Contrary to popular belief, installing hardwood flooring in Charlotte NC the winter has its advantages. How great the advantage depends on the climate of the local area. Wood is a natural product, and is susceptible to changes in humidity and temperature. Just as the trees it’s milled from, wood flooring is a permeable substance and its natural attributes need to be considered before installation.
The Ever-Changing Floor
Hardwood flooring in Charlotte NC will expand and contract as it absorbs moisture from the air in times of higher humidity and releases it back in to the air in the drier months. An experienced flooring installer will know about these factors and make the necessary compensations when installing the floor. If a floor is being installed in humid months, it is critical to success that the flooring be delivered and left in opened packages in the area where it will be installed at least one day prior to installation. This will allow the flooring to acclimate to its new surroundings and equalize the moisture present in each plank of wood. If the floor is not allowed to acclimate, contraction may occur after the floor has been installed, leaving gaps between the planks.
By installing hardwood flooring in the drier winter months or in early spring, the flooring will likely be in a contracted state, and proper installation should eliminate the possibility of gaps appearing between the planks. A qualified professional flooring installer will know to leave just the right amount of room between planks when installing in the winter to allow for a small amount of expansion in the summer months. Even in the winter, it is important that wood flooring be left in opened packages in the area where it will be installed so that acclimation may take place.
Winter Subflooring is Best
In the summer months when the humidity is higher, moisture can become trapped in the sub-surfaces on which hardwood flooring is installed. Even a concrete subfloor will often retain moisture that can wreak havoc if trapped beneath a wood floor. In the winter, the risk of moisture being trapped beneath the newly installed wood floor is far less common. While moisture being trapped under a wood floor may ruin the floor, it is not the only danger. Moisture will often lead to mildew and even mold which can be detrimental to the health of persons living in the home. Because this happens below the hardwood flooring, it is often not recognized until significant spreading has occurred. In these cases, removal of the flooring and expensive mold remediation will be required.
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