Acclimating the Hardwoods

Fred and I picked up my Brazilian Walnut hardwood floor a few days ago. 27 boxes and they are heavy! I opened one of the boxes for a preview and it looks amazing. I’m very please with the color and variation. Click on the picture for a larger version. Corey, hope this helps you decide.

Why Acclimating Hardwoods is Important

Now the wood is sitting around my house. Doesn’t seem like an important step but it is. Wood is a porous material that will expand with increased moisture and contract in more arid conditions. By sitting in my home, the wood will achieve the moisture level (and size) that it will be after it is installed.

Be Ready for the Hardwoods

Make sure your home is ready for hardwoods before you pick them up. For a new house, make sure jobs such as drywalling are completed. Moisture can evaporate from the walls and be absorbed by the wood. Doors, windows, heating and air conditioning should be installed an operating. These are all elements that can alter moisture levels. Double check that the sub-floor is in good order and doesn’t have a moisture level higher than 12%. If your installing above a crawlspace, make sure the 6mm black plastic is intact.

How to Acclimate the Hardwoods

The wood will need between 3 and 7 days to become fully acclimated after it is delivered. It is best if you can spread the boxes out on over the sub-floor. If your floor is delivered on a damp or rainy day, give it extra time as it may absorb extra moisture. Do not let them sit in a garage or on concrete substrate as the boards can absorb moisture and warp before they are even out of the box.

What Happens When you Don’t Acclimate

If you don’t acclimate your floor, the dimensions of the boards will change. Boards that absorb more moisture can swell and buckle. Boards that loose moisture can cup and gaps will appear. Either way, your beautiful floor will never be the same.

Testing Moisture Level

Not sure how to test for moisture? Amazon has a great Wagner MMC220 Extended Range Digital Moisture Meter. It doesn’t use tips so it won’t damage wood and it can scan to 3/4″ depth.

What do you think? Have you ever seen a floor installed that wasn’t acclimated?