10 Tips to avoid expansion & contraction of wood floors.

Wood Flooring - Expansion and Contraction

Expansion and contraction of wood is perfectly normal.
Wood is a natural material that seeks to be in balance with its surroundings. When the air is exceptionally warm and humid, solid hardwoods will absorb moisture and expand. Likewise, with much cooler, drier air, the wood will give off moisture and contract. This is completely natural.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid over expansion

1. Maintain relative humidity of at least 50 percent; i.e. Never leave the areas with wooden floors without heat in the autumn/winter and ventilation in the spring/summer for long periods (3 weeks or more).

2. Excess moisture anywhere in the house should be allowed to evaporate.

3. Flooring should never be installed over damp concrete or wet plywood. Even if the wood is dry, it will pick up moisture from the wet sub floor.

4. When laying a solid hardwood floor, a three-quarter inch gap should be left at the wall line for expansion (this applies to a standard size room). Skirting / mouldings will cover the gap.

5. Wash floor with a slightly damp mop not a wet mop as water left on the surface of flooring for periods of time will be damaging to the surface of the floor and may cause the floor to expand.

6. Install an engineered/semi-solid floor as these have been stabilised with several layers of plywood backing.

7. If installing an unfinished timber then allow the flooring to acclimatise in situ for approx 5 days

Here are a few tips to help you avoid contraction

1. Ventilate the area by opening a window

2. Heat the area to a moderate temperature

3. If installing an unfinished timber then allow the flooring to acclimatise in situ for approx 5 days