Installer/owner responsibility – very important
Installation constitutes acceptance of hardwood flooring, subfloor, substrate, the jobsite (including the ambient temperature and relative humidity), and all other variables that may affect the performance of wood flooring. Many critical decisions must be made at the installation site, and therefore are the sole responsibility of the installer and/or owner. These include, but are not limited to, proper storage and handling of flooring, complete evaluation of site conditions including moisture testing of the site and flooring, acclimation of flooring to normal living conditions, site preparation, flooring layout, milling, grade and color, proper installation methods, and cleanup. DO NOT INSTALL if there is any question as to acceptability, including stain color consistency and sufficient quantity to complete the job.
Important requirements include
- Keep flooring dry at all times Provide good air circulation around pallets, bundles, or cartons. Do not stack flooring bundles or cartons more than three layers high, and maintain a flat stack. Record flooring moisture content upon delivery and at time of installation, and retain these records. Acclimate flooring to proper site conditions; refer to NWFA Installation Guidelines, Sec. I, Ch. 2 for further information.
- HVAC must be in operation before, during, and after installation (refer to NWFA Installation Guidelines, Sec. I, Ch. 1, Part 1). A temperature of 70 degrees F +/- 10 degrees and a relative humidity between 35-55% is recommended. Heating units or uninsulated ductwork close to the flooring or subfloor may cause “hot spots” which must be eliminated prior to installation.
- Radiant Heat: Wood flooring can be installed over radiant heat as long as you understand radiant heat and how it can impact wood flooring, what precautions to take, and what type of wood flooring to use. Engineered hardwood flooring may be installed over many radiant heat systems (excluding hickory and exotic (imported) species). As these precautions and installation methods are very detailed, please consult NWFA Installation Guidelines, Sec. IV, Appendix H for details. Problems typically associated with radiant heat systems are excluded from coverage under warranty.
- Moisture testing is critical (refer to NWFA Installation Guidelines, Sec. I, Ch. 3). Confirm proper drainage exists around the structure. In crawl spaces, exposed earth must be fully covered with minimum 6-mil polyethylene sheeting. Crawl space vents must be open at all times, and must equal at least 1.5% of the total square footage of the crawl space. Basements must be dry and remain dry.