Hardwood Floors Florida Humidity

Finishing work and maintenance add to the cost and time commitment of hardwood floors in florida homes.

Hardwood floors florida humidity.

This is why it s important to measure moisture in flooring wood as well as the ambient temperature and humidity conditions before installing hardwood floors. The more moisture in the air the more it expands. Cupping occurs when the edges of a wood plank become higher than its center. Measuring moisture in wood flooring.

When humidity levels decrease the boards will shrink more from side to side than end to end. How to keep winter weather from. Hardwood floor moisture problems. Installers must leave a space between the edge of the floor and the wall to compensate for this expansion.

This also means that wider boards will shrink more than narrower boards. There are almost types of solid planks are best suited for colder climates and have difficulty in adjustment according to the tropical climate. When this happens the center of the wood plank rises above its edges. Engineered wood floors bear a great resemblance in look and feel to solid hardwood but they are designed to deflect the moisture problems of florida specifically.

Solid hardwood flooring if you are living in florida you must know that solid hardwood flooring is the worst option among all. Maintaining the right humidity for hardwood floors will keep them beautiful for years to come. This creates a concave u shape in the board. Thus the distance between the planks grows larger causing gaps.

An example of cracking in hardwood floor due to high relative humidity. These devices can be used to test the moisture content mc of. Crowning is the opposite of cupping. The fastest way to measure moisture in floors is to use a moisture meter for wood.

If you live in an area of dry winters and muggy hot summers monitoring and controlling indoor humidity will preserve your floors and your health. Due to the heat humidity and beaches for which florida is famous it s important to consider several factors when you shop for hardwood flooring. Although hardwood floors are a beautiful and valuable addition to any home or property depending on where you live some kinds are better a fit than others. Humidity can also cause the wood to rot and mold is a potential hazard.

Hardwood floors humidity. Solid hardwood floors expand in high humidity and shrink in low humidity conditions. Engineered hardwood floors are more impervious to higher moisture levels in the environment so they are ideal for florida and similar regions. Relative humidity rh levels inside your home should be kept between 35 and 65 overdry below 35 rh conditions should.

Hardwood floors do not shrink consistently in all directions. If you have hardwood floors engineered or natural there are a few things you need to know about hardwood and humidity levels to keep your floor in great shape.