Acclimation

Before installing wood floors, the flooring needs to reach a moisture content (MC) level that is in equilibrium with the surrounding environment. This process is known as acclimation.  Acclimating your wood flooring is a very important step to ensure it performs well after installation.  Failing to properly acclimate wood flooring may cause excessive expansion, shrinkage, dimensional distortion, or structural damage.  Always remember, wood performs best within an ideal range of temperatures and relative humidity. 

Here’s an overview of the process:

Timing:

Acclimate the flooring for at least 72 hours before installation. In some cases, you might need to acclimate for a week or more, especially when the flooring has been milled/stored in a different climate.

Environment:

The room where the flooring will be installed should be climate-controlled, ideally between 60°F and 80°F (15°C to 27°C) with a relative humidity level of 30% to 50% year-round for optimal performance. Verify the temperature and humidity in the building are maintained at normal living conditions. This helps the wood adjust to its new environment.  Please be sure to check product specifications prior to acclimation.

Storing:

Wood flooring should not be stored at a job site under uncontrolled environmental conditions.  Professional wood flooring installers recommend opening your flooring packages and breaking the shipment into smaller lots. Always lay the planks flat in the room where they will be installed and space them apart to allow for air circulation.  Avoid stacking them directly on top of each other which will help acclimation.  You may also wish to cross-stack planks using spacers between layers to increase air circulation.

Monitoring:

Keep an eye on temperature and humidity levels in the room during the acclimation period. If conditions change, it may be necessary to extend the acclimation time.  Wood flooring should be within an acceptable range of moisture content with the subfloor.

Wide plank solid flooring (3" or wider) should have no more than 2 percent variance in moisture content compared to subfloor.

When wood is neither gaining nor losing moisture, equilibrium moisture content (EMC) has been reached. The chart below indicates the equilibrium moisture content of wood flooring at various temperatures and humidity conditions. Most flooring manufacturers use a 6-to-9 percent range for equilibrium moisture content – any higher or lower and wood flooring can shrink or swell dramatically.

Final Checks:

Prior to installation, be sure to inspect all planks for any defects or issues and contact Floorstylez immediately.