It’s important to acclimate hardwood flooring before installing it in your home to ensure that it adjusts to the humidity and temperature of the room in which it will be installed. This will help prevent the wood from shrinking or expanding after installation, which can cause gaps or buckling.
Here are the steps to acclimate hardwood flooring:
- Store the hardwood flooring in the room where it will be installed for at least 72 hours before installation. This allows the wood to acclimate to the room’s humidity and temperature.
- Unpack the hardwood flooring and lay it out in the room, away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
- Allow the wood to acclimate for at least 72 hours. During this time, make sure to keep the room temperature and humidity at a consistent level.
- After the hardwood flooring has acclimated, it is ready to be installed.
It’s important to note that the acclimation process may take longer in very humid or dry environments. If the humidity level in your home is consistently above 60% or below 30%, you may need to allow for additional acclimation time.