# Downs: Ultimate Care Guide for Hard Surface Flooring

### Waterproof. Easy Care. Durable.

H2O is the newest introduction of waterproof, pet proof and kid proof hard surfaces from the trusted Downs brand. Providing extreme durability, the protection of a unique locking system that locks out leaks and easy maintenance - H2O gives your floor the protection it needs from your busy lifestyle.

## Exclusive Flooring America®/Flooring Canada®  
Five-Star Downs H2O Luxury Vinyl Floor Warranties

The Five-Star Selection System is an independent rating system designed to guide you in choosing the right floor for your needs. One to five stars indicate levels of performance and durability to ensure your satisfaction. Look for the Star Rating on all product labels.

### Confidence Plus™ Warranty

All Five-Star and Four-Star flooring carries a Confidence Plus™ Warranty. If, within the time frame of this warranty (90 days after installation for Five-Star floors) and after 30 days of living on your new floor, you wish to change your floor for any reason, your retailer will replace it with another style or color of flooring of equal value. Should you wish to replace the luxury vinyl floor with a flooring upgrade, you may do so by paying the difference in price. No monetary compensation will be paid if a lower priced resilient floor is selected.

This is a one-time only replacement. Simply call your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer within the time frame of the warranty and indicate you wish to choose another Star Rated luxury vinyl floor under the Confidence Plus™ Warranty. This is a style and color replacement warranty and does not apply to matters covered by other warranties. Replacement includes material and labor. Labor to move furniture, permanent construction (built-ins such as cabinets and bookcases), equipment, or electronics is the responsibility of the customer. Any replacement product cannot be the same style and color as the original purchase.

No replacement will be made with respect to a luxury vinyl floor that has been subjected to abuse, improper maintenance, vandalism, alteration; or damage caused by smoke, fire, flood, wind, lightning, or any other casualty event. This warranty applies only to the original purchaser of a Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® style luxury vinyl floor that has been professionally installed by a Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer or Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® authorized independent installer.

(See General Terms and Conditions on pages below for other conditions that apply.)

### Price Protection Guarantee

Our buying power allows us to buy big and pass volume-purchase savings directly on to you. We feel confident that our prices are the most competitive in the market and assure you that you will not find a lower price at any other floor covering retailer in your area. However, if within 30 days of making your purchase, you should happen to find a lower Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® first quality product of the same brand and styles as the flooring you purchased, we will happily refund your money. It’s our Price Protection Guarantee, and it’s simple. Just present your retailer with the competitor’s advertisement or written estimate for the same floor, and you take home the difference in price! Price Protection applies to materials only.

Price Protection Guarantee applies only to local retail store pricing and/or purchases. Online retailers and wholesalers are excluded. "Local retail store" is defined as a permanent building/structure containing outdoor signage with store name, street address, customer parking, and phone contact information listed in a public phone directory.

(See General Terms and Conditions on pages below for other conditions that apply.)

### Limited Wear Warranty

Providing that your floor is used in a residential setting under normal residential traffic* conditions and with proper care and maintenance, your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer warrants that from the date of the original installation the finish of your luxury vinyl floor will not wear-through** for the period specified by the warranty level of the product purchased. See page 41 for details of warranty terms.

Should you feel that your luxury vinyl floor is not wearing properly, contact your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer. If the image layer of your luxury vinyl floor wears through during the warranty period, your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer will repair or replace the affected area. This Limited Wear Warranty applies only to the original purchaser and installation site and is not transferable. This limited warranty excludes damage caused by improper care and maintenance; misuse, abrasives, insufficient protection from furniture, or furniture moving; damage caused by vacuum cleaner beater bars and metal caster wheels; wet or steam mopping, scratches, or indentations caused by spiked-heel shoes and pet nails; or any casualty event.

(See General Terms and Conditions on pages below for other conditions that apply.)

*Normal residential traffic conditions mean those daily activities commonly associated with residential use.

**Wear-through is defined as complete loss of the wear layer so that the printed pattern is altered. Gloss reduction is not considered wear and is not covered by this warranty. Surface wear must be readily visible, approximately 1/2" square or greater.

### Limited Fade & Stain Resistance Warranty

Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® warrants that with proper care and maintenance, your luxury vinyl floor will not fade from exposure to sunlight or artificial light for the length of the warranty period. You can be assured that your luxury vinyl flooring will maintain its fresh look and color for many years to come. This warranty excludes fading, discoloration, and other damage due to excessive temperatures or sunlight. Radiant heat must not exceed 86 degrees.

Also excluded is discoloration caused by the use of latex or rubber-backed floor mats and discoloration caused by asphalt. Luxury vinyl floors come as close as possible to being maintenance-free and are extremely resistant to stains. All of Flooring America®/ Flooring Canada® luxury vinyl floors carry a stain resistance warranty guaranteeing that, with proper care and maintenance, your luxury vinyl floor will not permanently stain from common household use for the period of warranty coverage. Excluded from "common household use" is the use of any caustic chemicals on your floor, the use of any unapproved manufacturer cleaning solution on your floor, or exposure of the floor to other substances not part of ordinary household use.

(See General Terms and Conditions on pages below for other conditions that apply.)

### Limited Rip, Tear, Gouge, and Indent Warranty

Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® warrants that with proper care and maintenance, your luxury vinyl floor will not contract, expand, curl, crack, rip, tear, or gouge from normal household use when proper maintenance is used.* This warranty excludes damage caused by moving appliances or heavy furniture without protecting the floor. When moving appliances, heavy furniture, or other heavy objects, place a sheet of plywood on the floor and "walk" the appliance across it. Furniture glides are also an acceptable method of moving appliances, heavy furniture, or other heavy objects. Support furniture with wide-bearing non-staining floor protectors. Ideally, protectors should be at least one inch in diameter (the heavier the item the wider the floor protector should be), made of non-pigmented hard plastic and should rest flat on the floor. Use of non-staining felt is also acceptable. Always protect floor by using an appliance dolly even if the heavy object is equipped with wheels or rollers.

(See General Terms and Conditions on pages below for other conditions that apply.)

*Normal household use is defined as common daily activities in the home, excluding pets.

### Limited Lifetime Waterproof Warranty for Downs® H2O™

When installed following manufacturer’s instructions and used under normal residential traffic conditions with proper care and maintenance, your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer warrants to the original buyer, that this luxury vinyl floor will avoid damage from everyday splashes and spills. The floor plank or tile is warranted to be waterproof and the structural integrity of the floor plank or tile will not be significantly diminished by exposure to liquid for the life of the product. Your luxury vinyl floor will resist liquid damage under normal use for the length of the warranty, including damages caused from damp mopping and topical spills provided spills are promptly removed. Additionally, your luxury vinyl floor will not discolor, deform, or damage from moisture and will not be affected by mold, mildew, or alkaline (a floor discolored due to mold or mildew growth will be replaced only one time; if the replacement floor fails in the same manner, the site conditions may not be acceptable for the installation of luxury vinyl). This warranty excludes all casualty events involving water coming in contact with your floor and failures normally covered by homeowners insurance (such as water from fires) including, but not limited to, damages caused by flooding or standing water from leaky pipes, faucets, or household appliances. This limited warranty does not apply to damage caused by water or moisture in the subfloor or underneath the flooring, including but not limited to damage from subfloor hydrostatic pressure or other conditions that result in water or moisture being under the floor. It does cover topical moisture. As long as the water does not flow over the edge of the surface (edge of the room, cut boards, etc.) it will evaporate before passing between the planks to the subfloor or damaging the planks. "Lifetime" means the length of the Limited Wear Warranty specified by the warranty level corresponding to the luxury vinyl floor you purchased. See the Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® Floor Care & Warranty Guide for details.

Life of Floor" means the length of the Limited Wear Warranty specified by the warranty level corresponding to the Luxury Vinyl Floor you purchased. (See warranty information Exclusive Flooring America/Flooring Canada Five-Star Downs H2O Luxury Vinyl Floor Warranties on page 41 for further details.)

Should your Downs® H2O™ floor fail to perform in accordance with this warranty, your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer will repair or replace the affected area (the failed area, not the entire room). Flooring will be replaced under the warranty with the same style of flooring if available, or, if not available, with the style of flooring currently available that most closely approximates the original. See Warranty Information in the Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® Care & Warranty Guide for complete details.

(See General Terms and Conditions on pages below for other conditions that apply.)

### Limited Lifetime Pet Proof Warranty For Downs® H2O™

Your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer warrants that your Downs® H2O™ luxury vinyl floor will resist staining caused by pet (domestic cat or dog) stains, including urine, feces, and vomit. Stain resistance means the ability of your floor to resist (i.e., minimize or withstand) permanent stains for the lifetime of your luxury vinyl floor. This warranty excludes any urine, feces, or vomit stains other than from pets (domestic dog or cat). "Lifetime" means the length of the Limited Wear Warranty specified by the warranty level corresponding to the luxury vinyl floor you purchased. See the Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® Floor Care & Warranty Guide for details.

Cleaning of the affected area should begin immediately upon discovery. The more time that elapses before removal, the more difficult a stain will be to remove. Should your Downs® H2O™ floor fail to perform in accordance with this warranty, your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer will repair or replace the affected area (the failed area, not the entire room). Flooring will be replaced under the warranty with the same style of flooring if available, or, if not available, with the style of flooring currently available that most closely approximates the original. See Warranty Information in the Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® Floor Care & Warranty Guide for complete details.

(See General Terms and Conditions on pages below for other conditions that apply.)

### 5-Year Limited Light Commercial Warranty

For light commercial installations (example: common areas in multi-unit dwellings and low-traffic retail shops) the product is warranted to be free from manufacturing defects for 5 years from the date of purchase. If a defect covered by this warranty is reported to your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer in writing within 5 years of purchase, supplier will provide new material of the same or similar grade sufficient to repair or replace the defective material. Also, all of the various residential warranties detailed above will apply for a period of five years from the date of installation. All Downs® H2O™ floors carry a 60 day, materials-only replacement warranty for up to 3,000 square feet per job, 60 days from the date of installation for any light commercial installation.

(See General Terms and Conditions on pages below for other conditions that apply.)

### 60 Day Replacement Warranty For Light Commercial

If after installation and during the 60 day period of your replacement warranty you wish to change your new luxury vinyl floor for a different Downs® H2O™ style or color, your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer will replace it with a different Downs® H2O™ style or color of equal or lesser value. Should you wish to replace your flooring with a Downs® H2O™ upgrade, you may do so by paying the difference in retail price.

No monetary compensation will be paid if a lower priced product is selected. This is a one-time only replacement. Simply call your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer within the time frame of the warranty, and indicate you wish to choose another Downs® H2O™ floor using the 60 Day Replacement Warranty. This is a replacement warranty and does not apply to matters covered by other warranties. Replacement includes materials only and does not include take-up or re-installation charges. Labor to move furniture, permanent construction (built-ins such as cabinets and bookcases), equipment, or electronics is also the responsibility of the customer.

No replacements will be made with respect to flooring that has been subjected to abuse, improper maintenance, vandalism, alteration; or damage caused by smoke, fire, flood, wind, lightning, or any other casualty event.

NOTE: Custom installations are excluded from the No Questions Asked Replacement Warranty.

(See General Terms and Conditions on pages below for other conditions that apply.)

### Limited Locking System Warranty

When used under normal residential traffic conditions with proper care and maintenance, your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer warrants to original purchaser, that the joints of your luxury vinyl floor will remain securely locked together to ensure snug, close-fitting seams with no separation or cracking for the period specified (see page 41 for details of warranty terms). Additionally, your luxury vinyl floor will not allow water to pass through the joints or experience joint separation to compromise the joint integrity when installed properly.

This warranty excludes problems or damage due to excessive moisture or hydrostatic pressure from the subfloor.

(See General Terms and Conditions on pages below for other conditions that apply.)

### Limited Installation Warranty

Your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer guarantees the quality of workmanship to be professional and in keeping with the standards set by the industry. Should further service be required attributable to the original installation of your luxury vinyl floor, your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer will return and provide that service at no cost to you for the life of the floor. "Life of Floor" means the length of the Limited Wear Warranty specified by the warranty level corresponding to the luxury vinyl floor you purchased. See the Exclusive Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® Five-Star Luxury Vinyl Floor Warranties on page 41 for further details. Surface wear must be readily visible, approximately 1/2 inch square or greater. This Lifetime Installation Warranty applies only to the original purchaser and installation site and is not transferable. This Limited Installation Warranty applies only to residential installations performed by a Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer or Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® authorized independent installer. Rental units are not covered.

(See General Terms and Conditions on pages below for other conditions that apply.)

### 15 Year Limited Commercial Warranty for Downs® H2O™ Luxury Vinyl Solidcore

For commercial installations (example: common areas in multi-unit dwellings and low-traffic retail shops) the product is warranted to be free from manufacturing defects for 15 years from the date of purchase. If a defect covered by this warranty is reported to your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer in writing within 15 years of purchase, supplier will provide new material of the same or similar grade sufficient to repair or replace the defective material. Also, all of the various residential warranties detailed above will apply for a period of 15 years from the date of installation. All Downs® H2O™ Luxury Vinyl Solidcore floors carry a 60 day, materials-only replacement warranty for up to 3,000 square feet per job, 60 days from the date of installation for any commercial installation. No replacements will be made with respect to flooring that has been subjected to abuse, improper maintenance, vandalism, alteration; or damage caused by smoke, fire, flood, wind, lighting, or any other casualty event.

(See General Terms and Conditions on pages below for other conditions that apply.)

## General Terms and Conditions

In addition to the requirements specified for each respective limited warranty, the following general terms and conditions apply to each of the limited warranties unless otherwise specified.

  1. These limited warranties apply only to luxury vinyl installed in owner-occupied residential spaces where no commercial activity takes place.
  2. The terms of the warranty begin on the date of installation.
  3. These limited warranties apply only to the original purchaser and installation site and are not transferable.
  4. These limited warranties exclude luxury vinyl flooring that has been put to abnormal use or conditions or abused in any way. "Abnormal use or conditions" includes, but is not limited to, water damage from plumbing, storm, or flood; damage from smoke or fire; or other accidents and casualty events. These limited warranties do not cover indentations, scratches, stains; or damage caused by negligence, moisture, erosion, pebbles, sand, or other abrasives; pets, narrow or spiked-heel shoes, cleats or boots, insufficient furniture protection, casters on furniture, rotating beater bars on vacuum cleaners, burns, cuts, dropping heavy/sharp objects, appliance leaks, damage caused by steam mops, pets; or improper alterations of the original manufactured product. "Abuse" is any use of the flooring that is unreasonable considering the normal and expected uses of a vinyl floor in a residence.
  5. These limited warranties do not apply to damages from exposure to extreme heat, dryness, or water saturation; or stains as a result of chemical or industrial products (other than recommended cleaning products).
  6. To qualify for repair or replacement, the original sales receipt or other documentation which demonstrates proof of purchase must be supplied.
  7. These warranties apply only to residential installations performed by a Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer or Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® authorized independent installer.
  8. Flooring America's®/Flooring Canada's® sole liability on any claim shall be limited to the repair or replacement of the defective goods for the affected area only which are proven to the manufacturer’s satisfaction to be defective. These warranties expressly exclude consequential or incidental damages.
  9. Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® SHALL UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES BASED UPON THE FOREGOING WARRANTIES, CONTRACTS, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL CLAIM. Some states and provinces do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. The foregoing warranties give you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights which vary from state to state or province to province.
  10. If there is a conflict between these general terms and conditions and the limited warranties as specified, the limited warranties as specified shall control.
  11. Should you feel that your luxury vinyl floor is not performing according to the terms in this warranty, contact your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer. This warranty is conditioned upon your Flooring America®/Flooring Canada® retailer’s receipt of notice in writing of the alleged issue prior to expiration of the limited warranty period and evidence that the floor was properly installed and not subject to any of the conditions herein defined to void the conditions of the warranty. These warranties apply on the condition that installation and regular and preventive maintenance have been carried out as recommended in this guide.



NOTE: Certain restrictions may apply. See your retailer for more specific information concerning the recommended cleaning methods for your specific luxury vinyl floor.

STAR RATING  
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WEAR WARRANTY| Life Of Floor  
STAIN RESISTANCE| Life Of Floor  
INDENT, RIP, TEAR & GOUGE RESISTANCE| Life Of Floor  
WATERPROOF| Life Of Floor  
INSTALLATION| Life Of Floor  
LIGHT COMMERCIAL| 5 Years  
REPLACEMENT WARRANTY| 90 Day Confidence Plus™ Warranty  
PET PROOF| Life Of Floor  
  
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