Store hardwood outside winter


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Old 09-28-19, 03:41 AM
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Store hardwood outside winter

We're doing a home renovation and need to store our hardwood floors outside firing the winter. Would it be ok to store them flat, off the ground on workhorses,, andside a temporary car tent / cover?
I'm worried about humidity and warping.
Maybe a tarp over the grass below it?
There's no space inside to store it anywhere during the renovation.
 

Last edited by qwertyjjj; 09-28-19 at 03:59 AM.
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Old 09-28-19, 03:49 AM
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Wrapping it does not sound like a good idea. You'll be trapping moisture. If you must keep it outside I would want air to freely flow through the material. But you do want to protect from direct rain or snow and direct sunlight. Why not buy or rent an enclosure. How much do you need to store?
 
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Old 09-28-19, 04:02 AM
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If I had to store them on saw horses I'd be putting plywood down first to help support them flat. As Norm said you want to provide some ventilation between the wood and the tarp.
 
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Old 09-28-19, 04:23 AM
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There will be an enclosure - a temporary car garage
 
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Old 09-28-19, 05:10 AM
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I personally store construction lumber outside out of the elements but would not consider storing flooring in a unheated space.
The flooring manufacturer would be the only place to find out what the proper storage conditions are.
I would be surprised if they approve of unheated storage, especially in our climate.
 
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Old 09-28-19, 05:22 AM
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It will be fine!

Two years ago I stored all my prefinished flooring in the bed of my pickup inside my unconditioned garage for a year.

Temps dont effect wood and it will just adjust to humidity.

Keep in original box, supported flat and don't wrap it up, and make sure it isn't going to get wet!
 
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Old 09-28-19, 07:00 AM
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It's actually the pine flooring that was in the house 100 years ago so, we're just planing it and storing it to re-use it. So, no box to cover it.
I'm more worried about humidity than temperatures... especially when it gets to spring time. Dew conditions would be bad though I suppose the tent will stop that.
 
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Old 09-28-19, 07:21 AM
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It will adjust to whatever the humidity level is, that's what wood does.

Just keep it dry, that is the biggest issue.

Plus if no other option what else can you do!
 
 

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