Performance Standard: HBR articles 18-1 to 18-4   Click icon to view book  
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Defects in finish will be corrected only if noted on the final walk through form.

Separation between boards will not exceed 1/8 inch (1/8″ = 2 pennies).

Warranty period: 1 year

Homeowner Operation and Maintenance

Cleaning – Sweep on a daily basis or as needed. Never wet-mop, or use soap to clean a hardwood floor. Excessive water causes wood to expand and can possibly damage the floor. Soap will dull the finish and wax makes the finish impossible to recoat the floor without sanding down to bare wood.  When polyurethane finishes become soiled, clean by damp-mopping with a mix of vinegar and warm water. When damp-mopping, remove all excess water from the mop.

Furniture Legs – Install proper floor protectors on furniture placed on hardwood floors. Protectors will allow chairs to move easily over the floor without scuffing. Regularly clean the protectors to remove any grit that may have accumulated.

Humidity – Wood floors respond noticeably to changes in humidity in your home, especially those brought on by changing weather conditions. During winter months the individual planks or pieces expand and contract as water content changes. Although it is impossible to completely alleviate this situation, keeping your home at an even and reasonable temperature and relative humidity are excellent precautionary measures.

Separation – Expect some shrinkage around heat ducts and vents or any heat-producing appliances, or during seasonal weather changes.

Shoes – Keep high heels in good repair. Heels that have lost their protective cap (thus exposing the fastening nail) will exert over 8,000 pounds of pressure per square inch on the floor. That’s enough to damage hardened concrete so; it will certainly damage your wood floor.

Warping – Warping will occur if the floor repeatedly becomes wet or is thoroughly soaked even once. Slight warping in the area of heat vents or heat-producing appliances is also typical.

Wax – Waxing and the use of products like oil soap are neither necessary nor recommended. Once you wax a polyurethane finish floor, recoating is impossible because the new finish will not bond to the wax. The preferred maintenance is preventive cleaning and recoating annually or as needed to maintain the desired luster.

Notes

WOOD CONTRACTS AND EXPANDS WITH WEATHER CONDITIONS. ALTHOUGH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPLETELY ALLEVIATE THIS SITUATION, KEEPING YOUR HOME AT AN EVEN AND REASONABLE TEMPERATURE IS AN EXCELLENT PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE. PROPER HUMIDITY LEVELS MUST BE MAINTAINED.

Hardwood floors expand in summer and contract in winter occasionally leaving hairline cracks. The cracks are acceptable up to 1/8 of an inch. This is normal due to New York State’s weather. In summer, use a dehumidifier in basement along with air conditioning.

NO FURNITURE on the floor for 2 days after final coat. NO AREA RUGS for at least 3 weeks after final coat.

Felt pads with adhesive tabs to protect your floors are readily available at stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s. Use a dab of Super Glue on each pad before applying to legs of all furniture.

Tiny particles in the finish are not unusual due to the thickness of the final coat. Unfortunately, hair, insects, dust, etc. are sometimes found in the finish due to our environment; these will dissipate in time and will gradually take on a smooth appearance.

Throw rugs should be utilized in front of appliances and sink.

Maintenance is minimal! Floors should be buffed and recoated when cloudiness appears in the finish. This generally will be in the high traffic areas of your home.

Vacuum or dry mop your floors before wet mopping.

BUILDER Limited Warranty Guidelines

BUILDER will correct noticeable cosmetic defects listed during the final walk through.

You are responsible for routine maintenance of hardwood floors.

Separations – Shrinkage will result in separations between the boards of hardwood floors. If these exceed 1/8 inch, BUILDER will fill them one time. BUILDER is not responsible for removing excess filler that appears on the surface if the boards expand due to subsequent changes in humidity and expel the filler.

Squeaks – BUILDER will face nail the loose boards and/or sub flooring and fill in the nail holes.  Elimination of squeaks is not guaranteed.