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Jeffrey B. Meltzer NWFA Certified Flooring Inspector License # CP 1980205 Phone: 310-525-0590 Email: [email protected] INSPECTION SITE: 5510 Fulton Ave, Sherman Oaks, CA 91401 COMMISSIONING PARTY: Bill Gorton INSPECTION DATE: September 10, 2019 REPORT DATE: October 03, 2019 PRODUCT: 3/8 x 3” Parquet Herringbone pattern unfinished custom. 3/4 x 6” engineered in basement

ISSUES PROMPTING INSPECTION Bill Gorton, hereinafter referred to as the Commissioning party, noted a number of perceived issues with the installation. 1. Floor bubbling, and failing to adhere to subfloor. 2. Sanding and finishing of the floor appears to be poorly done. PARTIES PRESENT DURING INSPECTION: Kurt Alexander — on-site supervisor; Dominic Passeri. PRODUCT 3/8 x 3-inch Parquet Herringbone pattern unfinished custom. 3/4 x 6 engineered in basement SUBFLOOR ¼ inch plywood 1 x 6 car decking, Douglas Fir TECHNICIAN (INSTALLER) Parquet by Dian TIMELINE RELATING TO THE INSPECTION AND FLOORING ISSUES The commissioning party states the following: ● March 20th, 2019 proposal was sent ● Contract was dated April 05, 2019 There is real serious concern and doubt that this technician is capable of doing a satisfactory job. On September 10, 2019 the Inspector visited the Inspection site and made the following observations: Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 2 of 56

CONTENTS: 1. Photo Narrative……………………………………………..p. 4-18 2. Conclusion………………………………………………….p. 19-20 3. Exhibits……………………………………………………..p. 21-22 Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 3 of 56

PHOTO NARRATIVE Installation Issues Photo No. 1 Examining wear layers of engineered floor under field microscope. Note 4mm veneer. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 4 of 56

Photo No. 2 Examining area excavated prior to inspection. Inspector noted 1 x 6” sub-floor – plywood. No moisture mitigation present. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 5 of 56

Photo No. 3 Close up of underside of prior excavated area. Inspector notes spider web pattern, and erratic trowel marks. This usually indicates an out of flat condition. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 6 of 56

Photo No. 4 Close up of prior excavated area. Inspector notes inconsistent trowel marks, and what appears to be an insufficient amount of adhesive. Inspector also notes that absence of moisture mitigation material in violation of industry standards. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 7 of 56

Photo No. 5 Inspector noted that star screws were used to adhere plywood to the subfloor. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 8 of 56

Photo No. 6 Closeup of star screw used to adhere to subfloor. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 9 of 56

Photo No. 7 Contractor and installer both selected this area. Floor is reported to have been bulging. Inspector notes that these aren’t the type of trowel marks you’d like to see in an installation. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 10 of 56

Photo No. 8 Floor directly abuts hard surface in violation of NWFA and manufacturer guidelines. Inadequate expansion space. Industry rule of thumb is expansion space should be equal to thickness of flooring. The product installed here is 3/8” thick. Expansion space should be at least 3/8” wide. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 11 of 56

Photo No. 9 Inadequate expansion space. Expansion space is inadequate throughout installation. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 12 of 56

Photo No. 10 Inadequate expansion space. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 13 of 56

Photo No. 11 Inadequate expansion space. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 14 of 56

Photo No. 12 Measuring flatness of floor. Location: living room step down. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 15 of 56

Photo No. 13 Measuring flatness of floor. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 16 of 56

Photo No. 14 Floor is not within manufacturer or NWFA tolerances. 3/8” in 3 feet. Glue Manufacture limit is 3/16” in 10 feet. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 17 of 56

Photo No. 15 Measuring out of flatness within 3 feet. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 18 of 56

Photo No. 16 Measuring out of flatness within 3 feet. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 19 of 56

Photo No. 17 Examining and measuring trowel marks. Foaming in adhesive is likely a result of sub-floor moisture. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 20 of 56

Photo No. 18 Examining and measuring trowel marks. Improper/ incorrect trowel used. Spider-webbing cause by floor being out of flat beyond manufacturer’s specs. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 21 of 56

Photo No. 19 Examining and measuring trowel marks. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 22 of 56

Photo No. 20 Area investigated for bubbling. Excavation was done while inspector was on site. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 23 of 56

Photo No. 21 Prepping area for excavation. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 24 of 56

Photo No. 22 Inadequate expansion space. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 25 of 56

Photo No. 23 Inadequate expansion space near excavated area. Expansion space inconsistent throughout installation. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 26 of 56

Photo No. 24 Inadequate expansion space near excavated area. Expansion space inconsistent throughout installation. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 27 of 56

Photo No. 25 Measuring moisture near excavation area. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 28 of 56

Photo No. 26 Measuring moisture near excavation area. Slamhammer attachment. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 29 of 56

Photo No. 27 11.7% moisture content at 1/8th inch. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 30 of 56

Photo No. 28 12.1% moisture at 3/8th of an inch. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 31 of 56

Photo No. 29 19.5% moisture at ½ inch. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 32 of 56

Photo No. 30 Pried panel out at excavation area for examination and testing. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 33 of 56

Photo No. 31 Inspector observed that there is no moisture barrier. Some sort of liquid nail used in isolated spots. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 34 of 56

Photo No. 32 Isolated spots of adhesive. Absence of moisture barrier. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 35 of 56

Photo No. 33 Inspector noted the presence of drywall screws in the substructure. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 36 of 56

Photo No. 34 Inspector observes foaming pattern in adhesive. Loss of trowel pattern. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 37 of 56

Photo No. 35 Inadequate expansion space Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 38 of 56

Finish Quality Issues Photo No. 36 Inspector notes buffer marks. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 39 of 56

Photo No. 37 Inspector notes swirl buffer marks and scratches to the finish. Inspector notes this is visible from standing height under normal lighting. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 40 of 56

Photo No. 38 Inspector notes swirl buffer marks and scratches to the finish. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 41 of 56

Photo No. 39 Scratches or even a drum mark. This would be unacceptable across the entire room. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 42 of 56

Photo No. 40 Downstairs kitchen. This floor is not ready for finishing because of the scratch marks. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 43 of 56

Photo No. 41 This floor is not ready for finishing because of the scratch marks. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 44 of 56

Photo No. 42 This floor is not ready for finishing because of the scratch marks. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 45 of 56

Photo No. 43 This floor is not ready for finishing because of the scratch marks. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 46 of 56

Photo No. 44 Lines indicating that the flooring in basement has micro-beveled edges. Contractor indicated homeowner expected square edge as exists upstairs. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 47 of 56

Photo No. 45 Micro-bevel lines. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 48 of 56

IDENTIFICATION OF CAUSE As laid out in the preceding photographs and written information, Inspector identifies the following as causes of the many failures of this installation: 1. Installer used the incorrect trowel. 2. Adhesive was improperly and insufficiently applied. 3. Subfloor was improperly prepared. 4. Moisture barrier was absent. Installation Issues Commissioning party complained that the floor was bubbling and failing to adhere to the sub- floor. The inspector noted that the installation had inconsistent and insufficient expansion space. See Photo Nos. 8-11; Photo Nos. 22-24. Lack of expansion space can cause buckling, and failure to adhere. In addition, insufficient expansion space, can cause the floor to be out of flat. This inspector measured the out of flatness of this floor at 3/8 inches in 3 feet. See Photo Nos. 12-16. This is inappropriate. The floor is out of flat. NWFA guidelines require that: For glue-down installations and installations using mechanical fasteners of less than 1½”, the subfloor should be flat to within 3/16” in 10 feet or 1/8” in 6 feet radius. See: NWFA Section II Subfloor Guidelines and Specifications attached as Exhibit A. Installer used DriTac 7300 Surebond Urethane Wood Flooring Adhesive. From the DriTac manufacturer guidelines: All joints in subflooring materials should have 1/8” expansion space around all panels. If expansion space is not present, cut around and through the panel joints with a circular saw. See: DriTac 7300 Technical Data Sheet attached as Exhibit B. In addition, the moisture content of the floor was high. This inspector measured moisture content at 11.7% at a depth of 1/8th inch and 19.5% at ½ inch. See Photo Nos. 27-29. This is violative of NWFA standards. The moisture content is high, likely because the subfloor was improperly Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 49 of 56

prepared (inadequate screws and materials) and no moisture barrier was used. The adhesive that was applied has insufficient moisture abatement properties for the moisture content measured on site. From the manufacturer’s guidelines: Before installing over any one of these subfloors, test for moisture using a reliable moisture meter such as the Tramex Wood. DriTac Technical Data Sheet. Moisture Meter or equivalent. The moisture content should not exceed 12%. If it is over 12%, either wait until the subfloor is drier or stabilize the subfloor with an additional layer of ¼” plywood. See: DriTac 7300 Technical Data Sheet attached as Exhibit B. From the NWFA Guidelines: A. For solid strip flooring (less than 3” wide), there should be no more than 4 percent moisture content difference between properly acclimated wood flooring and subflooring materials. B. For wide-width solid flooring (3” or wider), there should be no more than 2 percent difference in moisture content between properly acclimated wood flooring and subflooring materials. See: NWFA Section II Subfloor Guidelines and Specifications attached as Exhibit A. The styles and types of block and parquet flooring, as well as the recommended procedures for application, vary somewhat among the different manufacturers. Detailed installation instructions are usually provided with the flooring or are available from the manufacturer or distributor. Test wood subflooring for moisture according to Moisture Testing Procedures in Section V, Appendix AB. Moisture content should be within 4% of the average area environmental conditions. Section V, Appendix AD, and AE. Test concrete for moisture according to Moisture Testing Procedures in Section V, Appendix AA. Moisture indicators should be within the adhesive and flooring manufacturers' specifications. A minimum expansion space equal to the thickness of the installed product must be left around the perimeter and all vertical obstructions. Some 3/4” slat parquet can be nailed down, as long as the pattern continues to have an exposed side tongue in which to nail Lay both blocks and the individual pieces of parquet in adhesive. See: NWFA Section III Subfloor Guidelines and Specifications attached as Exhibit C. Bill Gorton – Photo Narrative regarding 5510 Fulton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91401 Page 50 of 56