Acclimation describes the process of conditioning hardwood floor planks so their moisture content is at the optimal level for the environment it is to be installed.
Let hardwood flooring acclimate.
This requires some planning but if you try to acclimate your flooring in an area with fluctuating temperature it cannot acclimate to the level of your home.
For most wood flooring the wood floor must be within 4 of the moisture content of your subfloor.
Allow wood flooring to acclimate for at least three days acclimation times vary by species and product but a rule of thumb is to acclimate wood floor products for at least three days.
Contrary to belief it has less do with the amount of time you should let flooring sit to acclimate on the job site and more to do with monitoring the moisture content of various components.
Any moisture coming from several construction compounds such as in paints or drywall may still be present in the room.
This will be absorbed by the boards and may not acclimate properly.
Hardwoods should be acclimated in the same room level where they will be installed.
You re trying to reach an equilibrium between the moisture content of the wood materials and the air where the product is being installed.
Acclimation of wood flooring begins with proper storage at the job site.
Temperature and humidity should be monitored.
Wood floor acclimation can be achieved by cross stacking and spacing wood floor materials to encourage air circulation around the boards.
Basements are moisture prone since higher humidity air is heavier and sinks.
Most manufacturers recommend materials acclimate for a minimum of three days with no maximum suggested.
Don t make the mistake of acclimating the hardwoods in a basement when they are to be installed on the first floor.
Hardwood flooring should be acclimated in a controlled enclosed environment.
Make sure the room or level where the flooring will be laid is an enclosed space.
Delivery should be after major projects have been completed and thoroughly dry such as dry wall and masonry work.
Check your flooring with a moisture meter to ensure an accurate reading.
Between 5 and 10 days ahead of time check to see if the temperature and humidity of the space is at normal living conditions.
In other words let the heat or air run as it would normally for at least 5 days.
Never acclimate the engineered hardwood floors too soon in a room that has just been painted or drywall that has just been put up.
How to acclimate hardwood flooring.
Solid wood flooring should be delivered to the jobsite and allowed to acclimate to the conditions in which it will be installed or near occupancy levels.
It is a fact that wood flooring will always perform best when the environment is controlled and remains within a relative humidity range of 30 50.
Inside the boxes.
