My floor has issues with color variation.
It is certainly frustrating to be disappointed in the appearance of your new floor.
Wood flooring is a natural product that has many variations in grain, color, and appearance. Stains, finishes, and other products that are applied to wood floors may bring out further natural variations in the product.
Because no two trees – and therefore, no two floorboards – will ever be exactly alike, our Installation Guide requires that all flooring be inspected and approved prior to installation.
We understand that job sites and installation schedules are often hectic. However, because wood floors represent a significant purchase for most homeowners and are the focal point of many homes, homeowners should visually inspect and approve their floor prior to installation.
This involves opening a reasonable number of flooring boxes (based on the job size) and showing the homeowner the lot of flooring that will be installed in their home prior to installation.
Is Approving the Floor Based on a Showroom Sample Good Enough?
We do not recommend giving final approval based on a showroom sample.
While showroom samples are helpful to compare different floors and help make buying decisions, they are similar to paint swatches. You are not likely to choose the paint for your walls based on a small paint swatch in a store. You would want to see that paint on your wall before painting your whole house.
Wood flooring samples are the same. Over time, they can change due to sunlight, air, cleaning, and other factors. Interior lighting also affects flooring color and appearance.
Final approval should always be done in the home with the lot of flooring to be installed.
One-Of-A-Kind Wood Floors
In addition to the normal variations of a natural wood floor, some of the methods that manufacturers use to stain their floors involve special color processes that react with chemicals and other components within the wood.
These methods can create beautiful, unique results that are very popular.
It is important to remember that these reactive stains and other color processes are difficult to sample because each lot may vary significantly. Samples of these wood floors should be considered as a “color concept.” By choosing one of these floors, you will have a truly one-of-a-kind wood floor.
This is another reason to ensure that the homeowner makes a final approval in their home based on the lot of flooring to be installed.
Are Color and Appearance Issues Covered by Warranty?
If an unsatisfactory color or appearance issue is noticed prior to installation, wood flooring should be returned. Flooring must be returned in excellent, like-new condition to permit resale.
For any flooring that has been installed, manufacturers cannot be held responsible for color or appearance issues. Installation is considered acceptance.
Our Installation Guide states: “Owner/Installer should carefully inspect material prior to installation. Wood is a natural product and as such will contain variations in grain, color and individual characteristics from board to board. Materials installed with visible defects are not covered by warranty. Any unacceptable material should not be installed. Rejection of material must be done on the full shipment of product, not box-by-box or piece-by-piece. Our flooring is manufactured within accepted industry standards, which allow grading deficiencies not to exceed 5%. It is recommended to add 5% – 10% to order quantities to allow for grading deficiencies and installation waste.”
Before Filing A Claim Request
We include important STOP labels on the seam side of each box of our prefinished wood flooring. These instructions must be followed to ensure the long-term success of your flooring. Following these instructions will help ensure that your floor’s warranty is not voided.