Solid timber flooring installation requirements

Schulte Sawmill supplies flooring only and does not install it. The customer is responsible for providing these requirements to the installer before installation.

1. Responsibility of Customer and Installer

Selection of the flooring system, assessment of the building and subfloor, acclimatisation, moisture testing, expansion allowance, fixing, sanding, coating and installation are the responsibility of the customer and/or installer.

Advice given by Schulte Sawmill about timber characteristics or general installation considerations does not transfer responsibility for the installation to Schulte Sawmill.

2. Minimum Six-Week Acclimatisation

Solid timber flooring supplied by Schulte Sawmill must be acclimatised at the property where it will be installed for a minimum of six (6) weeks before installation, unless Schulte Sawmill agrees otherwise in writing.

• The building must be enclosed and weather-tight.
• Wet trades should be complete and sufficiently dried.
• Normal in-service environmental conditions should be established as far as reasonably practicable.
• The flooring must remain dry and protected from direct moisture.
• Boards must be stored flat, evenly supported and protected from distortion.
• Boards must be arranged to permit suitable air circulation rather than remaining tightly sealed or wrapped.

3. Moisture Testing Before Installation

The six-week period is a minimum requirement only. It does not, by itself, prove that the flooring is ready to install. Immediately before installation, the installer must assess the installation environment and confirm that both the timber and the substrate or subfloor are suitable.

• Take representative moisture readings from the flooring.
• Assess timber subfloor moisture where applicable.
• Appropriately assess concrete slabs or other moisture-sensitive substrates where applicable.
• Retain records of the installation environment and relevant readings.

4. Subfloor and Building Conditions

Flooring must not be installed if the installer considers the moisture conditions, subfloor or building environment unsuitable. Known or suspected water ingress, plumbing leaks, rising damp, excessive slab moisture or other building defects must be resolved before installation.

• Subfloor must be structurally adequate.
• Subfloor must be sufficiently dry, flat and level.
• Subfloor must be clean and suitable for the chosen fixing system.
• Any required vapour or moisture-control system must be in place.

5. Expansion Allowance

Solid timber flooring expands and contracts as environmental moisture conditions change. The installer must provide suitable perimeter and, where necessary, intermediate expansion allowance, taking account of timber species, board width, overall floor width, room geometry, expected conditions, installation method and accepted timber-flooring practice.

6. Installation, Fixing and Finishing

Flooring must be installed by a competent installer using a system suitable for the timber, site and substrate. Fixings, adhesives, moisture-control systems, sanding products and coatings must be used in accordance with their manufacturers' instructions.

If the installer identifies a concern with the flooring, site or substrate, installation must stop until the issue has been investigated and resolved.

7. Inspection Before Laying

Boards must be inspected before installation. Any board with an apparent machining defect, unacceptable visible characteristic or other concern should be set aside and Schulte Sawmill contacted before the board is cut, fixed, sanded or coated.

Installation of flooring with a characteristic that was reasonably apparent before installation may be treated as acceptance of that characteristic, subject to rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.

8. Flooring Warranty and Claim Exclusions

To the extent permitted by law, any express or voluntary warranty provided by Schulte Sawmill does not cover loss, damage, movement or deterioration caused or contributed to by:

• failure to provide the minimum six-week acclimatisation period;
• installation before the flooring has reached suitable moisture conditions;
• inadequate airflow or unsuitable storage during acclimatisation;
• installation in a building that is not adequately enclosed or weather-tight;
• excessive moisture in a slab, subfloor or building;
• water ingress, flooding, plumbing leaks or other moisture events;
• inadequate or unsuitable subfloor preparation;
• insufficient perimeter or intermediate expansion allowance;
• incorrect fixing, adhesive or installation method;
• installation over an unsuitable substrate;
• failure to follow adhesive, coating or other product-manufacturer instructions;
• materially abnormal or unsuitable environmental conditions after installation;
• damage caused during sanding, coating, finishing or subsequent building work;
• failure to maintain the floor appropriately; or
• installation proceeding despite an obvious concern that should reasonably have been investigated first.

In particular, Schulte Sawmill is not responsible for cupping, crowning, excessive shrinkage, excessive gapping, checking, distortion or other timber movement to the extent that the condition was caused or contributed to by storage, acclimatisation, moisture, subfloor, environmental or installation conditions.

These exclusions apply only to the extent permitted by law and do not remove any right or remedy that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law.

9. Flooring Claims

If a flooring concern arises, the customer should contact Schulte Sawmill before the floor is substantially altered, removed or repaired. Schulte Sawmill may reasonably request proof of purchase, photographs, remaining uninstalled boards, flooring and subfloor moisture readings, dates and details of acclimatisation, storage details, installer details, installation method, fixing and adhesive information, coating or finishing information, and reasonable access to inspect the floor.

Failure to retain installation or moisture records may make it more difficult to determine the cause of a flooring issue, but does not remove any statutory right that cannot lawfully be excluded.

Installer checklist - before installation

• Flooring has been at the installation property for at least six weeks.
• Building is enclosed and weather-tight.
• Wet trades are complete and sufficiently dry.
• Flooring has been stored flat, dry and with suitable airflow.
• Representative flooring moisture readings have been taken and recorded.
• Subfloor or slab moisture has been assessed and is suitable.
• Subfloor is sound, flat, clean and suitable.
• Required moisture or vapour-control systems are in place.
• Expansion allowance has been planned for the room and board width.
• Boards have been visually inspected before laying.
• Fixing, adhesive and coating systems are suitable and manufacturer instructions are available.
• Any concern has been resolved before installation begins.

Questions before ordering or installation? Contact Schulte Sawmill on 0439 789 456 or sales@schultesawmill.com.