Product Warranty, Storage & Installation Requirements

Hardwood Stair Treads, Landings & Wood Components

TF Stairs manufactures custom hardwood stair treads, landings, and related wood components from natural wood products. Because wood naturally responds to changes in temperature and humidity, proper storage, acclimation, handling, and installation are essential to long-term performance.

The following requirements apply to all wood products supplied by TF Stairs / Tom Fiello, LLC, unless otherwise stated in writing.

1. Acclimation Requirement

All hardwood stair treads, landings, risers, and other wood components must be properly acclimated before installation.

Products must:

• Be delivered to and stored in the actual building where they will be installed.
• Remain in a fully enclosed, dry, climate-controlled environment.
• Be acclimated for a minimum of 14 days before installation, or longer when necessary for the wood to reach appropriate moisture equilibrium with the building.
• Be protected from direct contact with concrete, damp floors, exterior walls, water, excessive heat, and direct sunlight.
• Be stored in a manner that allows reasonable air circulation and prevents warping or physical damage.

The minimum acclimation period does not guarantee that the material is ready for installation. The installer is responsible for verifying appropriate site conditions and wood moisture content before proceeding.

2. Jobsite Conditions

Wood components should not be installed until the building has reached normal occupied conditions.

Before installation:

• HVAC should be operational and maintaining reasonably consistent interior temperature and humidity.
• Wet construction activities, including drywall finishing, painting, plaster, masonry, and concrete work, should be substantially complete and sufficiently dry.
• The building must be protected from rain, excessive moisture, and significant temperature fluctuations.
• The installer must inspect the material and jobsite conditions before installation.

Installation of wood products in an uncontrolled or excessively humid/dry environment may cause movement, checking, cracking, cupping, warping, joint separation, or other dimensional changes.

3. Installer Responsibility

Unless TF Stairs has been specifically contracted in writing to perform installation, TF Stairs is the material supplier/manufacturer only.

The purchaser and/or installer is responsible for:

• Confirming dimensions and quantities before installation.
• Inspecting all materials for visible defects before installation.
• Confirming proper acclimation and moisture conditions.
• Selecting appropriate adhesives, fasteners, and installation methods.
• Following applicable building codes and accepted installation practices.

Installation constitutes acceptance of visible conditions and defects that reasonably should have been discovered before installation.

If a concern is identified before installation, TF Stairs must be contacted before the affected material is cut, drilled, modified, finished, or installed.

4. Limited Product Warranty

TF Stairs warrants its manufactured wood products against defects in materials and workmanship under normal interior conditions and when properly stored, acclimated, handled, finished, and installed.

If TF Stairs determines that a product has a covered manufacturing defect, TF Stairs may, at its discretion:

repair, replace, or provide replacement material for the affected component.

To the extent permitted by applicable law and the applicable agreement, the warranty applies to the product/material itself and does not include consequential or incidental costs such as removal, demolition, reinstallation, finishing, labor, equipment, travel, lodging, lost time, delays, or work performed by third-party contractors, unless TF Stairs specifically agrees otherwise in writing.

5. Items Not Covered

The warranty does not cover problems caused by conditions outside TF Stairs' manufacturing process, including improper storage or acclimation; excessive or insufficient humidity; water intrusion or moisture exposure; jobsite conditions; improper installation; incorrect adhesives or fasteners; modifications by others; structural movement; abuse or impact damage; or failure to maintain reasonable interior environmental conditions.

Because hardwood is a natural material, normal variations in grain, color, mineral streaks, knots where appropriate to the selected grade, and natural movement are not automatically considered manufacturing defects.

6. Warranty Claims

Any warranty claim should include:

• Original invoice or project information
• Photographs of the affected material
• Description of the issue
• Installation date
• Storage/acclimation information
• Installer information
• Available moisture readings and jobsite conditions

TF Stairs must be given a reasonable opportunity to inspect the product or obtain additional information before removal, destruction, repair, or replacement by others, except where immediate action is reasonably necessary to prevent property damage or address a safety condition.

Unauthorized repairs or replacement work do not automatically create an obligation for TF Stairs to reimburse third-party costs.

7. Supply-Only Orders

For material-only / supply-only purchases, TF Stairs' scope ends with the products and delivery services specifically identified in the accepted proposal, estimate, invoice, or contract.

Installation, removal of existing materials, reinstallation, field modifications, finishing, and other labor are not included unless specifically listed in the written scope of work.

A warranty replacement of material does not automatically expand a supply-only transaction into an installation contract.