Can you Go back to your builder or floor polisher to rectify

Hi Kate - the response from the timber flooring company is that although it's not our fault, it's not their's either (even though it's their business to provide and install the product). Therefore, they suggest sharing the cost. I'm not sure I agree with that.

My friend has exactly the same issue. They have put up with the ghosting work boot marks for over 8 years. The only thing to fix is to re sand the entire floor and re stain. My friend has not done this because of the cost and inconvenience. They will do it when they have to update kitchen etc.

The flooring company, like yourselves, would have not known these marks were on the floor at completion of installation. They only appear after time. It is no ones fault. So if the flooring company will meet you half way, that is worth considering.

My friends floor looks like someone with white dust on the soles of their boots has walked across the floor, and hall, and kitchen....

That's exactly right. Everything needs to be moved out and protected for a re-sand. I love the wood, but if we had known of the issue we would probably have tiled throughout. The first we heard of ghosting was the explanation as to why no one was allowed in the house for several days after the floor was put down.

I’ve had hardwood floors in three houses and never had ghosting. So not that common. One room did have some oil spots come out after a while. But because of the way things worked out I also never had people walk on the raw boards (apart from the polisher)before they were finished and not for at least five days afterwards. My current boards are due to a refinish after 12+ years so I’ll be very careful of the ghosting possibility. I’d be very disappointed if that happened. I am planning for a Tung oil finish this time which is a DIY repair friendly product. I’d be seeking another opinion from an independent source.

Yes, I am very disappointed that it has happened. We have followed all instructions to the letter, and as I said earlier, we are really careful not to let direct sunlight onto the wood, and have been since day 1. Despite that, four out of six rooms that had the hardwood flooring have been affected. As dreamer said, the flooring company won't have known the marks were there waiting to come out, but they also sold us a product that had the known potential to develop a major defect within just a few months, without any warning.

It’s a difficult situation. I’ve never worried about direct sunlight either, in fact one of the joys of our pet’s lives is laying on the floors in the sun. And I love it streaming in too. Normally hardwood floors are fairly fuss free. I’d invest time in finding a solution and then you can enjoy your floors for the next decade+.