Here is a guide on 'How to store wood flooring before installation'. After you have accepted the delivery of your new wooden flooring, it is your responsibility to look after and store it correctly before it is installed. The planks of wooden flooring need to kept in the correct conditions so that it does not become damaged in any way.
How to store wood flooring
Firstly, your wooden flooring needs to be stored in a warm and dry environment. Never leave the boxes of flooring in a garage, shed or anywhere outdoors. Secondly, the conditions in the room need to be correct. Make sure that all wet trades, such as plastering, screed and painting, are finished. The room needs to be weather tight and completely dry. You will also need to check that the relative humidity in the room is between 45 – 65%. The temperature of the room should be between 17 - 22°C. Finally, leave the planks of wood flooring in their original boxes. Store the flat, never leaning against a wall.
How to acclimatise wood flooring
Wooden flooring needs to acclimatise to its new surroundings before it can be installed. This is an extremely important process. It allows the wood to adapt to the atmosphere. The boxes of wooden flooring should be left, in the room where it is going to be fitted, for the sufficient amount of time:
• Solid hardwood flooring need to acclimatise for at least 7 days
• Engineered hardwood flooring need to acclimatise for at least 72 hours
If you have an underfloor heating system in the room, ensure that the boxes of flooring are raised slightly off the subfloor. This can be done by using wooden blocks or batons.
Quick Tips:
• The room needs to be completely weather tight and fully dry
• Check that the relative humidity of the room is between 45 – 65%
• The ambient temperature of the room should be between 17 - 22°C
• Remember to leave the flooring in the original boxes
• Always store the boxes of wood flooring flat
• Allow the flooring to acclimatise to the new surroundings for the correct amount of time
• If you are using underfloor heating, raise the boxes off the ground when storing them
• Finally, read the Wooden Floor Installation Instructions before starting the installation
