acclimate pre-finished solid hardwood flooring

Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

do i have to acclimate pre-finished solid hardwood flooring before installing? a good builder i'm working with, won't acclimate it because it is dry and pre-finished. does that matter, or should we acclimate it anyway. thanks, bob gagnon

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Some of those

prefinished floor products are sealed on all four sides. This is supposed to help keep the wood from taking on moisture.

I completely flooded my in laws prefinished, glued to slab flooring. Actually THEY flooded it

We wet vaced it cranked on the radiant heat and it came through with out as much as a raised grain. Amazed me. It is an Anderson brand laminate with a hardwood core and sealed all four sides.

Check with the manufacture, but I would guess it should be ready to go. Hard to dry it more than the factory kilns do. Maybe the desert sun of Arizona

hot rod

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Bob Gagnon plumbing and heating

thanks

Hot Rod, this flooring is only finished on top. is the flooring supposed to be very dry, or the same moisture content as the building? bob

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Wood eye

Hardwood flooring leaves the factory at a certain level they deem best. Where it gets stored, how long, etc will determine the moisture content when it arrives at your door.

Most installers have moisture meters to check the moisture before they start installing.

Still I wonder if you live in a humid or costal climate that you can get, and keep, the wood to "X" moisture level without keeping it in a conditioned space?

Seems the wood will adapt to the conditions of the jobsite, unless you "change" those conditions by AC or dehumidifiers.

This is why the wood floor manufactures harp on narrow boards to minimize the "look" of the movement, as you will never completly prevent some wood movement.

This is also why the strongly suggest the proper fastener when installing nail down wood. It too needs to handle some small movement. Squeeks in floors are often traced to improper fasteners and installation.

Mickey Moore is one of the most knowledgable gurus on wood and radiant e-mail him for advise or check their website.

www.nofma.org

hot rod

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Paul Pollets

Acclimate

we always acclimate to 3-5% moisture content before application. Use of a digital moisture meter is recommended.

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