Blog > Do I need to acclimate my hardwood flooring?

Do I need to acclimate my hardwood flooring?

Saturday, April 9, 2022 5:05 PM

Acclimation is an essential pre-installation for any wood flooring, whether it’s the solid or engineered version. Trees often grow in climates very different from yours.

Wood is porous and will expand or shrink according to the humidity levels. Acclimation will give it a chance for their moisture levels to be more in line with yours.

How do I acclimate?

Leave opened boxes for three days in the room in which the flooring is to be installed. Then, if you have room, you can take them out of the boxes and lie the planks side-by-side on the floor.

Solid hardwood flooring, significantly, can be damaged by excess water. Be sure your room is climate controlled.

Generally, the temperature should be between 65 to 80 degrees F, with humidity levels ranging from 35 to 55%. If you have questions, ask your flooring professional.

Why do I acclimate engineered hardwood?

Engineered hardwood is more stable and can handle water better, but it's often installed as a floating floor. With the latter, pieces click, mat, and then hover over the subfloor.

Since they aren’t attached, the slightest movement can throw the floor off balance. That will affect look and performance.

Our hardwood flooring company won’t let that happen to your investment!

About wood flooring

Whether solid or engineered, these surfaces will add elegance, warmth, and charm to your space. They're timeless, classic, and never go out of style.

These floors are versatile enough to work with any decor. They last for decades and also add value to a property.

Experience the flooring difference in Clayton!

At Clayton Flooring, we're a local, family-owned company with over 25 years of flooring experience. Our certified installers will give you a hardwood flooring installation that will be beautiful, perform well and last a long time.

We’re in Clayton, NC. Visit our showroom and see our solid and engineered wood flooring inventory with brands like Palmetto, Mullican, RevWood, Johnson, etc. We service Garner, Fuquay-Varina, Smithfield, and Raleigh.