Acclimation times vary by species and product, but a rule of thumb is to acclimate wood floor products for at least three days. You're trying to reach an equilibrium between the moisture content of the wood materials and the air where the product is being installed.
It is recommended that you allow the boards to acclimatise for a minimum of 48-72 hours. If you take delivery of your flooring and it has to be stored for a period of time, this is not a problem. The boxes can be left in a dry indoor location including garages, outbuildings etc.
Allow at least two days to complete this project. You can't walk on new flooring for 24 hours, so plan your work accordingly. You may have to leave a walking strip bare and complete the flooring the following day. Check all boards for warping and defects.
It's more resistant to possible expansion or contraction due to humidity changes. However, manufacturers still recommend acclimating engineered hardwood floors for at least 48 hours or until they reach moisture stability in the top wood veneer or plywood core.
The goal of acclimation is to strike a balance between the wood's natural moisture content and that of its environment. If acclimation does not occur, hardwood floors run a very high risk of swelling or shrinking post-installation, resulting in gapping or cupping.
It is still recommended by manufacturers to acclimate engineered hardwood floors at least 48 hours or until they reach their acceptable moisture content. Do this inside the room where they will be installed. Its plywood core helps mitigate dimensional changes but it does not totally eliminate it.
Acclimation times vary by species and product, but a rule of thumb is to acclimate wood floor products for at least three days. You're trying to reach an equilibrium between the moisture content of the wood materials and the air where the product is being installed.
When the weather is humid, planks absorb moisture causing them to expand. Alternatively, during cold seasons, planks shrink as they become dry. Although engineered planks resist these seasonal changes more than solid hardwood, you should still expect a small amount of expanding and contracting.
You should really store your hardwood flooring in a controlled environment, never a garage or basement. If the hardwood is being store above 50% humidity it will take in a ton of moisture and expand this will typically happen in the summer months when humidity is at it's highest.
Underlays are helpful for any type of engineered wood flooring. While you can install engineered wood floors without an underlayment, the extra support and insulation add a lot to a room. To get the most out of your underlayment, you'll have to look into which materials work best with the type of wood floor you have.
If you are trying to decide between the two, then for engineered wood flooring floating is usually the best option as you can install it quickly and don't have to worry about which glue to use and how long to wait for it to dry. If you are installing hardwood flooring then using glue may give you a more stable result.
If your hardwood floors have been sanded and finished with Bona Mega Clear HD, it is safe to sleep in the home about 2-3 hours after the project is finished, but again, only if there are other rooms that have not been robbed of their furniture – furniture should stay off floors for at least 24 hours after ANY project ...
Engineered hardwood flooring can resist warping from changes in temperature much better than solid hardwood flooring, so you only need to wait a day before walking on it.
Taking the hardwoods out of the boxes is the best way to acclimate them. Air can hit the boards on every side. It's important to acclimate your hardwoods before installing them. Doing so can be the difference between an installation done well and an installation gone bad.
There are some now that do not require acclimation. Shaw epic series engineered are not manufacturer required. I do not believe it is unreasonable to ask the flooring store to bring the wood 1 week prior to install. They will accommodate you if they are truly a good store.
Proper humidity level for your hardwood floor
The National Wood Floor Association (NWFA) states that normal relative humidity levels should range between 30%-50% to ensure successful long-term performance of your wood flooring.
While engineered hardwood is more moisture-resistant than solid wood, it does still expand.
Ventilation is crucial in the garage for storing hardwood floors. It must stabilize at the correct temperature. A safe temperature for hardwood is between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Hardwoods should preserve a 6-9% humidity level while the garage should keep humidity between 30-50%.
Hardwood floors can be installed in the winter, but doing so comes with some challenges. Humidity—the level of moisture present in the air—plays a key role in floor installation. If it's extremely humid when your wood floors are installed, it can cause the wood to swell.
The most common reason why floor finish peels, is because the wood is not prepared correctly. If the wood is not prepped in the correct way, this means that the floor finish cannot stick to the floor as it should. This will quickly lead to peeling.
As already stated, you need to leave between 10 and 15mm all around your room. Ideally, you should place a range of suitably sized spacers against the wall you're fitting against as well as against the two walls where the floor will run. This way you're sure to get the right size of gap.
Summary time line for Pre-finished hardwood flooring:
Total install time for 1,000 sf or less = 1-5 days (+ extra if floor prep is needed and/or tile rip up) Total elapsed time for 1,000 sf or less = 2- 4 weeks.
It is important to acclimate solid hardwood because wood is hygroscopic. This means that it will take on moisture from the environment it is in. Taking on or losing too much moisture will cause wood to change. It can expand, shrink, check, or split because of excessive moisture changes.
Felt paper is installed under hardwood flooring to provide an extra layer of moisture protection and also to dampen sound. You will need to install it under your wood floors if a padding is not already attached to the hardwood planks. Many models of hardwood planks have dampening foam already attached.