Acclimating flooring materials simply means placing them in the installation area so they can adjust to the surrounding environment.
Most people understand that hardwood and laminate flooring expands and contracts with moisture. However, they may not be certain about acclimating flooring materials like tile, carpet, or vinyl.
Carpet doesn’t have the expansion and contraction capabilities that wood does. However, carpet can shrink and grow slightly, making acclimation an important step in installation. Because it is a soft and porous material, it does have the capability to absorb moisture. Skipping the acclimation could lead to bubbles, cupping, or curling.
While installers and clients will definitely not see the effects like with wood, installers need to consider acclimation while installing carpet. Carpet tiles especially need acclimation because of their small size. Ultimately, flooring installers should follow whatever acclimation guidelines the carpet manufacturer has outlined. Typically, the manufacturers will recommend unrolling the carpeting to allow it to relax and to let it acclimate for around 24 hours.
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