Take Care of Moisture Issues before Installing New Wood Floors

Posted by willowsonflooring on March 2nd, 2013

When you are going to install new flooring in your home, there are several things you want to think about before you get started. Of course you will have to find the perfect floors, the perfect contractor, and have a budget set. One of the things that are sometimes overlooked, however, is the moisture content of the floor.

Moisture and humidity play a large role in the installation and maintenance of hardwood floors. Floors that are not acclimated properly can suffer damage. They can have gaps, cupping, or buckling. None of these are desired effects on hardwood flooring, especially when there was significant cost involved with putting it down.

The goal when installing solid wood flooring is to make sure that the moisture content of the wood will be the same as it will be when the floor is being used. To determine the level of moisture where the new wood needs to be at, you can measure the moisture level of existing wood in the home. Using a moisture metre, you can determine the target level of moisture of wood that is already in the home. This will tell you the level of moisture that the new wood floor would need in order to be properly acclimated.

To maintain the new wooden floor, good control of moisture, heat, and air will help to prevent any problems with the newly installed floors. If the flooring is part of a larger renovation, it is really important that the moisture content is taken care of. It is really important that other renovations are done properly or else it can cause other issues. Improper air control can cause moisture buildup, which can cause flooring issues in the future.

Caring for your floors after installation is just as important as doing so beforehand. It is important to keep the temperature of the home between 60° to 80° F. Another thing that should be considered is relative humidity. The relative humidity should be kept between 30% and 50%. A hygrometer can be used to measure relative humidity in the home to make sure it stays at an acceptable level.

About the Author

These articles are written by Willowsons' experienced team, the combined team offer a wealth of knowledge and years of experience within the wood flooring field. Willowson Flooring have paved the way for anyone to make the purchase of wood flooring as easy and as pleasurable as possible, from selection through to delivery. Willowsons team is also committed to the ethos behind our Willowson brand, which is to provide luxury wood flooring at affordable prices. Our reputation is built on excellence in all fields from product to customer service. To further our commitment to the customer and assist with their purchase of wood flooring our team regularly write articles which are based on research, experience and extensive knowledge which is then shared to assist you with choosing the right flooring for your home or business.