Hardwood Special Order Agreement

Please review and initial the following information and procedures pertaining to your hardwood installation.

1.  NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS/NORMAL VARIANCES

Wood is a natural and living product in which variations in color, grain pattern and texture occur. All hardwood flooring will have natural variance of color, markings and even knots depending on the particular grade range. The National Wood Flooring Association has established tolerance ranges within the differing grades of hardwood flooring that define and allow for these natural variations. They are not considered defects and are not covered under warranty. Installed hardwood flooring will change in color over time, especially if exposed to direct sunlight. The average length of boards will vary from one supplier to another. These are all normal characteristics that should be discussed with your sales associate.

DeSitter requires that you be available to view your hardwood flooring prior to installation. Once the material has been installed, replacement of individual boards due to color variance or markings will incur additional charges. Special order goods cannot be returned. _______

2.  JOB SITE CONDITIONS

All our products are warranteed to perform under normal environmental conditions. Any exposure to excessive heat or moisture may cause damage to the flooring and is not covered by warranty regardless of cause or source. It is the purchaser’s responsibility to eliminate excessive heat or moisture and provide job site conditions that are within NWFA guide lines prior to delivery and installation. If job site conditions are not within these guidelines, DeSitter will not proceed with either delivery or installation. ________

3.  MAJOR CONSTRUCTION

It is important to recognize that the demolition and installation of hardwood is considered major construction. There will be noise, dirt and dust that may disrupt normal activities within the home.  If the installation is in a condo or multi-dwelling unit, it is your responsibility to adhere to your association’s covenants and restrictions and to provide this information to your sales associate before finalizing your purchase. DeSitter Flooring will assume no responsibility for fees and fines due to violations. Main entrances to connecting rooms where flooring will not be installed will be masked off with plastic. Although this does help, it does not prevent dust from settling in adjoining areas.________

4.  REMOVAL OF EXISTING FLOORING

Client is responsible for any work permits required by their local municipality. Removal of your old flooring may require a dumpster which DeSitter can provide for an additional charge. Client must designate, in advance, exactly where the dumpster is to be placed. Old scrap plywood should be on hand and placed under the 4 corners of the dumpster to prevent damage to the surface below.________

5.  SQUEAKY FLOORS

Client should contract with a licensed carpenter to properly address squeaky floor conditions before installation of new flooring.________

6.  SUB FLOORS

Additional labor and material costs may be incurred due to unforeseen sub floor conditions that were covered by existing flooring at the time of measure.________

7.  DIRECTION OF PATTERN

The direction in which your flooring is to be installed will be determined by the layout of the floor joists in your home. Generally, hardwood flooring is installed either perpendicular or on a 45 degree diagonal to the floor joists for maximum stability and performance.________

8.  DOORS AND BASEBOARDS

If necessary, our installers will remove doors and set them back in place. Cutting of the doors may be necessary if the new flooring is higher than the existing floor. Additional charges will apply for the cutting of doors. Specialty doors and doors equipped with special hardware may need to be cut down by a contractor hired by the homeowner. ________

9.  APPLIANCES

DESITTER FLOORING will disconnect appliances with gas and water lines. However, client must contract with a licensed plumber/technician to reconnect these appliances.________

10.  MOVING OF FURNITURE & ELECTRONIC DEVICES

You may contract with DeSitter to move large, free-standing pieces of furniture. Client must move all computers, audio/video equipment, smaller items and breakables, including china, crystal, figurines, lamps, etc. prior to installation.________

11.  DAMAGE TO FURNITURE & WALLS

Our deliverymen and installers have been instructed to point out any dents or scratches to you before they begin working in your home. These items will be noted on a pre-installation inspection sheet so as to avoid any misunderstandings. In rare instances, new damage may occur. We will note this on the post-install inspection sheet and ask for your signature.________

MINOR SCUFFS and SCRATCHES

The installation, sanding, and finishing of hardwood flooring creates a construction-like environment in your home. DeSitter Flooring will place plastic over key areas and archways of your home to contain dust and prevent damage. However; minor painting touch-up of walls and moldings due to scuffs or scratches is to be expected and is the responsibility of the home owner. We STRONGLY recommend that any new decorating be done after your hardwood installation is complete. This is most important when custom paints finishes are to be applied.________

12.  PROJECTED DELIVERY PROMISE

Review the availability of your hardwood selection with your sales associate. Please note that DeSitter Flooring cannot be responsible for delays in shipping caused by the manufacturer or shipping company. Such delays can affect your installation date.________

13.  SCHEDULING

A change of scheduled installation requires 48 hours notice to our Service Department. On the date of the installation, someone must be present at the job site to accept and sign for the materials. If not, we will be forced to reschedule delivery and an additional trip charge will be incurred.________

14.  DELIVERY

Your new hardwood flooring must be delivered at least 48 hours in advance of installation in order to acclimate to the temperature and humidity of the new environment. It is the client’s responsibility to secure a climate-controlled delivery location within the residence. Temperature and humidity must be similar to normal living conditions.________

15.  RETURNS

Industry hardwood standards allow for 10 percent waste due to natural variances within the product. Therefore, all wood products are figured with a 5-10% overage when calculating total material. The amount of flooring and trim that remains after an installation can vary greatly from job to job. It is highly recommended that you retain leftover material for any future damage that may occur. With all special order merchandise, DESITTER FLOORING will not accept returns of leftover material. _______

16.  CARE AND MAINTENANCE

Refer to the care and maintenance instructions for your hardwood floor in the manufacturer’s instruction booklet included with your sales receipt.

TIPS: Hardwood flooring can be dented or scratched by sliding furniture, tables, etc., over the surface. Such damage can be avoided by using felt pads or wide-bearing and non-staining glides and casters. Water, sand and stones in shoes, and high heels are very damaging to hardwood floors. Removal of shoes will help eliminate this problem. Also, keep your animals’ nails clipped to prevent excessive floor scratching.________

17.  PROPER HUMIDIFICATION

Hardwood is hygroscopic, which means that its cells can absorb or give off moisture as the environment around it becomes more humid or less humid. Simply put, wood moves. It swells and it shrinks. The National Hardwood Flooring Association states that maintaining a home’s indoor relative humidity between 35% and 60% throughout the year through the use of humidifiers, dehumidifiers and air conditioning is critical in preventing the shrinking and swelling of hardwood flooring.

TIP: The most prevalent problem with hardwood flooring occurs during the cold winter months when home heating strips the moisture out of hardwood flooring, causing it to shrink. This causes gaps to form between the boards. If left untreated for too long a time, these gaps can become excessively wide to where they cannot fully recover once humidity returns to the environment. In other words, they become permanent. Please note that very small gaps are to be expected and are inevitable.

Furnace humidifiers will NOT provide sufficient humidification during the cold winter months. DeSitter Flooring STRONGLY recommends an additional humidifier, near the hardwood flooring, be run constantly at a medium setting during these months. Inspect your floors on a weekly basis. If gaps are forming, you need more humidity. DO NOT WAIT TO PROVIDE MORE HUMIDITY.________

18.  WARRANTY

DESITTER FLOORING warrants the installation for a period of 1 year from date of completion and that the installation conforms to industry standards. Expansion and contraction are natural occurrences with hardwood flooring that result from improper humidification. They are not covered under this warranty. Please refer to “Proper Humidification” immediately above.________

19.  PAYMENT FOR MATERIAL & INSTALLATION

All orders require payment in full of all materials at the time your order is placed. Any cancellations may incur freight and restocking charges.  If your product is going to be installed by DeSitter Flooring, payment of the remaining balance for labor will be due upon completion of installation. Client must be present on the day of completion. ________  

Accepted and agreed to by:

Purchaser ___________________________________________________

Date _______________  Flooring Consultant ____________________________  Order ID # __________________