How long should installers condition hard surface floors before and after installation? While there’s no maximum time for this important step, experts agree that acclimation and conditioning of the material at its final destination should be at least 3 days. There are many reasons for conditioning the flooring material before installation.
Hard-surface floors are among the most popular options for both residential and commercial settings. With a range of materials, textures, and colors, they are ideal for all kinds of spaces. The options include wood, resilient flooring, ceramic, and many other materials.
Installation Problems
One of the biggest problems with installation is that the material changes and shifts due to temperature or moisture fluctuations. Inexperienced or careless installation teams fail to do their job properly when they do not fully acclimate the material to the conditions of the space before installation. Flooring material goes through many different environments before installation. It may experience temperature fluctuations during manufacturing, shipping, storage, and while sitting in a showroom or warehouse.
These changing conditions can cause the moisture levels in the material to rise and fall dramatically. As the moisture content changes, the flooring material can expand or contract. Without proper acclimation, these changes may continue after installation and lead to flooring problems. This causes expansion and contractions. Storing the material in the location for several days or weeks allows the moisture content to eventually match the atmosphere of the room it will be located in.
When flooring inspectors are called in to look at flooring material that has expanded, shrunk, or otherwise shifted after installation, the most common cause is that the flooring material was not fully acclimated to the expected living conditions. The best flooring contractors know that conditioning is a key part of a successful installation.
[…] floors. Moisture is a flooring installer’s biggest enemy because it can wreak havoc on the flooring material above it. Moisture can cause adhesive to break down, leading to absorption, warping, and even contribute to […]