Tips for the best flooring

There are some basic guidelines for hardwood flooring for you to get the most from your flooring and protect your investment. Before the flooring is even delivered to the job site, several things should be done to determine if conditions are appropriate for this. You can’t install floors if you’re not sure about proper job site conditions. It’s necessary to understand the dynamics of water and wood and make educated judgments about proper acclimation. Improper acclimation can be the source of all kinds of problems, for example: cracks between boards,cupping, splinters, stress fracture splits, engineered delamination, raised grain etc.

Speaking about the job site conditions, we should note that wood flooring is a dynamic, hygroscopic material. Its shape can be adversely affected because of environmental, temperature and humidity changes. That’s why it’s better to ensure that the flooring climate is controlled with temperatures of 50° to 80° F, preferably 65° to 75° F, and humidity of 30% to 55%, preferably maintained at 45%.

The ventilation system must be fully operational to provide normal air flow in all rooms. Wood flooring, laminate flooring, and cork flooring should never be stored directly on bare concrete substrates without climate control.

Prefinished flooring is shipped having 6-9% MC Moisture content. To start the installation, the it’s recommended to establish a MC balance between the flooring and subflooring. The subfloor moisture content should not exceed 12%. The moisture content of a 2 1/4" wide board should be no greater than a 4% difference or a balance of the wood subfloor. For boards 3" or wider, the moisture content must be within a 2% balance of the subfloor.

There are also several common moisture problems. For example, if the flooring is delivered on a damp day or during rain, the boards may absorb some moisture. If you install floors without acclimation, the flooring may shrink a few weeks later with cracks between boards. In addition, wood flooring should not be delivered to the job site until all wet work (plastering, ceramic tile work, plumbing work) is completed and dried. The deal is taht moisture from wet work can be absorbed into the flooring.

Wood flooring is a wonderful and unique product of nature characterized by distinctive variations in grain pattern and color. Every grade of wood will have varying degrees of marks or characteristics. There are no two similar boards. Such natural variations are not defects: they add to the natural beauty and uniqueness of plank hardwood flooring

These few basic tips are very important for you to get the most from your flooring. In the end, you’ll get a beautiful wood floor to feel proud of!