HARDWOOD FLOORING WARRANTY
A solid flooring for life;
Our confidence in the performance of our products allows us to offer a lifetime warranty on their structural integrity. Our finish comes with a
25 – 35-year wear-through warranty in residential applications and 5-year wear-through warranty in light commercial applications.
25 TO 35 YEAR WARRANTY ON THE “WEAR-GUARD NANOTECH” FINISH
The flooring manufacturer gaurantees the original purchaser that the finish, namely the total thickness of urethane applies to its products, will withstand total wear and flaking of the surface in the course of normal household use for a period of up to 35 years. The “WEAR-GUARD” finish is also warranted against premature deterioration of shine in high-traffic areas and is designed to resist friction caused by footsteps over many years without showing traces of significant wear, at the condition that no abrasive substances (salt, sand, slivers of glass or similar substances) were present on the surface and the floor was maintained regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. (See the section on maintenance and Preservation guidelines).
The “WEAR-GUARD” finish provides additional non-yellowing protection to prevent against discoloration of the wood.
LIMITED LIFETIME STRUCTURAL WARRANTY
For as long as the original purchaser owns and resides in the premises where FLOORING products are installed, the flooring manufacturer warrants all grades (excluding rustic) of pre-finished natural, coloured, or stained boards, against any shaping and manufacturing defects, classification errors and faulty finishing, including the application of stains or urethane finish. The warranty does not cover damage caused during shipping, storage or installation similar reasons. The warranty applies only to defective products exceeding 5% of the total quantity purchased by the customer (excluding losses resulting from cutting boards during installation). A 5% margin for error is an accepted standard in the industry.
WARNING
The finish applied to boards neither increases the hardness of the wood nor its resistance to blows and compression caused by heavy objects. This is why animal claws, high-heeled shoes or any pointed, sharp or heavy objects, as well as anything falling on the floor, can mark or damage the wood surface and finish.
OBLIGATIONS OF THE SUPPLIER
Under the terms of the present warranty, the responsibility of the supplier is limited to any of the following options, at the discretion of the company and excluding any other form of compensation:
I. To supply the material to replace the defective boards;
II. To supply the material and labour to resurface the flooring in the room where the urethane is completely worn through;
III. To compensate for damages equivalent to the purchase cost of the defective boards.
In the case of a claim, the claimant shall be liable to the prior payment to Ironwood of a franchise equivalent to 1/420 of costs incurred by Ironwood to provide the corrective measures stipulated above. The said franchise shall be calculated by multiplying the number of months that have passed from the date of purchase of the product by the claimant to the date of the claim.
OWNER AND/OR INSTALLER/OR FOREMAN/SITE SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY
The customer must take into account an additional 6 to 10% (depending on the site and type of installation) of hardwood boards when ordering material to compensate for losses incurred when boards are cut to fit.
FLOORING boards are made of hardwood, a natural material that may present certain imperfections. FLOORING products are subject to rigorous standards of quality and comply with those in effect in the flooring industry. THE SUPPLIER carries out quality control checks and do everything that is humanly possible to ensure that boards offered for sale are free from manufacturing defects. Boards are individually selected and those that do not correspond to the grade under selection are discarded. In the wood flooring industry, defects up to 5% and less of the quantity of boards purchased is considered normal. This includes both natural flaws and manufacturing defects.
The foreman/ site supervisor/ installer and/or owner must make sure that the work site and sub-floor comply with conditions specified in the FLOORING installation and maintenance guide. It is the foreman/ site supervisor/ installer and/or owner’s responsibility to inspect the flooring boards prior to their installation. The foreman/ site supervisor/ installer and/or owner must check board grade, quality and finish.
If there is any doubt as to the grade, quality or finish of a board and it cannot be installed in an inconspicuous location or eliminate the flaw, then the board should be discarded. Once the board has been nailed down, it is deemed to have been accepted by the installer/foreman/site supervisor and/or owner. IRONWOOD will only replace defective boards in excess of the 5% acceptable loss (excluding the 5 to 10% margin for loss due to cutting).
EXCLUSIONS
IRONWOOD disclaims all responsibility under the terms of the warranty and will pay no compensation:
I. For damage other than that listed in the “Obligation of the Supplier” section, including, without limitation, loss of use of space, moving costs, hotel expenses, loss of time or goods;
II. If no manufacturing defect has affected the product.
III. If the defects affecting the product result from inadequate storage or transportation, poor preparation of the surface to be covered or installation failing to comply with the manufacturer’s recommendations;
IV. If the products have been used or installed for purposes other than residential use. It is understood, without limitation, that rooms used for residential purposes is not covered under the warranty.
V. In the absence of sufficient proof that maintenance instructions recommended by the supplier have been followed;
VI. When damage has been caused in whole or in part by improper use, abrasive substances, (salt, sand, slivers of glass or other), fallen and scraping objects, the movement of furniture with or without casters, high-heeled shoes, repeated striking or scratching of objects or any other than normal residential use;
VII. If damage has been caused in whole or in part by a change in the humidity of the wood caused by a flood, excessive heating or lack thereof;
VIII. For repairs carried out without the prior written consent of the supplier;
IX. For the replacement of boards that were defective prior to installation;
X. For any product discoloration;
XI. For any alteration to the product other than the premature loss of shine and total wear of the finish;
XII. Damage from sub-floor moisture
XIII. For shipping or transportation costs;
XIV. In the absence of proof provided by the customer of the date of purchase of the product.
XV. Damage or color change caused by exposure to ultraviolet light from the sunlight and other sources.
XVI. Damage caused by low or extremely high humidity.
XVII. Natural variations in wood tone, color and grain.
XVIII. Color variations in wood flooring are natural and new or replacement flooring may not match sample flooring or existing floor
XIX. Improper maintenance, wet mopping, misuse, or improper alterations of the product from its original form.
XX. Natural expansion and contraction that may cause cracks or separation between boards.
XXI. Small cracks that develop from improper moisture control, flooding, excessive drying, will not be covered under this warranty.
XXII. Brazilian Exotic species are not covered by this warranty.
HARDWOOD FLOORING products are made from natural material. It is normal that 5% of the quantity of wood purchased not be used, as it is normal for the wood to change color when exposed to sunlight. Discoloration may also occur in areas where the flooring is covered by carpets, rugs or any other objects placed in the same location for long periods of time.
HARDWOOD FLOORING is made from natural products which have cells running parallel with the grain, therefore, all wood floors will expand and contract with the change of seasons. This cupping effect, expanding and contracting, is not covered under this warranty. It is recommended that you maintain a relative humidity of 37-50% in your home by using a humidifier and/or dehumidifier to minimize movement of your hardwood floor. Color variations are a natural occurrence in flooring due to age, species and exposure to ultraviolet sunlight. For this reason, you may encounter mi color variations from board to board, or when replacing damaged boards with new product. Also, normal sunlight will cause fading/darkening, depending on the species of your floor. Area rugs should be moved occasionally as they block sunlight and ma gives the appearance the floor is discoloring under the rug; this discoloring is not covered under warranty.
APPLICABLE LAWS
The present warranty is governed by the laws of the province of Ontario excepting the rules governing conflict of laws and any other law.
CLAIM PROCEDURES
For the duration of the warranty and prior to any alteration of the flooring, the purchaser must file a complaint, accompanied by a copy of the purchase invoice, with the retailer from whom the flooring was purchased. In the event of failure to reach an agreement with the retailer, please send a copy of the aforementioned documents within the same day specified to:
IRONWOOD Decking and Flooring Canada Inc
15 Grenfell Crescent, Bay#8
Ottawa, Ontario K2G 0G3
Tel: (613) 224-3111
Fax: (613) 224-8859
info@ironwooddecking.ca
sales@ironwooddecking.ca
MAINTENANCE AND PRESERVATION GUIDELINES
Close compliance with these maintenance and preservation guidelines is a determining factor in warranty application.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to remove without delay all abrasive substances (sand, slivers of glass, crystal, cuttings, etc.) that could scratch the finish. Frequent vacuuming is recommended to eliminate abrasive dust accumulating on the surface and between the boards.
- Maintain relative humidity between 37% and 50% and an ambient temperature of 20 degrees Celsius in the home in order to stabilize the internal humidity of the wood.
- Clean using specially adapted pre-finished flooring maintenance kit. Vaporize a small quantity of cleaner on a clean cloth or damp mop and wipe the surface. Note that only small amounts of liquid are required. Wash the mop cover of cloth as required. Cleaning the surface once a month is a minimal maintenance condition.
- Never use wax, household detergents or oil-based soap on the floor. These products may damage the finish and leave a greasy film, making the floor slippery and difficult to maintain afterwards. Mixtures of water and vinegar are not recommended for cleaning flooring, since vinegar has an oxidizing effect on urethane over a long period of time.
- Water is one of the worst enemies of wood. Wipe up spilled water, liquids or detergents before they are absorbed by the wood fibers. The combined effect of water and sand is devastating to flooring. This is why it is important to place floor mats each doorway and in high traffic areas in the kitchen and in front of the sink, dishwasher and work areas.
- Glue felt pads to the legs of furniture and chairs to avoid scratching the flooring when objects are moved. Periodically examine the pads for wear and replace when needed. Avoid rolling chairs with castors on the finished surface. Roll them on carpets or chair mats only.
- Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes on hardwood floors as they can mar the surface. Heel surfaces are so small that the pressure exerted can easily reach 3,500 pounds per square inch. Damaged heels can mar flooring even more. Avoid walking on flooring in footwear with nail or metal-tipped soles.
- Do not drag furniture or heavy objects across the finished surface. Lift any furniture to be moved.
- Protect wood surfaces from sunlight or any source of bright artificial light. Prolonged or repeated exposure to bright light will change the color of wood, even if surfaces are coated with the most yellowing-resistant finishes on the market. Such color changes are a natural phenomenon. Moreover, changes in color to light wood are even more apparent than changes to dark wood.
- Small scratches are easy to cover with the touch-up kit, which may be purchased from Ironwood. First clean the damaged area. Then rub the surface with the wax crayon corresponding to the color of the wood. Seal the repaired area with a thin coat of urethane. It is important to seal any unprotected area of wood.
IRONWOOD will be pleased to answer any additional questions you may have.
