1. 10 questions to ask your hardwood flooring supplier
You should ask 10 Questions to your hardwood flooring supplier before purchasing, these are given
below:
i. If there are any problems, who do I call?
Almost all flooring stores will be buying the flooring they are selling to you from a distributor who
purchases the flooring from the manufacturer. At some time, especially with products coming from
overseas there is more than one distributor engaged.In many cases if you have an issue with your
flooring and make a complaint to the retailer they will call the distributor and let them know there is a
complaint, the distributor will tell the manufacturer there has been a complaint. In most cases the
manufacturer will deny the complaint and if you are lucky they will even send a representative to deny
your claim in person. Many suppliers would correct a manufacturing problem to make their consumers
pleased because they are the ones dealing with the customers face to face but in reality they do not
have the final say unless they want to change the flooring out of their own pocket. The manufacturer is
so far removed from the actual client that they know it is better for their bottom line to deny the claims
and assume they will never have to deal with the issue because they are so protected by their
warranties. Picture a person at a desk with a pile of hardwood flooring claims on their desk with a big
stamp that says "denied".
ii. How durable is the finish?
Durability is probably the most significant things to consider when purchasing a prefinished hardwood
floor. The finish is what you are actually walking on and must be very durable to have a beautiful lasting
floor for years to come. Many imported prefinished floors have very little durability and the finish can be
taken off with a few swipes of 150 grit sandpaper. When buying hardwood there are a few ways to test
the finish: one would be to take 150 grit sandpaper and rub the finish to see if the finish will come off
and two would be to firmly press the edge of a coin against the finish, a quality finish will dent but not
come off. Quality manufacturers will have aluminum oxide or better yet titanium oxide hardeners in the
finish. Many offshore manufactured products will say they have aluminum oxide in them but actually do
not. To test if a hardwood floor has aluminum oxide in the finish simply put the sample in your
microwave and if it sparks, it does indeed have aluminum oxide in the finish. I know that may seem a
little strange but it's something worth checking because hardwood flooring is a big investment and you
want to know the durability of the finish.

2. iii. What is the structural and surface warranty?
That is a very important component of deciding on a hard wood ground. Any individual can fit any
twenty-five, 40, or perhaps 40 calendar year extended warranty on the conclude of the solution though
the real dilemma is usually; may that they stand driving the extended warranty. Numerous significant
hard wood floors producers possess extended warranties that are around five web pages. When you
read through the entire extended warranty in addition to each of the exeptions promoted gives the
customer the impression that there is actually simply no extended warranty whatsoever. The issue is
nearly all customers will not take the time to browse the extended warranty and they are amazed once
they uncover the problem there're having using the floors is one of the "exclusions". The majority of
extended warranties may declare that there is a market typical involving 5% margin intended for
miscalculation meaning that once your entire ground is usually total the maker is usually permitted to
possess 5% from the panels substandard. Actually any done ground involving 1000 rectangular ft will be
authorized roughly 100 panels with any kind of problem.
iv. What is the waste factor of the flooring?
The waste factor of the flooring is an important issue as well. If 10-15% waste is what is suggested by the
manufacturer than that means you will have to buy that much more to get enough to install your entire
floor. The higher the recommended waste factor the lower quality the product. You may find when
comparing products for price on may be more than the other but you must factor in the difference in
waste to the price. A floor for $6 with 3% waste would cost you $6.18 which would be the same cost as a
floor with 10% waste that is $5.62 and the product with 3% waste would definitely be a higher quality
product. The bottom line is you shouldn't have to sort the waste out of the boxes; the manufacturers
should be taking the waste out at the plant so you are only getting good quality pieces you can install in
your floor.
v. What is the average length of the flooring boards?
Your issue of the typical mother board programs is usually one that's not commonly questioned when it
comes to wood floor coverings. It can be something a small percentage individuals think of until finally it
really is increased. Your lengthier the common amount of the floor better the floor seems in particular
throughout substantial rooms. One foot or so and also two foot or so programs produce a really choppy
and also ugly floor. Your field sizing isn't the only method to share with precisely what the common size
is usually; you might have a 8' field using many quick parts inside. Several ocean going created goods
have been in a number of foot or so containers using is sure to make certain you are becoming some
sort of floor using really quick programs. It is not just ocean going goods which have quick programs
however several Us built goods as well. One extremely high stop Canadian company has a typical
amount of 27-29" within their 3-1/4" Select and also Superior Reddish Pine.

3. vi. What is the moisture content of the flooring?
Moisture content is a very important aspect when installing hardwood flooring. You need the flooring to
be at a proper moisture level for your home/interior climate which is typically between 6-9% moisture
content. Installing hardwood flooring with a moisture content that is too high will cause spaces in the
floor when the flooring dries out, and installing a hardwood floor that is too dry will result in cupping
when the flooring picks up moisture. If the retailer selling you flooring does not have a moisture meter
and can check the moisture for you then I would suggest you run. The majority of people selling
hardwood flooring know very little about wood and moisture, if they don't even have a moisture meter,
that is a sign that they are not professional and know nothing or very little about hardwood flooring and
shouldn't be selling it.
vii. What does the supplier recommend for acclimation?
I know you must have heard someone say "the flooring must sit in your home for two weeks prior to
installation". This is a very general statement and in most cases will do more harm than good for your
hardwood floor. If you did this in a new home and it sat in the home while they were drywalling,
painting, the wood would be so damp by the time you installed it that you would just be asking for
trouble. The fact is a new home will have 1000 to 2000 gallons of water that will be oozing out of the
home the first two years. If your flooring is sitting in the home before it is installed it will absorb all of
that moisture. If you are having the flooring sit in your home you will want to make sure it is stored in
normal living conditions to avoid it from drying out too much or picking up too much moisture. In some
cases, a seasonal dwelling, you may want to have the hardwood flooring absorb the moisture before it is
installed. If the home is always a high humidity environment then you want the wood to pick up
moisture so it can be normal living conditions for that particular environment. You want to have a
hygrometer to measure the humidity in your home before the installation and monitor your humidity
after to ensure your home is in the proper humidity range to avoid issues with your flooring.
viii. What does the stain/finish look like?
Many large manufactures will finish all different woods at the same time without making adjustments
for each wood because each time they make adjustments it effects the production. The fact is, each
wood needs to be finished differently to achieve the nicest stain/finish. Oak requires more finish to "fill
in" the grain or else it will appear very pitted which is not something desirable in an oak floor. You want
to be able to hold a piece up to the light and see a perfect smooth finish. Maple requires more brushing
than oak so the stain can penetrate into the wood and not appear "blotchy". Maple is a beautiful wood
and with the proper staining you can really bring out features such as Birdseye and tiger tail. If not
stained properly these features are hidden.

4. ix. Does the supplier warrant the work done by their installers?
If you're paying for floors at a business and also getting the individual company install the particular
floors you want to make certain your own installation software is a skilled. Oftentimes begin using your
individual company and also there may be a challenge you may have the particular installation software
blaming the problem around the wood plus the maker blaming the problem around the installation
software. Whenever no person usually takes the particular pin the consequence on you will not have got
good fortune helping your matter fixed. If you're obtaining floors with a offer and also install foundation
you want to make certain the organization justifies the workers work plus the workers are generally
certified. Quite a few stores may subscription out and about the installs in order to technicians so that
they never be capable of monitor the work except these people visit each jobsite.
x. What grade is the flooring?
Comparing flooring by grades can be very confusing and misleading. Many large manufacturers have five
or six different grades of flooring so just because brand A has a less expensive product than brand B they
may not be the same or even a similar grade. There is really no standard grading system for prefinished
flooring so just because the product is labelled "select and better" may not mean it is the best quality
flooring.
Vastern Timber is a long-established business specialising in quality structural timber. The company is
dedicated to producing good quality structural oak and Douglas fir from logs felled in British forests.
Much of our timber carries the FSC certification, which is only awarded for forests and woodlands that
are managed according to strict standards of environmental principles. Vastern Timber is one of the only
sawmills in the country that can guarantee 100% British production, which is an important factor when
considering the overall environmental impact of any building project. You can see a British Hardwood
Supplier in your area by going to http://www.vastern.co.uk