Hardwood Floors Unlimited - Customer Expectations

Pre-Installation:

The home or building should be completely closed with windows & doors in place
All wet trades (drywall, paint, ceramic tile, etc.) should have completed there work
Air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems should be operating
The temperature and relative humidity be at "normal living conditions" or between 60 & 80 degrees Fahrenheit with 30-50 percent humidity for at least 6 days prior to the wood flooring being delivered. Moisture testing should be the responsibility of the wood floor and/or general contractor.
Furniture, appliances, and old floor coverings should be removed from rooms where flooring is being installed.

Installation:

Plastic should be used to help seal off the work area
There will be sawing, hammering and other noise during installation
Make sure you understand the time frame involved & the duration of installation.
Finishing should take place 10 to 14 days after installation (unfinished)
You can walk on the floor during acclimation (before sanding & finishing)

Sanding & Finishing:

There will be noise, dust, and some fumes during this process
Even though the area is sealed off, dust from the sanding process could & will probably infiltrate other areas of the house
Because fumes will be present during finishing, pilot lights must be turned off
Keep pets away from work area at all times
Make sure you go over the work schedule with the wood floor contractor, know the number of days it will take, when the floor can handle foot traffic, always allow scheduled work to be completed as specified. This will ensure a good job & the best results possible. Make sure the floor is protected and/or measures are taken so that other trades and/or people coming in after the wood floors are finished. There is nothing more frustrating than some one else not using due care & causing a good job go bad.

A table top finish. Each piece of oak flooring sands differently depending on its grain type (plain or quartered) making it virtually impossible for a completely flat surface.
Dust-free finish. Since your floor is being finished in your home it is not possible to achieve a "clean room" environment. Some dust will fall onto the freshly applied top finish.
A monochromatic floor. Wood, as a natural product, varies from piece to piece. Remember it is not fabricated; it is milled from a tree and will have grain and color variations consistent with the grade and species of flooring selected.
A floor that will not indent. In spite of the term "hardwood", Oak flooring will indent under high heel traffic (especially heels in disrepair). The finish that is applied will not prevent the dents.
A floor without cracks between the boards, or within the parquet pieces. Although your new floor may start tight together, as a natural product it will continue to absorb and release moisture. This natural process will cause the flooring to expand and contract from season to season resulting in cracks between some of the pieces in your floor. Some stain colors, such as white, will show this process more than others.