Had a homeowner insist I install new carpet over a subfloor with a small damp spot

So I was on a job last week, a full carpet replacement in a back bedroom. I pulled up the old stuff and right by the wall, there was this dark patch on the subfloor, maybe two feet across. It was damp to the touch, not soaked, but you could feel the moisture. The homeowner saw it and said it was fine, that it would 'dry out' and to just lay the new pad and carpet right over it. I told him that's a straight ticket to mold city and the pad would soak it up like a sponge. He got annoyed and said it would cost too much to fix the leak first. It put me in a tough spot between doing the job 'right' and losing the job entirely. In the end, I walked. Has anyone else had to make a call like that where doing the right thing for the floor meant turning down the work?

2 comments

2 Comments

mary_kelly3d ago

Your mention of a "damp spot" reminded me of a story my neighbor told about his cousin. They covered up a wet patch like that and had to tear out the whole floor a year later because of black mold. You were smart to walk away from that job. Putting carpet over it is just asking for trouble, no matter what the homeowner says. Saving money now will cost them way more later.

the_david3d ago

Walk away every time. Honestly, @mary_kelly's story about the mold is a perfect example. That small damp spot turns into a big problem real fast. Covering it up just delays the cost and makes it worse.