Hardwood Flooring Acclimation Tips for Homeowners

09/13/2021

Hardwood floors have always been a highly preferred option for homeowners because of the beauty and sophistication they bring to any room. Also, it is relatively easier to care for these floors, and they can last for ages when looked after properly.

However, it is also important to remember that there are certain risks and challenges involved in enjoying the extraordinary benefits of hardwood floorings. For example, hardwood flooring installation is not an easy task. Unfortunately, many homeowners fail to understand the importance of hardwood flooring acclimation and ultimately pay for this mistake.

Understanding Hardwood Acclimation:

Also referred to as hardwood conditioning or acclimatisation, acclimation is the process that allows a wood material to attain its EMC or equilibrium moisture content. While installing a hardwood floor, acclimation is one of the most critical preparatory steps. If this step is not performed in the right manner, hardwood floors may experience excessive dimensional distortion, shrinkage, expansion, or even structural damage.

Being a hygroscopic material, depending on the humidity level, wood tends to absorb moisture from its surroundings and lose moisture.  When the surrounding environment is humid, wood flooring is likely to absorb or retain moisture and get expanded. On the other hand, wood tends to contract when moisture is low.

As a result of hygroscopic nature of hardwood floors, they perform better in some specific environments. It has been observed that these floors perform optimally within the temperature range of 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.  As far as the humidity is concerned, 35% to 50% is the most favourable range for hardwood.

Wooden planks to be used for your flooring may come from an area with a different climate. The area where these planks are stored may also have a more extreme environment compared to your climate controlled home. When these planks arrive at a home, their moisture density is different and must be given few days to adjust. In general, three days or longer is required for hardwood acclimation. However, the actual duration is determined by the type of wood, its dimensions, moisture content, and finishing method.

Steps Involved in Successful Acclimation:

• While some hardwoods do require acclimation, others may not need it because of storage in acontrolled environment. Therefore, before starting the process, carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Calculate acclimation requirements using a reliable acclimation chart. This will help determine the equilibrium climate by temperature range and humidity levels.
• The air conditioning and heating units must be operational during and after installation. Don’t condition the wooden planks in the basement or garage because the temperature in these places tend to vary a great deal throughout the day.
• The moisture content of the subfloor must coincide with the temperature and humidity of the jobsite.
• Before acclimation, the flooring must be unpacked and small wooden strips must be placed between the stacked planks during installation.
• If it is not possible to acclimate the planks in the jobsite, pre-acclimate them offsite under similar conditions.
• If you have any doubt, seek help from a professional.

To find out more about acclimating your hardwood flooring, please get in touch with the experts at Enoak.