What Does a Hardwood Floor Inspection Include? A Certified Inspector's Checklist
Updated: 2 days ago
Need an independent answer about your floor? Contact NWFA certified inspector Joe Avila:
Phone: (908) 232-6600
Email: joe@hugginsflooring.com
Book online: Schedule a consultation
Office: 406B W Broad Street, Westfield, NJ 07090. Serving clients nationwide.
If your floor is failing and someone suggests "getting an inspection," it helps to know what you're paying for. Here's what a hardwood floor inspection by an NWFA certified inspector actually includes, step by step.
What Does A Hardwood Floor Inspection Include?
A professional hardwood floor inspection is an independent investigation into why a floor is failing. It ends with a written report based on measurements and industry standards. A typical inspection covers:
1. Background And Documents
When the floor was installed and by whom
The product, species, width and construction (solid or engineered)
Installation method (nail-down, glue-down or floating)
Manufacturer installation instructions and warranty
When the problem first appeared, and any leaks, repairs or HVAC changes
2. Visual Examination
The inspector documents the problem in detail, such as cupping, crowning, buckling, gaps, finish failure, squeaks, or engineered flooring delamination. They also note where in the home it occurs.
3. Moisture And Environment Testing
Moisture content of the flooring across several areas
Moisture content of the wood subfloor, or relative humidity tests of a concrete slab
Indoor temperature and relative humidity
Checks below the floor where possible: basement, crawlspace, vapor retarder and ventilation
See what moisture content is normal for hardwood floors for the numbers inspectors compare against.
4. Installation Checks
Expansion space at walls and fixed objects
Fastener type and spacing, or adhesive coverage
Subfloor flatness and fastening
Whether the flooring was acclimated properly
Grading, gutters, downspouts, irrigation and plumbing can all send water toward or under a floor.
6. The Written Report
The report states the cause, the evidence that supports it, and the standards it was judged against. It is written so a homeowner, manufacturer, insurer or attorney can rely on it. This is the document that decides most
disputes.
How Long Does An Inspection Take?
A typical residential inspection takes a few hours on site, depending on the size of the floor and how much testing is needed. The report follows after the readings and photos are analyzed.
Quick Answers About Hardwood Floor Inspections
What Does A Hardwood Floor Inspector Check?
Moisture content of the flooring and subfloor, indoor humidity and temperature, installation methods, expansion space, subfloor conditions, job-site and exterior water sources, and the pattern of the failure itself.
Who Pays For A Hardwood Floor Inspection?
Usually whoever requests it: the homeowner, the installer, the manufacturer, a retailer or an insurer. See how much a hardwood floor inspection costs and who pays.
Is A Hardwood Floor Inspection The Same As A Home Inspection?
No. A home inspection is a general check of the whole house. A hardwood floor inspection focuses only on the floor and determines the cause of a specific problem.
How Do I Find A Certified Hardwood Floor Inspector?
Look for NWFA certification and independence from the installer and manufacturer. See how to find and verify a certified hardwood floor inspector.
Schedule An Independent Inspection
National Wood Floor Consultants provides NWFA certified
in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, and in major cities nationwide. Call (908) 232-6600 or
Not sure who to hire? Here is how to check a certified wood inspector before you book.
About The Author
Joe Avila is the founder and lead consultant of National Wood Floor Consultants, with 26 years in wood flooring. He is an NWFA Certified Wood Flooring Inspector, installer and sander, and teaches accredited AIA, ASID and IDCEC continuing education for architects and designers. His project experience includes Montclair University, One Wall Street, institutional and landmark buildings, and luxury residences and penthouses, and he pioneered subfloor sound-attenuation systems for New York City apartments.
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