Can I lay wood flooring from China on delivery?
Do not book immediate fitting simply because the flooring has arrived. Follow the exact product's storage and acclimatisation instructions, and have the fitter record satisfactory floor, room and subfloor checks before laying. Hold installation if checks fail or instructions are missing. Ask Cambridge China Bridge to obtain the factory's instructions.
Obtain instructions before arranging delivery
Ask the manufacturer for storage, acclimatisation and installation instructions matching the ordered flooring: solid or engineered construction, species, finish and joint system. Request a version your UK fitter can read, and resolve unclear translations before shipment. General advice for another flooring product is not an acceptance specification.
The instructions should explain packaging, stacking, storage conditions, acclimatisation conditions and duration, and how readiness is checked. Ask about the proposed laying method, adhesive or underlay and any underfloor heating. Attach the agreed instructions to your order using our product specification guide. For the separate product documentation checks, see sourcing construction materials.
Agree site and moisture checks with the fitter
Before confirming a fitting date, ask the fitter to identify the subfloor material and agree checks for moisture, flatness, cleanliness and stability. Have them specify the test method, equipment, measurement locations and acceptance limits appropriate to the flooring and installation system. A dry-looking surface is not a moisture test.
Ask the fitter to record room temperature and humidity, flooring moisture where specified, and subfloor test results with dates and locations. Readings from different test methods are not automatically interchangeable. Discuss recent screeding or plastering, moisture protection and underfloor heating commissioning. Agree who resolves conflicting instructions and who authorises installation.
Prepare storage and record delivery condition
Arrange suitable indoor storage before the lorry arrives. Confirm whether delivery is to the kerb or includes moving packs into the home, and who provides unloading equipment and labour. HSE guidance advises companies involved to agree loading and unloading arrangements in advance. Our delivery handoff guide covers the transport responsibilities.
Photograph the load, packaging and labels before moving or opening packs. Record wet or crushed packaging, shortages and visible damage on the delivery record, and retain a copy. Match product and batch identifiers to the order. Inspect boards as the manufacturer's instructions allow, checking for distortion, damaged joints, finish defects and variation outside the agreed appearance limits. Keep suspect packs separate and notify the seller promptly.
Acclimatise according to the exact product
Follow the manufacturer's directions on where to place packs, how to support them and whether packaging stays sealed or is opened. Do not assume that opening every pack, placing it beside a heater or leaving it in a garage helps. Ask for written clarification if delivery damage makes the prescribed storage method impractical.
Time spent travelling from China does not demonstrate readiness for the room where the floor will be used. Keep the room within the specified conditions and complete the prescribed readiness checks. Acclimatisation of the boards does not resolve a damp subfloor. Keep the fitting date provisional until both the flooring and the site pass.
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Hold installation when acceptance checks fail
Stop before cutting, gluing or fixing boards if instructions are missing, readings fail, the site is unsuitable or the delivered flooring differs from the order. Record the failed check, affected packs and supporting photographs. Ask the seller and fitter for a written corrective plan rather than accepting an assurance that the floor will settle after laying.
Agree suitable storage during the delay, further tests, responsibility for remedial work and how the fitting booking will change. Release installation only after the issue is resolved and the fitter records satisfactory repeat checks. Retain instructions, delivery evidence and the acceptance record together. For handling a product dispute, see faulty goods and claims.
Frequently asked questions
How long should wood flooring from China acclimatise?
Use the exact manufacturer's instructions and prescribed readiness checks. There is no waiting period in this guide that applies to every solid or engineered floor.
Should I open wood flooring packs on delivery?
Follow the product's packaging instructions. Do not open all packs by default. If packs arrive wet or damaged, photograph them and ask the seller for suitable inspection and storage instructions.
Does my fitter need to test subfloor moisture?
Agree moisture testing before fitting, with a method and acceptance limits suitable for the subfloor and flooring system. Keep dated results and measurement locations; appearance alone does not establish dryness.
What if the flooring fails checks before fitting?
Hold installation, separate affected packs and notify the seller with photographs and test records. Agree corrective work and repeat checks before authorising the fitter to proceed.