Owner / Installer Responsibilities

Hardwood comes from trees and therefore has natural variations. Austwood Prefinished Hardwood Floors are manufactured with the highest quality standards and in accordance with strict industry standards. These standards permit a defect tolerance not to exceed 5%. The defects may be of a manufacturing or natural type.

Prior to installation, the owner/installer must determine that the job site and all sub surfaces meet all requirements specified in the installation instructions. In addition the owner/installer has the responsibility to make the final inspection as to grade, manufacture and finish of any Austwood Prefinished Hardwood Floor.

Once a board has been nailed, it is deemed accepted by the owner/installer and he/she expressly waives any claims pertaining to the grade, manufacture or finish of the products.

Knowing that hardwood floors have natural variations, and that industry standards allow for 5% defect, the installer must be responsible for relocating in hidden places, cutting out or not installing pieces with unacceptable defects whatever the cause. The use of stain, touch-up pen or filler sticks for correction during installation should be accepted as normal procedure.

When you order your Prefinished Hardwood Floor, not less than 5% must be added to the actual square footage needed as allowance for cutting waste. Should an individual piece be in question as to grade, manufacture or finish, and if the installer is not able to relocate it unseen or cut off its glaring defect, the installer should not use that piece. If he/she does, Austwood’s liability is limited to replacement of defective material only in excess of 5%, (excluding the cutting allowance). Austwood denies any responsibility for judgment errors and/or for poor installation quality of its product. Austwood will not pay any installation or labour costs.