Your NWFA Certified Inspection Report Package Includes 10 Categories:
1. Statement of Concern – a brief summery of flooring issues.
2. Claim History – brief timeline of events according to end user, and all other parties involved.
3. Physical Description – inspector’s initial description of claim areas.
4. Testing – thorough description of all testing performed toward investigation of claims.
5. Testing Results – direct disclosure of accumulated findings through testing.
6. Chart and Tables – showing claim findings in comparison to industry specification and tolerances.
7. Clear HD digital photography – showing documented evidence of on-site discovery.
8. Industry Standards – reference to specific floor manufacturer and NWFA standard guidelines.
9. Conclusion – based on facts obtained and supported by the applicable industry standards.
10. Cause of Claim – direct discovered and documented reasons contributing to the cause of the claim.
Inspection Discovery
Moisture, Temperature and RH Tests are performed at each wood flooring inspection. These tests help determine if environmental conditions inside your home are working ‘for or against’ your wood floors.
- If moisture is too high the floors may experience restrained swelling (cupping or buckling).
- If moisture is too low the floors may experience unrestrained shrinkage (gapping and splits). Neither condition is good for wood floors.
Equilibrium Moisture Content Chart. In addition to moisture meter readings, thermometer and hygrometer readings are used to determine whether the moisture content in the wood flooring is within the acceptable range indicated by the Equilibrium Moisture Content Chart taken from the WOOD HANDBOOK, (Agriculture Handbook 72), Forest Products Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Collected inspection data is compared to the equilibrium chart to assess and forecast wood movement. This is critical in determining when to start a wood floor installation or when to wait for flooring to reach equilibrium. Referencing this chart included in your report will also confirm if the flooring is in the recommended ‘comfort zone’ for sustained performance.
Jobsite Conditions. An inspection of the building structural diaphragm, grade slope, joist and subfloor compliance, acclimation requirements, substrate preparation, and indoor monitored conditions effecting the installed flooring. New construction has additional parameters which effect installed flooring such as the on-site acclimation conditions, on-going wet trades, uncontrolled indoor environment, and recommended protection of the installed flooring surface until move-in.
Reference to Governing Standards. Manufacturer or NWFA Installation Guidelines dictate the correct installation procedures for the proper long term performance of your wood flooring. These rules are meant to be followed and ‘shortcuts’ or ‘disregard’ will not be tolerated. My inspection will systematically address each stage of installation and it’s compliance to these standards.
Discovery.In-depth moisture meter testing for floor moisture content as well as other environmental conditions that could affect the behavior of wood flooring will be discovered and documented in the report. Installation requirements of proper subfloor preparation, fastener spacing, underlayment, expansion spacing, raking patterns, will be investigated. Proper nail down, glue down, and floating installation methods will be addressed. Dampness or water-saturated floor exposure is a “kiss of death” to wood floors and locating the intrusion source may be an intricate part of a wood floor claim.There are times when it is necessary to remove shoe molding or baseboards to examine components hidden from view. Samples are needed in some instances for further evaluation of subfloor, product testing, court cases and other reasons. Removal is on an as-needed basis but only with the client’s written permission.
