Temperature and Humidity Requirements for Wood Floors:
Before laying wood floors, the flooring must establish an equilibrium moisture content (MC) with the surrounding environment. This is referred to as hardwood acclimatisation. Failure to acclimatise wood flooring properly may result in excessive expansion, shrinkage, dimensional distortion, or structural damage.
Wooden materials like to be in a comfortable temperature and relative humidity range. For maximum wood flooring performance, the relative humidity in the building should be between 30 and 50 per cent all year. The temperature should be between 15 and 26 degrees Celsius. There are certain exceptions to these rules depending on where you live, so verify with your flooring specialist and the product specs.
What Is the Best Way to Store Wood Flooring on a Work Site?
Wood flooring should not be stored under uncontrolled environmental conditions on the construction site. Make sure the timber is kept in a secure structure. Wood flooring should not be stored in garages or on outdoor patios. Check that the temperature and humidity in the building are kept at typical levels. The optimal circumstances for storing wood flooring will vary by location; consult with your flooring installation contractor to determine the perfect climatic conditions for your floors.
Determine the Moisture Level of Wood Flooring:
Check the moisture level of your wood flooring using a moisture metre as soon as it arrives. This measurement will serve as a starting point for acclimatisation. Check the moisture content of many boards to obtain an accurate measurement. The appropriate moisture content must then be calculated. To begin, calculate the seasonal variation in wood moisture content for your area. Divide the moisture content of the high and low seasons. The boards should be anything from 10 to 12.5 moisture content then once installed go to 13 to 15 and once lived in. If wood flooring is supplied and documented at the baseline moisture content for your geographical location, and suitable relative humidity conditions are maintained, acclimation may not be necessary. On the other hand, if the moisture level of the wood is significantly outside of the recommended moisture content range, successfully acclimating the product may be problematic. Excessive shrinkage, bending, and cupping of the wood may occur under these conditions.
Recommendations:
It is fairly simple to acclimate your new flooring. Simply leave the flooring in its boxes, then open one end and stack the boxes on top of one another. This allows air to flow between the boards, allowing the flooring to adapt to its changing surroundings. The amount of time it takes to acclimate flooring varies depending on the kind of flooring. Solid timber flooring should be left to acclimatise for 7 days.
Wood flooring, like most other types of flooring, has to be acclimatised to preserve its longevity. To avoid damage like cracks, gaps, or warping, follow the procedures in this article. Four Star Flooring is here to assist you! Contact our staff now for any of your floor installation queries and help!
