does anyone have a recommendation about where I can find some written guidelines about what a properly installed 3/4" hardwood floor should look like; i.e. difference in height of the two boards forming butt joints, gaps on sides of boards, butt joints that touch on one side but not on the other. I've looked at the NWFA guidelines but it doesn't provide a checklist re: what the finished installation should look like. The problems I've observed in my installation seem obvious to me; however, I would like to have an industry standard to refer to as support for my opinion.


Madmike

You want manufacturing standards as in NOFMA or installation standards NWFA

If you have a newly constructed house, your best source may be your local building code. Here in Ontario, the code reads something like this: "the floor must not have visible flaws when viewed from a normal position"; i.e. standing on it and looking across the floor, not laying down with a flashlight in your hand. (Believe me, I have had Susie [my generic customer] do just that. Of course that is a subjective description and can be interpreted many ways, doncha love law?
If your floor is American or Canadian produced, there will be information of what quality you can expect for it. If from overseas, good luck.

MadMike called me last night. He was nice about it. It's a "B" product, solid prefinished.

I believe his main concern was out of square end joints. The installers said they had to beat on the planks to try and get them squared up. That tells you a lot about their ability and the wood as well.

I just happened to listen in on a webinar for inspectors about a month ago that Armstrong did. The main point they kept trying to instill in the hapless minds of these quacky inspectors was "putty is your buddy". Whatcha gonna do?

good luck with someone actually giving those out! That would mean that the manufactures would have to acually adhere to some standards. truth is that there is no one to tell them what is acceptable and whats not. The NWFA is a joke, its sad I know but if you look in the memeber guide almost every manufacture in the world are members which make up the bulk of their dues. So that in mind who does the NWFA cater to? yep you guessed it.

When is the last time the nwfa manual was updated? I dont even think prefinished floors are even metioned in the thing thats how long.

You know it would be great if a manufacture would actually put something more than "a 5% waste factor is to be expected and the installer is the last line of defense, if a board is questionable then dont install, bla bla bla. kinda stuff just drivesme nuts.

Your cracking me up Kevin. LMAO! I hear ya

I believe MadMike talked to a few of them thar NWFA inspectors and he got _________.

2200 sq.ft of prefinished 2¼" oak.

Tell me your going to examine each board with a magnifying glass?

If it doesn't jump out at me, chances are it is going on the floor.

What drives me nuts is on prefinished, the finish over the edge of a end cut square edge. Butt the end joints tight and it peaks up the finish. The floor I'm on now is doing it. You have to get the glare of the light coming into the window to see it. It is a pain.