The Must Have Checklist for Every Hardwood Flooring Jobsite

Whether you’re prepping to install your hardwood floor yourself, hiring a professional installer to do it for you or just want to prepare your home to allow your hardwood floors to perform at their best, this checklist is an absolute must have.

Disclaimer: NOT following this checklist could put you at risk for expensive repairs due to negligence on your or the installer’s part and or invalidate your warrantees or guarantees you may have. This checklist is not intended to replace the advice of sound legal counsel or remove your responsibilities for being familiar with the National Wood Flooring Association Installation Guidelines. This checklist is provided to you freely as an aid to help you cover your rear and give you the best chances possible at helping you to follow the National Wood Flooring Association Installation Guidelines. This document does not supplement or replace any warrantees or guarantees you’ve received. 

Directions: Highlight the contents of this entire page. Copy and paste it into your word processing software. Print out the page(s) to keep for your records. Fill out all sections completely. Make sure both you and the person you’re having install the hardwood floor go over this form together. Both of you should sign off on it that these things have been completed. If they are not complete, you should not proceed with the installation of your hardwood flooring. If you do, you choose to proceed at your own risk. Make a copy of the signed off form for your records.

Date:                                                                           Time:

Homeowner’s Name: ____________________________________

Physical Site Address: ___________________________________________________________

Phone:__________________________ Fax:___________________

Foreman/Superintendent/Installer:___________________________

Foreman/Superintendent/Installer Address: _______________________________________

F/S/I Phone: ________________       Fax: _____________________

Exterior

1. All gutters and drainage spouts are hooked up and tilted outward so that the water drains away from the house. _______
2. The soil around the house has been treated or graded to drain water away from the house. ____
3. Driveway and sidewalks have been installed for at least 30 days (if applicable). ____
4. Electrical power is accessible within 50 feet of the house and available for use.____ Circle one: 120V or 220V

Interior

1. All other remodeling projects that are scheduled are completed and drywall, tiles, paint, caulking and plaster have all had sufficient time to dry. ____
2. Humidity control systems (interior or central air, heat ventilations, air conditioning, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, etc..) are in proper working order and have kept the homes temperature and humidity levels at a constant rate for what the normal living conditions will be year round for at least 5-7 days prior to the delivery of the wood. Ideal conditions are between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit and between 30-50% humidity. _____
3. The building is finished as has no open empty spaces (for example, a gaping hole where a window or door should be but has not yet been installed). _____
4. The crawl space or basement has been lined and covered entirely with proper vapor barriers such as black polyethylene according to the National Wood Floor Association Installation Guidelines. (If you have a fully finished basement, this does not apply) _____

Concrete 

1. Proper vapor barriers have been installed under the slab according to the National Wood Floor Association Installation Guidelines. _____
2. Concrete has been installed for a minimum of 30 days. _____
3. The concrete slab is flat and to proper specifications according to the National Wood Floor Installation Guidelines if the wood floor will be installed over the top of it. _____

Wood

1. The hardwood flooring has been moisture tested. _____
2. The subflooring has been moisture tested. _____
3. Moisture testing began no sooner than a minimum of one month after the concrete slab was installed. _____
4. All moisture readings have been recorded. _____
5. What moisture testing equipment was used in the testing? ________________________
6. What type of moisture testing was conducted?_________________________________
7. The moisture content of the wood and subflooring fall into proper ranges that is safe for wood floor installation to begin. To quote page 6 of the National Wood Flooring Association Installation Guidelines, “For solid strip flooring (less than 3” wide), there should be no more than 4 percent moisture content difference between properly acclimated wood flooring and subflooring materials. For wide-width solid flooring (3” or wider), there should be no more than 2 percent difference in moisture content between properly acclimated wood flooring and subflooring materials.” ______

Note: If moisture contents do not fall within these guidelines, you need to hold off on the installation until they do. Until these moisture ranges are met, your wood is not properly acclimated.

Weather

Current Weather Conditions: (Include approximate temperature, sky conditions, raining, snow, etc…)

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

I/We verify that this jobsite is ready for hardwood flooring installation:

Signed: ____________________________  Date: _____________

Print Name and Title: ____________________________________

Signed: ____________________________  Date: _____________

Print Name and Title: ____________________________________