Flooring Warranty: Everything You Need to Know

Flooring Warranty: Everything You Need to Know

Despite what you've been told, your flooring does have a warranty. Read on to learn about flooring warranty and quality flooring.

When your hardwoods were fresh and new, you swore you'd always keep them that way. You'd keep the pets away, put felt pads on all your chair legs and give them a solid scrubbing once a week. 

After a few years in your home, however, those promises can start to fade. Life gets in the way, dogs have a mind of their own and sooner or later, you might start to notice scratches, dings, and spills on your once-pristine floor.

That's when you pull out the paperwork in the kitchen and start checking your flooring warranty. Does it cover any of these mishaps?

Today, we're sharing everything you need to know about this protection, and why it can make all the difference in the aesthetic of your home.

Ready to learn more? Let's get started.

Why It's Smart to Buy Online

Before you make a buying decision, consider the company you're buying the flooring products from, and who you're listening to.

Local brick-and-mortar flooring companies often spread misinformation in an effort to win sales and divert traffic away from their online competitors. They'll tell their potential customers not to buy online because floors purchased over the internet will not have a manufacturer's warranty. They also tell them online floors cost less because they are seconds, discontinued, or defective.

Before we dive into the rest of this article, it's important to understand that those claims and accusations are false in most cases and always in our case.

A top-tier online retail company like ours will never sell seconds, nor will it sell discontinued or defective products.

We buy first-quality goods direct from authorized distributors or the manufacturers themselves. This means that you are buying the same floor with the same full warranty as you can get from your local brick-and-mortar flooring store, with a fraction of the hassle and none of the high-pressure tactics.

When you buy only reputable products from established brands like Mohawk and Shaw, you know the quality of the product, as well as who will stand behind it if it fails. This is unlike any experience you'll have with a single-location distributor that buys straight from China.

You do need to have your floor properly installed and maintained for your warranties to remain fuly intact.

Now, let's take a look at the specifics behind your flooring warranty.

What Does a Flooring Warranty Cover?

When you decide to go with a particular brand of flooring, you want to understand how long your floor will hold up, and what course of action you should take if an issue occurs before that time period is over.

Though it won't be the most riveting piece of literature in the world, it's important to read your flooring warranty, including the fine print. Each of the well-known brands we carry has its own branded terms, and there isn't a one-size-fits-all template to follow.

Rather, the warranty will vary depending on the manufacturer and the grade of flooring. In most cases, you can expect to find the following three warranty sections, in addition to others:

Manufacturing Defects

Under this warranty clause, manufacturers will ensure that all of their products will be free from manufacturing defects for as long as the buyer owns his or her home. 

Structural Warranties

This is a common type of warranty included by most flooring companies. By including it, manufacturers attest that the grade, milling and moisture content of their products aligns with industry standards. As long as they're installed the right way, the planks will not warp or crack under normal conditions. 

As such, most of these warranties are very detailed, leaving fine-print instructions on the preparation, tools, and installation techniques required for your floors. Failing to adhere to any of these guidelines during the installation process could render the structural warranty invalid.

Finish Warranties

In addition to a structural warranty, some manufacturers will also include a finish warranty specifying that the finish on the planks will not come off or wear down with normal use. 

These warranties have different implications for commercial users and residential users. The only caveat? You're the one responsible for man-made imperfections, including scratches and dents from pets, high-heels, or curious toddlers. 

Moisture Warranties

Your manufacturer might also include a moisture warranty that protects buyers against structural damaged caused by topical spills or subfloor moisture. To validate this coverage, homeowners must quickly clean up the spill rather than letting it sit on the floor for a long period of time. 

Want a few real-life examples? Let's take a look at the main warranty terms provided by two of our top brands: Mohawk and Shaw.

Mohawk: SolidWood and TecWood Lines

Mohawk warranties all products under its TecWood and RevWood lines to the original purchaser. Note that this warranty covers any manufacturing defects but does not cover installation error.

Thus, any replacement you receive is limited to the material alone, unless the detect was undetectable until after installation. 

Manufacturing Defects

Mohawk warrants that its Solidwood and TecWood floors will be free from manufacturing defects for as long as the buyer owns the home. If you notice any naturally-occurring blemishes in the wood planks during installation, it's your duty to hold off or cut out those pieces.

If you do spot a visual defect after installation, you have 30 days to report it. 

Structural Warranty

Mohawk warrants that its plies will not separate for as long as the buyer owns the home. It can repair or replace defective planks at its option without any extra costs on your end. This is assuming the flooring was prperly installed and cared for.

Finish Warranty

Hoping to keep your new floors looking new? Mohawk warrants that its RevWood and TecWood planks will keep their finish and will not lack adhesion if you follow normal use. Mohawk even offers cleaners forulated specifically for these products.

Moisture Warranty

If you promptly remove normal household spills, Mohawk warrants that your floors will not experience any moisture damage. Note that this warranty does not cover plumbing accidents, acts of God, leaking appliances and any other related issue.

Mohawk: RevWood Plus 

Next, let's take a look at the warranty terms you'll receive when you purchase Mohawk RevWood Plus flooring products.

Rather than breaking this warranty up into multiple subsections like those for the RevWood and TecWood lines, RevWood Plus comes with a Limited Lifetime Residential Warranty that covers all of those key points, including defects in material or workmanship that occur during normal residential use, specifically those related to:

• Joint integrity
• Staining
• Fading
• Wear
• Moisture resistance

Be sure to read the General Terms and Conditions to understand all of the details surrounding this limited warranty.

Mohawk: RevWood Select

The warranty for RevWood Select is similar to that of RevWood Plus.

The major difference? Coverage under the "Select" line includes a 10-year Waterproof Flooring System Warranty, while the "Plus" line has a Limited Lifetime Waterproof Flooring System Warranty.

Mohawk: SolidTech

Looking for a durable and reliable vinyl floor? Mohawk's SolidTech line delivers. 

Featuring a realistic aesthetic for a fraction of the price of real wood floors, this line also boasts industry-leading warranties. Let's review the terms.

Limited Warranty Periods

Depending on the thickness, wear layer, and presence of an attached pad, SolidTech Luxury Vinyl Flooring offers a residential or light commercial warranty, following these guidelines:

• 5.5mm, 12 mils wearlayer, no pad: 30-year residential warranty, 7-year light commercial warranty
• 6.0mm, 12 mils wearlayer, attached pad: 30-year residential warranty, 7-year light commercial warranty
• 6.5mm, 12 mils wearlayer, attached pad: 30-year residential warranty, 7-year light commercial warranty
• 6.5mm, 20 mils wearlayer, attached pad: Limited lifetime residential warranty, 10-year light commercial warranty

In addition, other warranties for this line encompass:

• Joint integrity
• Manufacturing defects
• Staining
• Pet stains
• Water damage
• Wear through the design layer

Be sure to read through all of the owner obligations and general terms and conditions to understand all the details. 

Shaw: Floorté Line

Shaw's new Floorté line uses high-definition printing to create a realistic look. Waterproof, flexible and durable, these products fall into one of these three categories:

• Floorté Classic
• Floorté Pro (Stone Plastic Composite vinyl array 'SPC')

The manufacturer warrants that all Floorté products will be free from manufacturing defects for a set period of time. Here's the basis for that timeline:

• 20 mil products: Lifetime limited warranty and a 10 year light commercial warranty
• 12 mil products: 30-year limited residential warranty and a 7-year light commercial warranty

As long as the warranty is in place, the top layer of your planks should not wear or fade. 

Shaw: Epic PLUS and PLUS with Repel

Epic Plus is Shaw's line of HDF-core engineered hardwood. If you're looking for water resistance above anything else, you'll appreciate that the PLUS lines comes with a water-resistant topical coating!

Attractive yet cost-effective.

 Is Your Flooring Covered?

Your flooring warranty is one of those documents that you can't fully appreciate until it's 8:00 at night and you just noticed a spill on your hardwoods, left over from dinnertime.

Manufacturers go to great lengths to clearly delineate what's included in your warranty, and what it leaves out. When you're comparing flooring options, it's critical to understand this coverage so you can make an informed decision for the lifetime of your home. 

If you need help navigating any part of this information, feel free to contact us. We're flooring experts with direct connections to some of the best brands in the business and we'd be happy to walk you through your warranty!!