Hardwood floors and engineered wood floors rank among the most beautiful and durable flooring options on the market. However, customers still encounter problems.
Many claims and complaints stem from installation issues. Installers sometimes use poor procedures or practices. These mistakes lead to performance and appearance problems.
Manufacturers review these claims. However, they cannot fix problems caused by installation errors.
One of the most common claims reported by manufacturers from customers with wood floors is that of gapping. Gapping takes place when the wood planks separate at the edges. Because wood contracts or expands based on the amount of moisture in the air, gaps can occur as humidity levels change.
When wood flooring is properly installed, there will be small gaps created in drier months, and no gaps at all in more humid months. It’s not uncommon to have seasonal changes in a wood floor, but with a good installation, this will be minimal.
Problems occur when installers do not properly acclimate the wood material to the room’s climate before installation. Acclimation means installers store the material in the room under its final conditions for several days before installation. A good installation should only see minimal gapping during dry weather. Unfortunately, gaps as wide as a quarter or bigger can take place when acclimation is not done properly.
To have happier customers and create beautiful flooring that lasts a lifetime, flooring installers should take the time to acclimate the flooring material before installation.
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