A dealer’s showroom and headline price reveal only part of the decision. By checking the product documents, comparing the complete installation system, inspecting site conditions and testing the dealer’s stock and workmanship plan, you can identify whether the proposal suits your room, building use and Jaipur climate.
Key takeaways
- Request product records, batch details and a written offer before ordering.
- Compare flooring, underlay, trims, delivery, preparation and installation as one system.
- Require a site inspection and a documented installation method for your building.
- Put installation responsibility, warranty limits and aftercare instructions in writing.
Check the Dealer’s Samples, Product Records and Written Offer
Before ordering, require evidence that identifies the floor, proves its suitability and fixes the dealer’s promises in writing. A showroom display alone cannot show batch variation, installation quality or warranty limits.
Use this wooden flooring dealer checklist:
1. Inspect physical flooring samples or a room-size mock-up. Record the product name, batch or lot number, shade, board dimensions and expected variation in colour, grain, knots and edge profile.
2. Request manufacturer information and installation instructions stating thickness, width, construction, core, wear layer or top-veneer thickness, finish type, locking system and permitted refinishing method. Confirm whether the product can be sanded or only cleaned and recoated.
3. For a concrete slab, demand documented ASTM F2170 in-situ relative-humidity results. Compare the reading with the flooring and adhesive manufacturer’s permitted RH limit; a handheld surface meter or visual inspection is not enough.
4. Ask how acclimation will be decided. The dealer should measure wood moisture content and compare it with the building’s expected temperature, humidity and use instead of promising a fixed number of days.
5. Obtain a written quotation naming the installer and separating product, finish and installation-workmanship warranties. It must list exclusions for moisture, flooding, humidity, expansion gaps, cleaning, furniture movement and unapproved repairs.
6. For offices, retail sites and common areas, request fire-classification or test documents for the complete floor, adhesive, underlay and substrate build-up when project rules require them.
Check the invoice for pack coverage, delivery, installation, wastage and replacement-plank availability before paying a deposit.
Compare the Complete Flooring System, Not Just the Square-Foot Price
Two quotations with similar square-foot prices can represent very different floors. Compare the complete system: the boards, preparation, accessories, installation and future repair options.
| Compare | Ask the dealer to state | Why it affects value |
|---|---|---|
| Board specification | Flooring thickness, species, board width, core construction, wear layer or top-veneer thickness, surface finish and permitted refinishing method | A thicker board is not automatically better, and not every engineered floor can be sanded repeatedly |
| Joining and protection | Locking system, underlay, adhesive if required, expansion gaps and moisture requirements | An unsuitable system can cause movement, squeaking or debonding |
| Finished edges | Skirting, trims, thresholds and stair-nosing, with quantities and profiles | Missing accessories create extra charges and visible mismatches |
| Quantity and logistics | Pack coverage, wastage allowance, delivery, floor preparation and installation charges | A low material price can disappear through under-measured waste or separate labour |
| Durability evidence | Finish type, cleaning instructions and repair or recoating method | AC3 or AC4 applies to laminate classification, not as a universal hardwood durability grade |
Ask for subfloor preparation as a separate line. Grinding, patching, moisture mitigation or crack repair can be essential; on concrete, request ASTM F2170 in-situ relative-humidity results and compare them with the adhesive and flooring limits.
For commercial use, compare entrance grit, wheeled traffic, cleaning chemicals and replacement-plank availability, not just a showroom sample. A complete quote makes each assumption visible, so you can compare like with like before choosing the lower headline price.
Require a Site Inspection and Documented Installation Method
Require a site inspection before accepting a product recommendation or installation method. The dealer should record slab condition, test results, preparation work and the proposed flooring system in the quotation.
1. Test the concrete, rather than relying on a handheld surface meter or visual inspection. Ask for documented concrete moisture testing using ASTM F2170 in-situ relative humidity readings, compared with the flooring and adhesive manufacturer’s permitted RH limit.
2. Measure subfloor levelness and record cracks, weak concrete, contamination and construction moisture. The quotation should price grinding, patching, moisture mitigation or replacement separately; ignoring these defects can cause debonding, squeaking and open joints.
3. If the proposal uses glue-down installation, require the adhesive brand or system, slab-moisture limit, substrate temperature range, open time and specified trowel. An unapproved adhesive or excessive RH can void product and installation warranties.
4. Ask how acclimation moisture content will be assessed. The dealer should measure the wood and compare it with expected indoor service conditions, accounting for species, construction, climate and building use instead of promising a fixed number of days.
5. Require written details for board thickness, width, construction, finish, wear or top-veneer thickness, refinishing method and expansion gaps. The installer should also identify where preparation, trims and movement joints occur.
Have the installer sign the method statement and identify who is responsible for each preparation step. A named, documented process gives you evidence when the floor fails because the site was unsuitable, not because the product was defective.
Match the Dealer’s Stock and Recommendation to the Building’s Actual Use
Bedrooms and living rooms usually prioritise appearance, comfort and repairability. Offices, shops and hospitality spaces demand a product and service plan built around foot traffic, rolling loads, entrance grit and cleaning chemicals. A residential finish can wear quickly at a busy entrance or beneath office chairs.
Ask the dealer to match the construction to the building. Engineered boards, with cross-oriented layers, resist dimensional movement better than solid boards of similar width, making them a stronger candidate for concrete slabs and air-conditioned buildings. Neither option removes the need for moisture control or expansion space.
Require the dealer to address these project-specific points:
- Base acclimation on measured wood moisture content and expected service conditions, not a fixed number of days. Species, construction, climate and building use change the target.
- If recommending glue-down installation, identify the adhesive system, concrete relative-humidity limit, temperature range, open time and trowel specification. An unapproved adhesive or slab moisture level can void warranties.
- For offices, shops and hospitality spaces, provide fire classification or test documentation for the complete floor build-up when project rules require it. The result can depend on the wood, adhesive, underlay and substrate.
- Confirm shade consistency across the order, record the batch or lot number, and inspect a representative mock-up before purchase. Also ask about replacement planks and the lead time for matching stock.
A dealer who stocks only showroom quantities may leave a commercial project waiting for repairs or a residential room with visibly mismatched boards.
Put Installation Responsibility, Warranty and Aftercare in Writing
Before approving the dealer, settle who installs the floor, what the quoted price includes, and which defects remain covered after handover. Name the installer or installation team, record their installer experience, and require responsibility for subfloor preparation, acclimation, adhesive use, expansion gaps, doorway transitions, furniture movement and post-installation cleanup.
Ask the quotation to state:
- The installation method, adhesive or underlay specification, slab-moisture limits, preparation charges and expected completion date.
- Expansion provisions at walls, columns, cabinets and large areas, with skirting or transition profiles included where required.
- The handover standard, including removal of adhesive residue, waste and protective coverings.
| Warranty area | Put in writing | Check before signing |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Covered manufacturing defects and the claim period | Product name, batch number and proof of purchase |
| Finish | Wear, peeling, fading or surface failure covered | Cleaning products and traffic limits |
| Installation workmanship warranty | Period and remedy for gapping, lifting, squeaking or debonding | Installer’s name and claim process |
List warranty exclusions specifically, including slab moisture, flooding, humidity, inadequate expansion gaps, incorrect cleaning, moving heavy furniture and unapproved repairs. A manufacturer’s product warranty does not automatically cover installation defects; Flooringworld should separate those responsibilities in its quotation.
Require a maintenance schedule stating vacuuming, damp-mopping, approved cleaner, spill response and inspection intervals. Record who supplies replacement planks, handles claims and returns to correct a covered fault.
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Frequently asked questions
What documents should you request from a wooden flooring dealer?
Request product records identifying the floor, batch details where available, suitability information and a written offer listing the promised work and materials.
Why should you compare the complete flooring system instead of square-foot prices?
The final cost also includes underlay, trims, delivery, subfloor preparation, installation and other required components, so a low square-foot price can be misleading.
What should a site inspection and installation method cover?
The dealer should inspect the building’s actual conditions and document preparation, moisture assessment, installation steps, expansion requirements and finishing details.
What should be written into the flooring warranty and aftercare agreement?
Record who handles installation, what the warranty covers and excludes, claim requirements, maintenance instructions and the dealer’s aftercare responsibilities.
