Acclimatising Wooden Floors
27 Aug 2024
Wood is a natural material with hygroscopic properties. This means that any wooden material will passively adapt to surrounding environment to achieve an equilibrium of moisture with the surrounding climate. Wherever there is a gradient of moisture from the water held in the fibres of the wood to the surrounding environment, moisture will move from high concentration to a lower concentration until the humidity outside and inside of the wood is even.
Temperature plays a part in this process too, because having a gradient of temperature can accelerate this process. This is why wooden materials should always be stored in the installation area for a few days before fitting even though it is kept in sealed packs. The purpose of this acclimatisation period is to make sure the material is at the same temperature as the room where it is going to be installed.
Modern wood flooring materials are kiln dried to a lower moisture content than traditional solid wood floors. This is because underfloor heating and modern heating and ventilation systems create a drier, warmer environment inside buildings, and this demands the floor to be produced in a condition to compliment this.
It’s important to remember that these heating and ventilation systems will not normally be running or operational at the time the timber is installed so creating the closest conditions to that of the finished project is important to avoid creating large swings in environmental conditions which may cause movement or unwanted changes in the wood.
When heating and ventilation systems are first commissioned, a gradual process is always advised to gradually change the environment and allow acclimatisation over a longer period. Longer acclimatisation times generate less movement in timbers as opposed to sudden dramatic changes.
The same is true for overall environmental conditions, and after a full heating cycle through the seasons of the year, a timber floor will be fully acclimatised to the environment in which it has been installed. Throughout the initial 12-month period after installation, the timber will be exposed to the temperature and humidity changes of the building and the movements in the timber through these changes will be limited over time. Any issues with heating and cooling systems will also become apparent and can be rectified in this time to ensure a stable and comfortable environment for the people using the space and the materials within it.