Wood Acclimation in the Home

Proper Acclimation of Wood Flooring:

All wood flooring should be properly acclimated before installation. Wood flooring is a dynamic material which will change in dimension as a result of changes in humidity in the surrounding environment. Improper acclimation can result in the shrinking of individual boards and large gaps across your floor.

Ward Hardwood Flooring provides custom treatments of our Reclaimed & Rustic Oak - long length; wide planking and other flooring on the jobsite or in our warehouse as needed. While there are many prefinished choices for handscraped hardwood flooring; none match the authentic beauty of our custom handscraped planking. The level of intensity of handscraping and other distress features are our customers design choices. We prepare sample panels to aid in the selection process. Once the treatment has been selected your floor is matched to the customer’s sample. These elements include;

Wood Acclimation in the Home

There can be some confusion about what proper acclimation is. The length of time the flooring needs to acclimate can be anywhere from 4 days to 14 days, depending on the type of wood. The bundles of flooring should be placed in or near the area that it is to be installed in. The basement and garage are not good places to acclimate the wood. The bundles should be separated as much as possible from each other to allow proper ventilation of each bundle. Moisture levels should be checked by a professional before installation.

There are several factors that can prevent proper acclimation while the flooring is in the home. The wood must be acclimated to normal living conditions. The permanent climate control systems should be in place and operating normally in the home. For example, in the winter, the furnace should be up and running at normal living temperatures. Temporary propane heaters are not a good idea for acclimation. All major plastering and painting should be completed before the flooring is brought to the jobsite. Both painting and plastering create excess moisture in the air. Fresh concrete also gives off a lot of moisture as it cures.

After installation, it is best to try to keep humidity levels in the home fairly constant. In most homes in Colorado, humidity levels are really not a problem. All wood floors will move slightly, especially during season changes. In extreme cases, such as with in-floor radiant heat, a dehumidifier/humidifier can be useful.

Wood Acclimation in the Home