Storring Hardwood Flooring in a cold enviroment
#1
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Storring Hardwood Flooring in a cold enviroment
We have purchased this spring approx. 1500 sq. ft. of 3/4" Hardwood Flooring that we haven't been able to install yet. It is at our cottage (north of Belleville, Ontario.) We don't keep the heat on and the flooring is currently stored on pallets on top of a sheet of plywood with a tarp covering it. We are worried about the wood warping/cupping. We have the heat go on every Friday for a few hours for us if we go to the cottage. We also go up occasionally for a week at a time so the temperature can fluctuate. We were thinking of building a small room, dri-core the floor, insulate and baseboard heat at a low temp. for a constant temperature. Does anyone know if this is necessary or can we leave it till next summer. Please help we don't want to loose all the flooring to dampness. It is being stored in a walk out basement and it does get damp in the summer. We have left Damp Rids in the basment also. Someone also suggested restacking with wood slats between layers and weighing the top row and leave off the tarp. All answers would be appreciated. Thanks
#2
Hardwood flooring is best stored in dry, well-ventilated space. Remove the tarp. Do not allow direct contact with concrete subfloor in storage.
Hardwood flooring is best installed in areas where there is year-round climate control with temp maintained near 70 degrees and humidity at 35-55%.
Installation of hardwood from non-climate controlled area to a climate controlled area requires accclimation, or adjustment to temp and humidity with flooring placed in rooms where it is to be installed. Humidity levels tend to vary from room to room.
Moisture test of subfloor will dictate if flooring has acclimated enough. There should be no greater moisture content difference between wood subfloor and flooring than 4% for 2 1/4" x 3/4" wood flooring and no greater than 2% for planks.
Hardwood flooring is best installed in areas where there is year-round climate control with temp maintained near 70 degrees and humidity at 35-55%.
Installation of hardwood from non-climate controlled area to a climate controlled area requires accclimation, or adjustment to temp and humidity with flooring placed in rooms where it is to be installed. Humidity levels tend to vary from room to room.
Moisture test of subfloor will dictate if flooring has acclimated enough. There should be no greater moisture content difference between wood subfloor and flooring than 4% for 2 1/4" x 3/4" wood flooring and no greater than 2% for planks.
#3
Basement humidity levels can be considered on the high side of the chart. The flooring boards are going to swell to meet the high humidity. When it comes time to install the flooring, acclimate it to the environment it will live its life in. Wood does acclimate faster if it is spaced and cross stacked.