We consider acclimation one of the most critical steps in installing hardwood floors. Wood is an organic material that will react to its surroundings. Acclimating your hardwood before installation will ensure that the wood has a moisture content that matches the ideal indoor climate. Although it sounds simple enough, watch out for these three acclimation mistakes.
Harmony between your floors and your indoor climate
To avoid cupping, warping, and gapping, you have to acclimate your new hardwood floors.
Keeping a consistent indoor climate isn’t just suitable for hardwood floors; it’s part of what makes our home feel comfortable. For the most part, people tend to enjoy an indoor temperature somewhere between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with a moisture content of below 50%. However, every region is different, so make sure you consult with a flooring expert who understands the living conditions of your geographic location. Proper acclimation means that your floors are within a few degrees from the moisture content in your home, as well as, the subfloors.
Not increasing airflow
If your hardwood floors come packaged and bundled, you can help the acclimation process by opening up the packages and spreading out your floors into smaller stacks. The more you can increase airflow around each board, the better it will be, and the more evenly the boards will acclimate. Increasing airflow may also speed up the acclimation process.
Non-controlled environment
When you are acclimating your new hardwood floors, it’s important first to figure out what your ideal indoor temperature is. Then make sure that you can control that environment. If your indoor climate keeps fluctuating while you are acclimating your floors, they will never acclimate. Before you bring in your new floors to acclimate, make sure you can control the indoor climate. The more controlled the indoor climate, the quicker the floors will acclimate, and the quicker you can get your brand new floors.
A new or remodeled home has an above-average moisture content. Wait for the home to settle before bringing in new floors to acclimate.
Acclimating in a new or remodeled home
Acclimating hardwood floors to a brand new home can be tricky. A new home has very high moisture content due to all the new construction, drywall, and painting, which can greatly increase the moisture content in the home. Bringing in new floors before the home has settled to normal living conditions can lead to cupping and warping as the wood will take on all the excess moisture in the air. Allow your new home to rest and acclimate before you bring in your new floors.
Every home and location is unique, and the acclimation process should never be rushed. Consult with our hardwood flooring experts to talk about your hardwood flooring process.