Flooring is a long-term investment in your home. When you buy flooring, you want to make sure you’re getting a product that will last for a long time, but also one that’s covered by a strong manufacturer’s warranty in case something does go wrong. But not all flooring warranties are created equal.
Some flooring companies will try to woo you with the length of their warranties. These days, it’s not unusual to see flooring companies offering warranty terms of 50 or even 100 years. While on the surface this may sound like a good idea, you need to stop and think about it. First, what’s really covered in those warranties? For many hardwood flooring warranties, you’re simply getting a warranty on the finish. Typically, if there’s a problem with the finish, you’re going to know about it in the first few months of owning the floor, so a longer term warranty isn’t always better. A shorter term warranty might not seem like as much of a deal, but when you read the fine print, you might find that it offers fuller protection.
Make sure you take into account actions that can void your warranty. A warranty will not cover general wear-and-tear on your floor, including scuff or scratch marks, product failure due to improper humidity conditions, etc. And it is very important to maintain and care for your flooring in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.
For many reputable brands of flooring, the warranty is only in effect if the flooring is installed by an authorized dealer. Being a do-it-yourselfer might save you up front, but if you run into defects or issues with the flooring, you might be on your own. The other advantage to working with a professional flooring company (like Tish Flooring!) is that if you do need to process a claim, they’ll take care of the issue for you directly with the manufacturer. No hunting for paperwork, no frustrated calls to the automated voice maze system of a big manufacturing company.
If you’re a Tish Flooring customer and need to file a warranty claim, please contact us as soon as possible. On behalf of our clients, we see it as our responsibility to make sure the manufacturer remedies your problem if your product is defective or imperfect. If you’re still shopping for flooring, we’d love to help with that, too. We’ll come right to your door in the Indianapolis area with samples of hardwood, tile, laminate and carpet to help you choose the right flooring—and warranty—for you.
