Floor Covering World

OWNER / INSTALLER RESPONSIBILITY

Hardwood flooring is a beautiful and unique product of nature, which is characterized by distinctive variations in grain and color. These natural variations in color and grain are not flaws, but are a part of the natural beauty and uniqueness of hardwood flooring. (These inherent variations should be expected and serve to enhance the natural beauty and enduring charm.) Shaw Hardwood Floors are manufactured in accordance with accepted industry standards, which permit a defect tolerance not to exceed 5%. The defects may be of a manufacturing or natural type. (Remember: No two hardwood floors are alike.)

The installer assumes all responsibility for final inspection of product quality. This inspection of all flooring should be done before installation. Carefully examine the flooring for color, finish and quality before installing it. Use reasonable selectivity and cull out or cut off pieces with glaring defects. If material is not acceptable, contact your Shaw Hardwood Flooring dealer immediately.

Before beginning the installation of any hardwood flooring product, the installer must determine that the environment of the job site and the condition and type of the subfloor involved is acceptable, insuring that it meets or exceeds all requirements which are stipulated in the Shaw Hardwood Flooring installation instructions which follow.

Shaw Industries, Inc. declines any responsibility for job failure resulting from or associated with inappropriate or improperly prepared subfloors or job site environment deficiencies.  The use of stain, filler or putty stick for the correction of defects during installation should be accepted as normal procedure.

When Shaw Hardwood Flooring is ordered, a 5 – 10% waste factor, depending on layout, must be added to the actual square footage amount needed. (Diagonal Installations may require more.)

JOB SITE INSPECTION & ACCLIMATION

In new construction, Shaw Hardwood Flooring ^™ should be one of the last items installed. All work involving water or moisture (plumbing, plaster /drywall ceilings or wall finishes, painting, etc.) should be finished with ample time allowed for complete drying prior to wood flooring being installed. Heating and air systems should be fully operating maintaining a consistent room temperature at 60-80^o F and a constant relative humidity range of 35%-65%, 5 days prior to wood acclimation.

Flooring should not be delivered until the above guidelines are completed. Concrete and plaster should be cured and at least 60 to 90 days old. Check basements and under floor crawl space to be sure that they are dry and well ventilated to avoid damage caused by moisture. Shaw recommends a minimum of 6 mil vapor barrier placed on 100% of the surface of the ground in crawl spaces not finished with cement.

Flooring should be at the job site at least 48 hours prior to installation. Do not open until ready to install.

Handle with care. Do not stand on ends or sides. Store Shaw Hardwood flooring flat with proper support on the ends and center sections in a dry place being sure to provide at least a four-inch air space under and around cartons. Stack the cartons 3-4 high to insure efficient acclimation.

Do not store directly upon on grade concrete or next to outside walls. Cartons should be placed as close to the center of the installation area as possible, away from exterior walls, windows, and doors. Keep out of direct sunlight and away from air vents.

The installation site should have consistent room temperature of 60^o – 80^o F., and a constant relative humidity level of 35% – 65% for a minimum of 5 days prior to acclimation and installation of any Shaw Hardwood Flooring product.

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