Acclimating Hardwood Flooring
Some common complaints about hardwood flooring is gapping between boards, cracking or warping. Although there are other causes for these occurrences, one reason might be failure to properly acclimate the hardwood flooring to your environment, prior to installation. Due to the characteristics of hardwood, you must acclimate the flooring by placing it in the room in which it is to be installed, with the boxes left open for 5 to 7 days before installation. Therefore, it is important to understand the qualities and distinctiveness of hardwood flooring, so that you can take steps to limit the possibility of any cracking, warping or cupping.
- Flooring Expansion and Contraction
Hardwood flooring will expand and contract as a result of changes in temperature and moisture in the air, from season to season and under different weather conditions. The wood will expand when there is a lot of moisture in the air and contract when there is little moisture in the air. That is why it is important to leave a 10 mm expansion gap around the perimeter of the room when installing hardwood flooring to leave room for the flooring to expand.
- Choosing the Appropriate Flooring Type
It is wise to do some research to determine which hardwood flooring will be the most suitable for your living environment and climate conditions, the room in your home where it will be installed and the type of sub-floor that you have. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on hardwood only to install the wrong hardwood for your situation. If you have questions about which type flooring to choose, please contact us at 1-877-966-3983 and we will be happy to assist you.
- Acclimate Hardwood
Once you receive your shipment, you must acclimate the flooring by placing it in the room in which it is to be installed, open the boxes and spread out the boards to expose them to the air in the room for 5 to 7 days before installation. Please check your manufacturer’s installation instructions for any guidelines.
- Check Humidity Levels
You may want to check the humidity levels of the subfloor and planks to verify that they are in the correct range before installing the hardwood flooring.
- Changes in Environment
Your hardwood flooring will always be subject to the humidity in your environment, even after it is installed. If there is a lot of fluctuation in temperature and humidity within your home, you may notice some minor cupping, gaps, or cracks. They will change throughout the year as your floor expands and contracts, due to changes in temperature and humidity. When the flooring expands due to high humidity, they may appear larger, then, when the flooring contracts due to less humidity in the air, they may appear smaller. These minor imperfections only add to the beauty and character of your natural wood flooring.
At Woodwudy Wholesale Flooring, we are here for you! If you need any assistance or additional information, please call our trained flooring specialists at 1-877-966-3983.
