCA) and the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) issued a joint statement titled the “ASCC Position Statement #6” to address this issue. Without going into great detail about the differences between the two specs, the conclusion of the ASCC and the NWFA was as follows: “....suggest that the owner provide a bid allowance, established by the A/E and based on the floor cover- ing requirements, for any necessary grinding and patching to close the gap between Division 3 tolerances and Division 9 tolerances.” This sounded good to everyone except the owners who unfortunate- ly have to foot the bill. Where is the control over quality with this plan? There is none, and that is the flaw with this position. Issuing blank checks in the construction industry just doesn’t work. How to Get Paid for Floor Prep Work Sponsored by TECH TALK –––––––––––––––––––––––––––– By Tom D. Lynch, CSI 58 TileLetter | March 2018