Properly installing new flooring plays a critical role in allowing engineered wood planks to adjust to different climates, humidity levels, and other environmental factors. To ensure your next engineered hardwood installation goes smoothly, Landmark Interiors has put together a handy guide to help you better understand what, why, and how of proper flooring acclimation.
How To Acclimate Engineered Hardwood
The simplest way to begin the acclimation process is to place the carton in the room you’ll be installing for at least three days with the flaps open. You can expedite this process by spacing the cartons out or by stacking them to allow more airflow for better circulation.
Another way to properly acclimate the planks is by removing them from their cartons and placing them on scrap pieces of flooring that you may have left over from previous installations. Be sure to leave about a gap around ½” between boards. If you use this method, we recommend waiting about 48 hours before installing the floor to ensure adjust to the climate or humidity for that specific room.
Why is Engineered Hardwood Acclimation Necessary?
Like all wood products, engineered hardwood absorbs and releases moisture from its surrounding environment. In turn, this natural characteristic causes wood to expand and contract with changes in humidity and temperature—a frequent occurrence in enclosed structures.
While it’s true engineered hardwood is more stable than solid hardwood—thanks to its multi-layered construction—that doesn’t mean it’s immune to environmental changes your client is likely to experience in their property.
You should always acclimate hardwood for your client. By adhering to this practice, contractors can ensure that all installed engineered hardwood will perform up to par and maintain its durability and aesthetic appeal over time.
Landmark Interior engineered hardwood planks are available in 1/2″ and 3/8” thickness, alongside our engineered hardwood installation methods: float, glue-down, and staple. Learn more about our products’ qualities in our look book.
How Does It Work?
So, how does acclimation work? The process is relatively simple—and it pays dividends for your client’s final product. Engineered acclimation allows the engineered hardwood to reach EMC (equilibrium moisture content) as defined by the manufacturer’s requirements. This is to avoid any moisture-related problems, like warping or crowning, from occurring.
As the engineered hardwood acclimates, the flooring will either gain or lose moisture to equilibrate with the conditions of the room it will be placed in. It’s important to note that several factors can play a role in the acclimation process, like HVAC systems, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, climate conditions on the jobsite and typical seasonal changes.
Please note that each of our engineered hardwood planks use urethane for the finish and top coat. Keep this in mind if you plan to use a system to help with the hydration process. We recommend using its normal settings to naturally create conditions that will be consistent with the engineered hardwood once installed.
Provide Your Clients with a Clean Installation
The importance of acclimating engineered hardwood cannot be overstated. By following the proper acclimation procedure, contractors can mitigate any potential problems related to wood movement, water, or moisture damage.
The longer you allow the flooring to acclimate, the better prepared it will be to withstand its local environment. If you’re interested in learning more, contact Landmark Interiors.