We moved into our new home in January and within 2-3 days (walking barefooted), we noticed an "uncomfortable" feel under foot due to uneven boards along board edges and ends (particularly where uneven edges and ends merged). The flooring is a 3/4" prefinished white oak (3" wide boards). It has slightly beveled edges but square ends. Visually, it is a very attractive floor with little or no gaps along seams and ends. We feel the installer followed all the manufacturers directions for install (moisture checks, racking, etc.). We do not appear to have any moisture issues with the house or crawlspace (no seam gaps or cupping). The flooring (about 2000 SF) was installed in December 2011 during a warm, dry period of time in NC. Neither the installer or the General Contractor observed this defect (now we know its called "overwood") during installation process. We did not notice it until we walked on it barefooted.

We filed a claim. The wholesaler sent a rep so prior to his visit, we slid an old credit card (flat across flooring) and marked points where the card was stopped by the wood. We got fatiqued and quit. Within a few weeks our claim was denied. We took photos to prove our point with the manufacturer but to no avail. Our claim has been denied again. What advice do you have? Who is responsible? What are the standards for "overwood"? Is it true that each flooring manufacturer can set its own "overwood" standards and not have to share it with the consumer? We are considering hiring an independent inspector. We are meeting with an attorney next week. Thanks so much!!

I've seen too many pre-finished floor installations to count in many different houses. I've never seen an instance where the floor is perfectly flat with no difference in board thicknesses especially at the ends of the planks. I've seen it in cheap townhouses and $5 million mansions. I have a pre-finished floor in part of my house and your toes can actually catch on the ends of a couple of the planks. It's not noticeable until you actually slide your bare feet across the floor. Depending on the quality of the particular pre-finished product you're installing, it could be better or worse, but it's not possible to have a pre-finished floor with zero height differences between planks. A site finished floor is the only thing you can do if you want a table top like floor.

Said like a pro. If only salesmen sold it like that there would be no need to explain.

I appreciate responses from both of you. We did not expect a table top-like floor however we also did not expect a distinctly uncomfortable feel underfoot. When sliding a credit card across about half of the 2000 sf we tagged over 200 ponts!! Just got tired and stopped. I agree with mxfloors123 that our salesperson should have explained the potential of overwood; however there was no mention of it!! The manufacturers material warranty located on back of sample board did not reference the potential of overwood. So, who is responsible for informing me - the consumer prior to purchase? I have boards that stop a quarter!! This is Mullicans St. Andrews product and is a premium grade product. I feel it should be reasonably even across the home. Feedback greatly appreciated.

I'm not sure what makes you think the fact tha you slid a CC across the floors and it got hung up is any industry standard test.

I am also not sure what makes you think that random responses from an internet forum will further your cause.

However, and Independent Inspector will be a valid source to determine that.

Now,here is the real talk.

Who are you looking the hold liable?

the wholesaler? they did their job
the installer? you said he did his job
the manufacturer?..their warranty is clear...they will replace faulty material only. they will blame the installer you jus admitting liking and basically said not a fault..

So Now what? are you looking to retire? or help a an attorney retire?..it will cost you more to sue..the manufacturer will replace material..you will have to have it ripped out ,carted and reinstalled..a material you are not happy with.

option 2) sand it and finish it..oh wait...we don't like that..we want convenience, cost, quality and efficient..but don't want to buy 8.00 sf material..

listen.. prefinished floors are not sanded..they can never be perfectly flat..that is why there is a microbevel..the old day they all did the butt joints too..now some do only long ends..this is the result..

i personally think you are out of luck...no one will make them rip it out and replace..the ost you may see is a sand job..

then you actually have to get them to settle the debt..

think wisely..

There is limits on paper somewhere for excessive over wood on prefinished wood. James is right about inspection. I had an issue with over wood on one of my jobs. Ive put this particular stuff in many many times and always fit the same because that's how it fit. This time customer complained so they had it inspected . Inspector noted 7 boards that were up a certain amount {in the thousandths} . Got paid to go change boards even though they blamed me like James said. I picked 7 boards but i could of picked 50 because they all looked the same to me the customer had no idea which ones. Some brands fit better than others and you will probably pay more for it but there's always some sort of ridging with prefinished. Even if they decide to do something meaning mill or store they have the right to change a fair amount of the floor without changing the whole thing which means lot mess and individual plank replacements. Plank replacements are done with skill saw cuts on each board.When planks are replaced they don't go back in the same way either. It is likely they may lean on installer . The poor guy just did 50 floors that all look exactly the same. Probably all that would happen is a few of the very worst boards are changed. Good luck

Here's something kind of new..but it has more to do with being "certified" form the National Wood Flooring Association(NWFA). What that does is??

Apparently these are tolerances set by the NWFA, but it doesn't mean every manufacturer is following it.

It looks like 1/8 inch is the maximum tolerance in this case. To me, that's a lot! My ruler says a quarter is less than 1/16" but maybe I need new reading glasses. Nope, I'm reading it wrong. .012 inches. Oh my! Would that add a lot of time to an installation if one needed to measure every stinking board during the installation. Talk about a PITA!



http://issuu.com/hfmag/docs/nwfa-factor ... tandards/3



If that was the case he would never get the sale and the only option (or a site finished floor) would have been a premium product with bevels on all four sides. But, a Lauzon engineered square edge would pass the mustard.

Or that it applies to engineered.....

Nope...solid 3/4 inch. See the link