Some flooring materials do. The most apparent flooring that needs this is hardwood flooring; others need acclimation, like luxury vinyl or laminate. Even some manufacturers of engineered wood floors recommend it. Be sure to talk to our professionals about your flooring installation in Lodi, CA.
What is acclimation?
Keep in mind that hardwood species usually come from different parts of the country or even the world, and they need a chance to adapt. To acclimate, leave the opened boxes in the room in which it's to be installed for three to five days before installation; you can also take the planks out of the boxes entirely and lay them side-by-side on the floor. This will allow the wood's moisture content to get as close as possible to the room.
However, be sure the room is climate controlled because wood shrinks and expands to adjust to the weather. If you run the air conditioner on high, the wood will initially shrink, then broaden, and you'll have cupping and crowning. That can also happen the other way around if the rooms get excessively humid in the summer! If you do not have climate controls, seek the advice of a flooring professional as to how to proceed.
Any wood or wood by-product is a candidate for acclimation.
There's no wood in luxury vinyl, so why acclimate?
Because luxury vinyl can be a floating floor installation, meaning that the pieces click together, mat, and then hover over the subfloor without nails or glue. It's essential to keep floating floors stable, and you won't get any surprises if it expands or contracts beyond what we expect. It also aids in the glue-down method because it gives adhesives a chance to cure.
Please find out more about your future flooring installation in the convenience of your own home because we’ll bring the showroom to you in our fully stocked mobile facility! (And you’ll also get a free quote.) We're headquartered in Lodi, CA, serving Elk Grove, Stockton, Galt, and Manteca. Contact us today.
