Where should wood flooring be stored prior to installation to allow acclimation?

Where should wood flooring be stored prior to installation to allow acclimation?

• A. In the garage
• B. In the room where it will be installed
• C. On the roof
• D. In a heated closet

Answer: (B)

Wood flooring must acclimate to the space where it will be installed, so it reaches a moisture content that matches the room’s environment before you lay it. Storing the boards in the room where they’ll be installed lets the wood come to equilibrium with the actual temperature and humidity of that space, reducing the risk of movement after installation, such as gaps, bowing, or buckling. Keeping flooring in a garage exposes it to large swings in humidity and temperature and possible moisture, which can throw off its moisture content. Storing on the roof subjects it to direct sun and extreme heat, again altering moisture levels. A heated closet might be warm, but it may not reflect the finished room’s humidity and conditions, so it won’t provide proper acclimation. Following the manufacturer’s guidelines, the best practice is to store the flooring in the installation room so it acclimates to those exact conditions.

Wood flooring must acclimate to the space where it will be installed, so it reaches a moisture content that matches the room’s environment before you lay it. Storing the boards in the room where they’ll be installed lets the wood come to equilibrium with the actual temperature and humidity of that space, reducing the risk of movement after installation, such as gaps, bowing, or buckling.

Keeping flooring in a garage exposes it to large swings in humidity and temperature and possible moisture, which can throw off its moisture content. Storing on the roof subjects it to direct sun and extreme heat, again altering moisture levels. A heated closet might be warm, but it may not reflect the finished room’s humidity and conditions, so it won’t provide proper acclimation. Following the manufacturer’s guidelines, the best practice is to store the flooring in the installation room so it acclimates to those exact conditions.