Wood flooring is a natural product that can be affected by the changes in humidity. During a hot, humid summer, when indoor humidity can rise up to 90%, solid wood floors tend to expand. This causes cupping in solid wood floors.
Here are some tips to keep hardwood floors from cupping and buckling.
Use a dehumidifier
During the summer months, especially when the humidity levels are high, hardwood floor is vulnerable cupping. Excess moisture is usually the culprit.
A dehumidifier works by removing moisture from the air. Consider installing a whole house dehumidifier to reduce the relative humidity in your home. Keep humidity levels in your home between 40 to 60% to avoid cupping.
Install acclimated wood floors
Cupping is the result of wood trying to return to its original shape. If the wood contained excessive moisture at installation, it is likely to swell later on.
One of the main reasons why newly installed wood floors cup is because it was not given a chance to stabilize before it was installed. To prevent this from happening, we suggest that you leave the planks in the room at least 2 weeks prior to installation. Keep the humidity levels between 30 - 50% and the temperature from 60 - 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Turn on the air conditioner
It may be tempting to open the windows to let some air in, but please don't. The outdoor air is very inconsistent, which may cause damage to your floor. During the summer, we suggest that you use your air conditioning as much as possible and keep the temperature between 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Contact us today for more tips on maintaining your hardwood flooring.
