Our Engineered Timber Flooring Warranties: What You Need to Know
Whether you're a homeowner, specifier or installer, here's a clear overview of our warranty coverage for prefinished engineered timber flooring and what's needed to keep that protection in place.
Our engineered timber flooring is backed by a 25-Year Residential and 10-Year Commercial Structural Warranty.
Every product in our range is developed in close collaboration with our supply partner – not simply imported and rebranded. That genuine oversight over how our products are made is what allows us to offer a structural warranty we can stand behind with confidence.
As of 18 March 2026 we also provide a 7-Year Residential Finish Warranty covering the factory-applied coating on your floor, protecting against the coating failing or lifting prematurely under normal conditions.
We've deliberately set this at 7 years rather than making promises we can't keep. Some competitors advertise finish warranties of up to 25 years, but most floors will naturally require refinishing within that timeframe, which typically voids those warranties anyway. We'd rather be upfront about what we're offering than lead with a number that doesn't hold up in practice.
Transferring the Warranty – An Essential Step
This section is particularly important for builders, architects and installers purchasing product on behalf of a client.
If the flooring was purchased by a trade professional, the warranty must be formally transferred to the homeowner. This isn't a formality – it's what ensures the homeowner has the coverage they expect, and it's what keeps any future claims valid. Without a completed transfer, there is a real risk that warranty claims may not be accepted.
Equally important: transferring the warranty ensures the homeowner receives our Care and Maintenance guidelines. If those haven't been followed (because the homeowner was never properly handed over), this can also affect the outcome of a claim.
The transfer process is straightforward, but it must be completed:
In writing, within 6 months of handover to the homeowner
It can only happen once – coverage cannot be transferred again
The warranty period does not reset from the transfer date
The product must remain unaltered – sanding, refinishing or recoating requires Forté approval
For homeowners: if you're unsure whether your warranty has been transferred, contact your specifier or get in touch with us directly and we'll help you sort it out.
Installation must use approved substrates, adhesives and underlays, and comply with the NZ Building Code and our Installation Guide. Following our Care and Maintenance guidelines throughout the life of the floor is also a condition of coverage.
To keep interior timbers performing at their best, the following conditions need to be met:
Ambient temperature: 16–27°C
Relative humidity: 40–60%
Surface temperature (from sunlight): ≤ 45°C
Additional information on ambient conditions and requirements for warranty are detailed in our Care & Maintenance guide
For clarity, the following fall outside warranty coverage:
General wear and tear, scratches and scuffs from everyday use
Finish wear from UV or sun exposure
Natural timber movement and colour variation – a characteristic of the material, not a defect
Moisture damage, flooding, or water ingress
Damage resulting from use outside recommended environmental conditions
Exterior or wet area use unless expressly approved
Flooring that has been removed and reinstalled
For full warranty documentation or to register a transfer, contact our Customer Care team.