It is the duty of the installer, whether professional or DIY (do it yourself), to inspect all flooring before installation.  If during inspection the installer or buyer feels the floor is the wrong color, improperly manufactured, has finish problems, is off-grade, or is the wrong gloss level, the installer should NOT install the flooring.  The installer should immediately contact the retailer from which the flooring was purchased.  No claims will be accepted for flooring which is visibly wrong if said flooring is installed.  Installed flooring is deemed to be visibly acceptable.  Since wood is a product of nature, not plastic, standard industry practice allows for up to 5% of the flooring shipped to deviate from regular quality standards on milling, handling, finish and/or grade.  Rivertree Hardwood, Inc., will replace or refund the purchase price of material that is deemed not to meet the regular quality standards in excess of 5%.

Why does the industry allow up to 5% of the wood to have minor issues?

When flooring is installed, naturally a certain percentage goes to cross cutting and fitting waste.  Another small percentage of the flooring will go into closets and other unseen areas.  It is assumed that an experienced installer will cross cut out small imperfections during fitting, or will put visibly unusual pieces in seldom seen or unobtrusive areas.  By not removing 100% of the material with minor quality issues in the factory, precious natural resources will be saved.

Finish warranty

Rivertree Hardwood, Inc., warrants that the factory finish on its flooring will not wear through for a period of 15 years from the date of purchase under normal residential traffic conditions and use.  The pre-installation warranty above covers the replacement refund for any flooring returned in excess of 5% of the total flooring shipped with visible flaws.  This includes visible finish flaws prior to installation.  If there is a problem with wear through, it must exceed 10% of the surface area for this warranty to apply.  Changes in gloss level are not covered under this warranty, including shiny spots that might develop if excessive rubbing occurs.  Over the course of time, it is normal for overall gloss levels to change, and as such, such changes are not warranted.

Lifetime structural warranty

Rivertree Hardwood, Inc., offers a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser that its engineered flooring will not delaminate.  Delamination is when any of the multiple layers making up the piece of flooring separate.  Rivertree Hardwood, Inc., engineered flooring is manufactured to exterior/marine-use standards.  This warranty does not cover whole pieces of flooring coming off of the sub-floor, which is a problem associated with the installation process, and does not apply to the manufacturing methods.

If flooring is exposed to extreme humidity, wet sub-flooring or flooding, or to extreme dryness (less than 35% relative humidity) slight shrinkage, swelling, cupping, or even cracking of the solid wood wear layer may occur.  Wood is naturally hydroscopic, and such shrinkage, swelling, cupping, or cracking due to extreme variations in humidity is to be expected and is not warranted. Damage due to flooding should be covered by the residential homeowner’s insurance policy.

Warranty exclusions and conditions

These warranties provide no express or implied coverage against:

Scratches, indentations, marks, stains, or other damage caused by negligent or accidental exposure to pebbles, grit, sand, or other abrasives, pets, insects, high-heeled or cleated shoes, fire, product spills, excessive moisture, heat, or dryness.

Changes in color due to exposure to light, variations in color, tone, grain patterns, and other naturally occurring characteristics of hardwood.

Problems arising from failure to follow manufacturer’s written installation care and maintenance instruction.

Expansion and contraction between boards or any other problems arising from improper heat and humidity levels.

Damage due to exposure to excessive moisture from any cause or source.

Rivertree Hardwood, Inc., expressly excludes and will not pay consequential or incidental damages under this warranty.  Rivertree Hardwood, Inc., will not warranty loss expenses, inconvenience or damages other than to the wood flooring.

Rivertree Hardwood, Inc., neither assumes nor authorizes any other person or entity to assume for it any other obligation in connection with the sale of this product.  This warranty is the complete and exclusive expression of Rivertree Hardwood, Inc.’s warranty, and is in lieu of all other express and/or statutory warranties.  Any implied warranties, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are limited to the duration of this express warranty.  Individual states do not allow limitations on how an implied warranty lasts, so the stated limitation may not apply.  Rivertree Hardwood, Inc.’s obligation under this warranty shall be limited to, at its option:  providing replacement of shortages, exchange of disputed product, or refund of purchase price for flooring with visible flaws returned to Rivertree Hardwood, Inc., prior to installation.  For flooring with delamination and finish problems which occur after installation, which were not visible prior to installation, Rivertree Hardwood, Inc., assumes no liability for accidental or consequential damages.  Individual states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the stated limitation may not apply.  The sole purpose of the remedy provided herein is the replacement/repair of disputed products or refund of the purchase price.  This remedy shall be the buyer’s exclusive remedy, and shall not be deemed to have failed, if Rivertree Hardwood, Inc., is willing to replace/repair such disputed goods or refund the purchase price.  This warranty does not apply to any products designated as seconds, specials, or non-standard items.  Any products so designated are sold “as is.”

This limited warranty gives the purchaser specific legal rights.  The purchaser may also have other rights which vary from state to state.  The failure of either party to enforce any of the provisions of this agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of such provision or of the right of any party thereafter to enforce each provision.  The purchaser seeking warranty remedy should contact the dealer from which the flooring was purchased.

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