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Moisture Testing and Hardwood Floors
Moisture control or awareness is critical for successful
hardwood flooring installations. Several hardwood floor
organizations have their guidelines to go by. These guidelines
have proven over the years, if followed correctly will allow for
a problem free hardwood floor for years to come. Climates and
regions play a role in determining what kind of moisture content
is safe.
Acclimation of hardwood floors to the jobsite, proper
moisture testing and control before, during, and after the
installation plays a very important role in the behavior of your
hardwood floor investment. Many hardwood manufacturers suggest
keeping the relative humidity of the home in the range of 40-55%
after the installation to maintain the floor's original
appearance. Not doing so will cause shrinkage, swelling
(buckling) or other unpleasant surprises.
It's important to discover what the average moisture content
may be in your region to determine what is best suited for your
install needs. What may prove successful in Florida for example,
may not be for southern California. Other forms of moisture
testing would the use of meters that test moisture in
concrete subfloors. Additionally, relative humidly can play a
significant role before, during, and after the installation.
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