It’s been said that hardwood flooring is required to acclimate prior to installation. This means that it needs to be able to adapt to the environment where it will be installed. This will bring the wood’s moisture in balance with the home’s before being put in.
Allowing hardwood flooring acclimation to take place will bring the wood’s moisture in balance with the home’s before being put in.
But, this theory has been debated about for some time now. Certain vendors suggest it is a must, while others say it doesn’t make a huge difference.
Why Does Wood Flooring have to Acclimate?
According to The Carpet Guys, wood floors need to acclimate to their environment. This allows the wood to expand and contract, or “adjust” according to its surroundings. Proper acclimation is important to assure the hardwood planks won’t cup or damage in the process.
If you install hardwood flooring too dry, it could expand and permanently cup from too much humidity. It needs a little extra breathing room to compensate for the expansions and contractions.
Since Michigan tends to run hot and humid in the summer and cold and dry in the winter, this is important to remember. Therefore, natural wood floors should be allowed to acclimate before they’re installed.
Hardwood floors perform best when the indoor climate has a humidity of 30-50%. Also, ideal temperatures for wood floors is between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is also true of engineered wood floors, even though they are not solid throughout.
Storage Of Wood Floors For Acclimation
Before your hardwood flooring installation takes place, here are a few acclimation aspects to keep in mind:
- Hardwood planks should be stored at the destination where they will be installed.
- They should NOT be put in an uncontrolled environment with no heating or cooling.
- Do NOT put wood flooring planks in the garage or anywhere outside the home.
- Open the packaging to allow the wood to acclimate. Or, better yet, pull the planks out and cross-stack. Let them adjust freely to their new environment.
This will ensure you get the best performance and value out of your new hardwood floors.
Have Hardwood Flooring Installed by the Pros!
Understanding hardwood flooring acclimation is just a part of the process. The hardwood flooring installed in your home should be done by a professional and reputable flooring company. At The Carpet Guys, we offer only the best products on the market.
At The Carpet Guys, we offer only the best products on the market. Our professional installers know exactly how to install each and every product we offer. From hardwood flooring to carpet installation, each job is done accurately and efficiently!
We are available to you when you need us, 7 days a week! Call now for your free in-home hardwood flooring estimate. Let’s get some timeless and luxurious floors into your home today!!!
