Floors

Select Your panel Issue

  • Edge Swelling/Ridging

    Look for and investigate installation issues, including:

    1. Was there excessive exposure to the elements? Some indications are minor surface flaking, weathered appearance, water stains from standing water and/or rust stains around nails from sitting in water.
    2. Did the square edges have the required 1/8” spacing?
    3. Are T&G edges jammed together rather than lightly butted together?
    4. Is the fastener schedule properly followed? Check spacing, corners, edge distance, over-driven and under-driven fasteners and shiners (all of these will reduce holding power). Typical edge spacing is 6” o.c. and 12” o.c. in the field. Local codes and/or design specs must be followed.
    5. Was there improper storage and handling of panels?

    How would you like to proceed?

  • Surface Flaking

    Look for and investigate installation issues, including:

    1. Minor surface flaking could be caused by exposure to moisture and is a cosmetic issue and not a structural one. Minor surface flaking is not covered by the warranties.
    2. Severe surface flaking present on one or more panels could indicate other issues so please notify us.

    How would you like to proceed?

  • Squeaky Floors

    Look for and investigate installation issues, including:

    1. Is there an insufficient number of fasteners? Did fasteners exceed maximum spacing, or were the wrong type or size used?
    2. Are there any shiners? These are fasteners that missed or partially missed the framing.
    3. Are metal hangers not fastened completely and joists secured properly?
    4. Are openings cut in joists too large or in the wrong place?
    5. Are HVAC ducts touching joists or panels?
    6. Was sub-floor adhesive allowed to set up prior to the panel installation?
    7. Are fasteners crooked or either over-driven or under-driven?
    8. Are any blocking and/or stiffeners missing?

    How would you like to proceed?

  • Telegraphing

    Look for and investigate installation issues, including:

    1. Did the floor and/or structure see excessive changes in moisture conditions?
    2. Was sub-floor not allowed to dry completely before finished floor was installed?
    3. Are there or were there high moisture conditions under the floor?
    4. Were uneven areas of the sub-floor not dry, prepped or sanded prior to the finished floor installation?
    5. Were fasteners crooked or either over-driven or under-driven?
    6. Is there excessive movement in the floor system? This can cause issues with the underlayment.
    7. Are any blocking and/or stiffeners missing?
    8. Are the underlayment panels fastened to the joists? These should be fastened to the sub-floor only with all joints offset from the sub-floor.

    How would you like to proceed?

  • Deflection/Buckling

    Look for and investigate installation issues, including;

    1. Are any blocking and/or stiffeners missing or inadequate?
    2. Is one or more joists installed with the crown the wrong way?
    3. Were the dead and/or live load capacities of the floor system (including the panels) exceeded? Were there over loaded drywall carts? Was drywall stacked parallel to the floor joists rather than perpendicular?
    4. Are openings cut in joists too large or in the wrong place?
    5. Are there joists not sitting properly on the beams or supports?
    6. Are there joists not spaced correctly or over the allowable span?
    7. Is the panel span rating exceeded?
    8. Is there severe deflection on one or more panels? This could be an indication of other issues so please notify us.

    How would you like to proceed?

  • Hardwood Issues

    Look for and investigate installation issues, including:

    1. Ensure the fastener spacing and type used were per the flooring manufacturer’s installation instructions.
    2. Each board must have a minimum of two fasteners.
    3. Each board must have a fastener 1 to 3 inches from each end.
    4. Standard strip flooring fastener spacing is every 8 to 10 inches and 6 to 8 inches for flooring 4 inches and wider.
    5. Moisture conditions at the time of installation were and continue to be within NWFA requirements.
    6. Drywall and painting was completed, and the HVAC system was operating for a minimum of 5 days prior to installation.
    7. Moisture or lack of it is indisputably the No. 1 cause of wood flooring problems. Moisture by itself doesn’t always have to be a problem—if the right steps are taken to handle it. Wood is a natural material. It will swell and shrink as it gains and looses moisture with the seasons and changes in ambient conditions. Seasonal gaps are normal.
    8. The moisture content readings of both flooring and subflooring were taken recorded and were within NWFA requirements (within 4% of each other up to 2” wide – and 2% for flooring wider than 3 inches).
    9. At the time of installation the temperature and relative humidity (RH) were taken, recorded and were typical of normal living conditions in your particular region.
    10. The recommended moisture retarder for the flooring was installed.
    11. Sub-floor concerns not corrected prior to flooring installation will still be there after the installation is complete. Installation should be done following the NWFA Installation Guidelines and Methods and/or the hardwood manufacturer’s instructions.
    12. From the NWFA Installation Guidelines and Methods “Installation constitutes acceptance of flooring material, sub-floor/substrate, the jobsite itself including the ambient temperature and relative humidity at the time of installation, and all impacting variables that may affect a wood floor.”

    How would you like to proceed?

  • Other

    If your concern is not listed on the previous screen, please proceed to notify West Fraser and ensure that you fill in the comments area of the form with your concern.

    How would you like to proceed?