The natural beauty, warmth, longevity and cleanliness of hardwood flooring is
unmatched by any other type of flooring on the market. The initial investment
will more than pay for itself by increasing the market value of your house, as
well as improving your daily lifestyle while at home. We consistently refinish
floors that have been installed for over 100 years, and make it our goal to give
you a floor that will outlast any of us. Two of the most overlooked steps you
can take to ensure the quality and longevity of your floor is to humidify your
home to between 35-45% and to not wear shoes in the house. Other common
problems can be alleviated by ensuring that there is a stable subfloor, not
sliding furniture across the floor, and avoiding water damage (occurs often from
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copper lines to fridges and dishwashers, overwatering plants, and unprotected
windows and doors).
Maintenance/Cleaning and Care – After applying the final coat, the longer
you can postpone moving your furniture back the better. Do not drag or pull
anything across the floor. Always lift and set your furniture in place. We
recommend using floor glides/felt protectors under all of your furniture. Do not
mop your floor for the first month. Never use Murphy’s oil soap, Pledge for
floors, Swiffer wet mop, or any product with oils or waxes in them. Wipe up spills
with a damp dishcloth. Vacuum or sweep using a soft broom on a regular basis. We
recommend using Bona floor cleaner or a solution of 1 cup vinegar to 1 gallon water
to clean your hardwood floors on a regular basis. Excessive cleaning, particularly
with commercial cleaners, can dull your finish.
220/110 Volt Electricity – 110 volt power is needed for installation and
220 volt power is needed for sanding; these must be accessible within 100 feet
of work areas. It is the responsibility of the homeowner or contractor to notify
Wood Wise in advance if a 220 hookup is not available. If the 220-hookup is not
operational, a generator may be provided for $175.00/day. If other subs are
using 220 or 110 power at the same time, electrical overloads may occur,
causing delays.
Applying finish/stain – When the coating has begun, doors and windows must
remain closed and fans turned off; as there can be no draft across the floor.
Temperature must remain at 68 degrees or above for the entire process. After
about 2 hours it is generally ok to open outlying windows for ventilation. Do not
walk across the floor until the finish is dry to the touch. Then you may walk in
stocking feet and open all windows as needed. (Water based finishes dry in about
3-6 hours, oil based finishes dry in approximately 8-12 hours.) Some species of
wood do not take stain evenly and you may notice areas that are blotched and
streaked; this is natural and not a defect. We do not recommend staining a floor
to match an aged natural floor. The natural maturing process should be allowed to
take place.
Color Variations – Color variations occur naturally in wood. Some species of
wood darken significantly as they age, and other species are prone to fading/
yellowing from sunlight. We recommend keeping rugs and objects with a large
surface area off the floor for at least a month. Some wood species, such as
cherry, are very photosensitive, and we recommend leaving the floor as exposed
as possible for up to a year to avoid distinct fade lines.
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Wood indenting – Some species of hardwood floors are prone to denting by high
heels, cleat type shoes, and many heavier objects. Small rollers on pianos,
refrigerators, and heavy furniture can also damage your floors. Please be aware of
this and take precaution when moving heavy objects across your floor. Wood
finish is a different animal than paint, and is very difficult to touch up.
Sub-floor – Your estimate was written in good faith. Issues hidden by the
existing flooring will be addressed should they arise. Extra work may be needed if
the subfloor is uneven. Cost of this is determined on a case by case basis.
Structural integrity may or may not be obvious to us and we are not certified in
that area. If we find the integrity of the subfloor to be in question we will
discontinue installation until the problem has been addressed. Structural subfloor
issues are the responsibility of the homeowner or contractor.
Scheduling – We do everything we can to keep your job on schedule.
During the estimate some jobs do not appear as time consuming or complex as
they turn out to be. Should we have to move the start time or day we will notify
you as soon as possible and work with you to accommodate you in rescheduling.
Wood Wise is not responsible for costs incurred due to any overnight stays, meals, or
boarding of animals. Wood Wise reserves the right to bill additional charges at an
hourly rate for time we are unable to work due to poor planning and preparation on
the customer’s side.
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Toilets/Pedestal Sink – Please hire a plumber to remove and replace
these items when necessary (when getting new wood installed). Wood Wise can
remove your toilet if included in the estimate; however reinstallation is always
the responsibility of the homeowner or contractor. Chips, cracks, or leaking
lines are the responsibility of the homeowner or contractor.
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Appliances – We do not move appliances, unless noted on the estimate. If it
has been arranged for Woodwise to move them. Woodwise will not turn off
any water supply, disconnect nor reconnect water lines or gas lines. It is the
responsibility of the homeowner or contractor to prepare the appliances to be
moved out. **Wood Wise is not a moving company, and although we take much
care, we are not responsible for dings, dents, or other damage that may
occur to the appliances or walls while moving them out.
Furniture – Wood Wise is not insured nor trained to move furniture. It is the
homeowner’s responsibility to have all furniture removed from the areas that we
are working in. Wood Wise is not to be held liable if items are damaged because
they were placed too closely to the work area. It is up to our discretion to move
any items left in the work area. If items are moved by Wood Wise, we are not in
any way held liable if damage occurs.
Pets – Being
focused on our
work, and
considering that we
are continually
moving in and of
the house, we
cannot be
responsible for your
pet’s welfare. We
frequently have to
open doors to
others rooms of the
house to install and
sand, and cannot be
held liable if your
pet escapes.
Breakable Items – Hanging light fixtures, pictures and mirrors, etc. should be
removed from the work area. We cannot be held liable if something is damaged
because it is in the way or because we had to move it. Occasionally, ceramic tile
from a fireplace or on the floor will be cracked or chipped; this can easily be
repaired by your tile contractor and is the responsibility or the homeowner or
contractor.
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Crawl Spaces- If you have a crawlspace under or near your hardwood floor, you
may experience large moisture swings due to changes in ground temperature and
saturation. A moisture barrier should be installed between the subfloor and your
hardwood floor. Using this application, we still cannot guarantee minimized floor
board contraction. We also recommend installing a vapor barrier to the underside
of the subfloor.
Baseboards – When sanding and applying stain/finish, we are working right
next to the existing baseboards. We always recommend re-painting baseboards
or door jams after the stain application. We will remove and re-install if included
in the estimate. We are always careful but depending on the condition of the
base it may split or break. All painting and caulking is recommended to be
completed by a painter.
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Dust Free Environment – We do not guarantee a 100% dust free
environment. We use the best equipment available on the market, and our
sanders have powerful vacuums attached to collect dust from the floor. Sanding
an entire floor creates a large amount of dust, and though most of it will be
trapped in our vacuums, some will escape into the room. Sealing with plastic can
help and it must be noted on the estimate if you want Wood Wise to provide this
service. The plastic needs to be removed between the second and final coats.
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Re-coating – This can be a less invasive and cost effective way of extending the life
of your hardwood floors. The process simply adds and additional coat of finish, which
improves longevity, but will leave the appearance largely unaltered. However
because of oils, waxes, and lotions found in the home that may be transposed to the
floor there can be bubbling or cratering. Oils and waxes are commonly found in
cleaners marketed as “restorers” or “refreshers”, such as Murphy’s Oil Soap or
Swiffer Cleaners. (Woodwise strongly recommends against using these products) We
cannot tell by looking at the floor if there is wax or oil built up on it. Because of this,
proper adhesion of the recoat cannot be guaranteed and a waiver must be signed. If
you can find out what type of finish was used on your floor previously, this can
drastically reduce the risk involved in a recoat.
Finish – Because we are not working in a sterile environment, we cannot guarantee a
“table top” finish. Irregularities may be noticeable but should not be prominent.
Glare from windows can magnify any irregularities and should not determine
acceptance. As the floor is walked/lived on it will become smooth to the feel.
Glitsa Swedish – Due to advancements in technology and other available floor
finishes, there is not viable reason to use Glitsa Swedish on your floor. If you do
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decide to use Glitsa Swedish, it is very important that you read and follow these
instructions:
• All open flames and pilot lights must be turned off. The heat must be
turned back on (pilot light re-lighted) when finish is dry and is the
responsibility of the homeowner or contractor; room temperature should
remain at a minimum of 68 degrees.
• The finishing process is very toxic. People should be gone overnight during
the application and drying process, we recommend at least one week after
application of final coat.
• Animals need to be removed from home during the process. Fumes from the
finish can cause serious damage to animal’s health, including death. Even
fish in aquariums are not averse, and should be removed and stored off site.
• Food should be in sealed containers, as the vapors can permeate fresh fruit
and vegetables as well as boxed and bagged foods. These items should be
taken out of the home. Foods in cans and jars as well as dishes and clothing
are not generally affected by the fumes.
• Plants should be removed from the area before finish is applied.
• If the area to be finished shares an adjoining wall, the customer must
acquire permission from all affected neighbors.
Payment – Woodwise requests a 50% deposit before the job begins. An invoice
for the remaining balance will be sent when the job starts and is due the day the
job is completed. We must receive the deposit before any materials can be
ordered on install jobs. Occasionally a larger deposit will be required for large or
custom material orders. If the job is being done in phases, we will invoice
according to the percent of job completed. Payment may be made by check or
money order.
Terms and Conditions – Payments made to Wood Wise for products and/or
services confirms acceptance of the estimate for work to be done. It is your
responsibility to read all information contained in this packet. The customer is
responsible for notifying Woodwise immediately of any discrepancies in the
written estimate. The final price is subject to change due to unforeseen
circumstances and will be discussed on a case by case basis. The 1 year
Craftsmanship Guarantee is applicable once job is paid in full. Should you have
any questions or concerns please feel free to call us at 303-442-7777.
Thank you! It is our pleasure to be able to work with you.
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THE BEHAVIOR OF WOOD:
AS PER THE NATIONAL OAK FLOORING MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
Any article made of wood will continually expand and contract with changes in relative
humidity. Wood, being a hygroscopic material, when exposed to air will dry out or pick
up moisture until an equilibrium is reached between the humidity and the temperature of
the air. Moisture absorption causes wood to expand and moisture loss causes it to
shrink. (Think of your household kitchen sponge.)
Generally, wood flooring is expected to expand in wetter climates and shrink in dry
climates. How much depends on your particular area and the conditions surrounding the
installation. In Colorado, during the winter months, two things happen. As the
temperature drops, the humidity drops. When the temperatures drop, homeowners turn
on their heating systems and keep doors and windows closed. This heat dries out the
home and that, combined with the already low humidity levels, pulls moisture from the
wood, causing the wood to shrink and “cracks” to appear between boards. This can be
somewhat minimized by having a humidifier attached to the heating system and
maintaining a relative humidity of 35 to 45 percent whenever possible during the heating
season.
As temperature and humidity changes occur in the summer, cracking should remedy
itself. As moisture is replaced back into the air, moisture is also absorbed back into the
wood. Expansion occurs and wood floors return to their original state before the winter
season.
It is recommended that you do not fill your wood floor during the winter months. When
the wood expands in the summer, the wood will either force out the excess fill or boards
will warp. Wood must go somewhere as it expands.
Finally, it is important to remember that shrinkage is not a flaw in the wood or an
installation related problem. The material is just reacting naturally to changes in
moisture levels.
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1 YEAR CRAFTSMANSHIP GUARANTEE
Wood Wise Hardwood Floor Company guarantees the craftsmanship of
the installation and finishing of your hardwood floors for a period of 1 year.
We guarantee that your floor will be installed as per NWFA (National
Wood Flooring Association) specifications and that the finishes that we
apply will be above industry standards.
Due to the nature of hardwood there are certain problems that may arise
that are not covered by this warranty. Specifically moisture issues due to
moisture content in a concrete slab, as well as cracking and gapping of the
boards due to extreme humidity changes. If you have an in floor radiant
heating systems, we cannot guarantee that your floor will not ever go
through greater than normal shrinkage and expansion.
We do our best at trying to prevent the above issues by testing the slab for
moisture and letting the product acclimate in your home for as long as possible.
The warranty on our finishes does not cover normal wear or problems
due to incorrect cleaning and maintenance.
We have provided other information as to the expectations of your wood
floors and maintenance in the folder provided to you. Please read all this
information in its entirety.
Thank you for choosing Wood Wise Hardwood Floor Company. We look
forward to working with you