Page 1 - 2018-05-CFR Volume 116 - Admission of Guilt - May 2018

The admission of guilt by definition is a disclosure or confession, as of having made a mistake or done
something wrong, a voluntary acknowledgment of a fact or truth; a concession. Admitting that you are
responsible for a problem with a product, installation or specification is an honorable thing. The admis-
sion of guilt may not be blatantly obvious or outwardly stated but could be very subtle and non-
committal. No one enjoys or wants to admit guilt in a major flooring failure, concern or issue but they
may “admit” there’s an issue or concern if a change was made that can be explained by any number of
remarks or statements verbal or printed.
These can include:
 Installation procedures
 Adhesive changes – usually to a more aggressive type or appli-

cation
 Layout of an installation
 Inappropriate specification
 Ludicrous statements in defense of a product failure or complaint.

You can’t make statements that you expect intelligent people to
believe that defy all logic and reality - we hear this all the time.
 Changes in the directions or information from a manufacturer that
cloud the issue by spewing BS.

Gapping. The locking mechanism is The back of this product is so slick the adhe-
allowing significant lateral move- sive won’t bond to it but the adhesive does
ment between the planks at the stick to the substrate. The installers were
joints. The manufacturer of this im- blamed for the adhesive not sticking to the
ported hardwood product said that back of the material. Do you think they are
explanation was vague. This prod- at fault? How can anything stick to this slick
uct has more play in it than an ac- backing?
cordion. No admission of guilt here
but the product itself is singing a
song.

1 Commercial Flooring Report May 2018