I don't like to write negative reviews, but feel I must in this instance. I had originally written a positive review, but after what has happened after the install I can no longer keep that review and must write a new one.
My initial communication was positive. I left a VM and received a call back immediately from Mike's wife and she had Mike call and set a consultation. Everything seemed fine from estimate through install. Mike had indicated the price wouldn't go above $9000 and it did go 500 over, but besides that the install was fine.
What was really disappointing was how sloppy Mike and his workers are. Mike mixed a leveling compound 2 days in a row on our front porch. Before he did this I let him know that the pavers on the porch and front yard were new, so please be careful. Despite this, he mixed the compound and left numerous large drops on the pavers, which are still there to this day. At the end of the project, there were several other things that he left in a way that was very unprofessional. They took a large chunk of wall out, broke picture frames and left them on the floor, did a really sloppy paint job of baseboards, left cement to dry and damage door frame and porch and walkway, etc etc.. These are labeled finish of job 1-8. When the job was complete they didn't even do a good job cleaning the floor. His guy, Carlos, swept but that's it.
When I presented all of these things Mike did come back out, but it was obvious he wasn't happy to come back and didn't apologize. He seems like a guy that does not say sorry.
So as time went on (install was 11/16) we noticed lots of other finishing issues....things that should have been done and weren't. They installed flooring in the bathroom but didn't seal around the bathtub. So water just ran down the bathtub and under the floorboards (picture labeled bathroom, no sealer). We also noticed that there were several boards that were coming apart (picture: floor separating). Mike sent his guy and fixed these issues. Again, no apology and I did have to chase him a bit to come back out.
Since then, more floor boards split apart and we noticed some other questionable work, especially around the fire place and our back door. His guy, Carlos, shot some caulking into gaps where he should have put transition pieces. (pictures: Bad finish 1-4). Again, Mike sent his guy to fix these, but I had to chase him for more than a month and we was quite unhappy to send someone. Again, no apology or explanation of why these things were happening.
Recently one more board split. Mike sent his guy and a text "I can't keep coming to your house for free man". The board that his guy fixed popped back up the next day. Mike now relayed the message that any future work will be at $175/hour.
One more big issue...Mike said we didn't need new subfloor....he put some of the leveling compound in between some of the plywood joints. I told him that was OK with me as long as the annoying squeaks would go away. He said, "should be fine". Well a year later the floor squeaks worse then it used to.
So, after spending over 11,000 all told for new flooring,-flooring which Mike said would last at least 20 years, we are very frustrated. Had the floor stayed together, like it should have, Mike wouldn't have had to come back even one time. Had he left the job done without damage to my property, he would have never heard from me again unless I needed more work done.
To give Mike credit, he did come out and fix things....I did have to chase him to do so. It seemed like finally the floor was going to be fully fixed and I wouldn't have to call him anymore...then this last issue happened and responding with the line "$175 hour to come to your house going forward", really rubbed me the wrong way.
So now I have to write a negative review which I hate doing. I'm unsure if there is some sort of manufacturing defect with the floor he sold us, or is it's just bad installation, but either way this was a bummer of an experience. I'd definitely not recommend Top Knot. I'm guessing he might be better with real wood flooring, but with clicking synthetic installation, I'd bet you're going to have similar issues. read more