Engineered Wood Flooring Warranty & Installation Manual

1. Our Commitment to Quality

At Easy Step Flooring, we stand behind the structural integrity and manufacturing quality of our engineered wood flooring products.

We provide a:

25-Year Residential Structural Warranty

This warranty applies to manufacturing defects affecting the structural performance of the product when installed and maintained in accordance with the guidance contained within this document.

This document forms part of your purchase agreement and must be retained for future reference.

2. Scope of Warranty Coverage

This warranty covers:

• Manufacturing defects in board construction

• Delamination of engineered layers

• Structural instability caused by production fault

• Tongue and groove failure due to manufacturing defect

This warranty applies only where:

• The flooring has been installed correctly

• The subfloor conditions meet industry standards

• Environmental conditions are maintained

• The product is used for normal residential indoor use

3. What Is Not Covered

This warranty does NOT cover:

• Normal wear and surface scratching

• Impact damage

• Water damage or flooding

• Excessive humidity or dryness

• Improper installation

• Subfloor failure

• Cosmetic grading variations

• Colour change due to UV exposure

• Damage caused by pets, furniture, high heels or grit

• Movement caused by lack of expansion gaps

• Improper underfloor heating use

Important: Engineered wood is a natural product. Variations in grain, knots, colour tone and character are natural characteristics and are not defects.

4. Installer Responsibility

It is the responsibility of the installer to:

• Inspect all boards prior to installation

• Reject visibly defective boards

• Confirm subfloor suitability

• Conduct moisture testing

• Ensure correct environmental conditions

• Maintain required expansion gaps

Installation of a board constitutes acceptance of its appearance and condition.

Easy Step Flooring will not be responsible for claims where defective boards were visibly installed.

5. Manufacturing Tolerances

Engineered wood flooring is manufactured within acceptable industry tolerances.

Permitted dimensional tolerance: ±0.5mm – 1mm depending on profile

Up to 5% natural or manufacturing variation per pack is considered acceptable within industry standards.

Boards outside tolerance must be set aside prior to installation.

6. Site Conditions Prior to Installation

Before installation begins:

• Building must be fully weather-tight

• Wet trades must be completed

• Heating system operational

• Subfloors fully dry

• Room temperature: 18°C – 27°C

• Relative humidity: 35% – 65% (Max 60% for boards over 175mm width)

Environmental conditions must be stable for:

• 7 days prior (plywood subfloors)

• 14 days prior (concrete subfloors)

Boards must acclimatise on site for minimum 48 hours.

7. Subfloor Requirements

The subfloor must be:

• Clean

• Dry

• Structurally sound

• Level (no more than 3mm deviation over 3m straight edge)

Moisture limits:

Concrete / Cementitious Screed: Less than or equal 3.5% CM OR 35–40% RH (slab test method)

Anhydrite Screed: Less than or equal 0.5% CM

Timber Subfloor: Less than or equal 12–14% moisture content

Underfloor heating subfloors: Cementitious Less than or equal 2.5% Anhydrite Less than or equal 0.3%

Failure to meet these requirements voids warranty.

8. Expansion Gaps

A minimum 10–12mm expansion gap must be left:

• Around perimeter

• Around pipes

• Around structural columns

• Between rooms

Larger areas above 12m x 8m require expansion breaks.

Expansion gaps must not be restricted by skirting, trims or heavy fixed furniture.

Kitchen islands and cabinetry must NOT be installed on top of floating floors.

9. Underfloor Heating (Water-Based Only)

Easy Step Flooring engineered wood is suitable for water-based embedded UFH systems.

Installer must:

• Pressure test system before installation

• Turn heating OFF 24 hours prior

• Wait 48 hours after install before reactivation

• Increase temperature gradually (max 5°C per day)

Maximum subfloor contact temperature: 26°C

Rapid temperature increases may cause:

• Surface checking

• Cracking

• Gapping

Damage caused by incorrect UFH use is excluded from warranty.

10. Claims Procedure

If a defect is suspected:

1. Notify Easy Step Flooring in writing within 14 days of discovery

2. Provide original invoice

3. Provide photographic evidence

4. Provide subfloor moisture records

5. Provide installation documentation

We reserve the right to inspect the floor.

Where valid, we will:

• Replace defective material only

This warranty does not cover:

• Labour costs

• Uplift costs

• Accommodation costs

• Consequential losses

11. Limitation of Liability

This warranty applies only to the original purchaser.

Replacement material may differ in shade due to natural variation or batch differences.

If the original product is discontinued, a product of equal specification will be supplied.

12. Care & Maintenance Summary

• Maintain RH between 35–65%

• Use felt pads on furniture

• Avoid excessive water

• Clean with wood-approved cleaner

• Use entrance mats

Failure to maintain environmental stability voids warranty.