How will moisture affect my hardwood floor?

How will moisture affect my hardwood floor?

This entry was posted on June 30, 2015 by Chris Elliott

An unfinished hardwood floor is simply a raw material.  The wood has been made into the planks of flooring but it has not gone through the finishing Wood is a natural product and varying levels of moisture in the air (triggered by humidity) will cause your hardwood floor to expand and contract.  When humidity levels in your room are high, the wood will expand, and consequently when the humidity levels are low, the wood will contract.

Slight fluctuations in temperature, moisture and humidity should not affect your hardwood floor (if it has been installed correctly) as it will naturally expand and contract with the changes in heat and humidity.  

Conservatory

For any rooms that may have more significant fluctuations in temperature and moisture, such as kitchens, conservatories or rooms with a large amount of glazing, it is advised that engineered hardwood flooring is used. 

 

Engineered hardwood floors can withstand changes in moisture, better than solid wood floors, as they are more dimensionally stable. What is engineered Oak flooring - cross sectionTo allow your flooring to expand and contract naturally, you must ensure that an expansion gap (of at least 12mm) is left around the perimeter of the room.  This will allow your flooring to move and expand into this gap. 

For further information on this, please see our article: What is an expansion gap?

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