Because wood-based flooring materials are derived from a living source, they are unique among floors. Hardwood in particular, while beautiful and elegant, is susceptible to conditions that affect biological materials. Not unlike human skin, the hardwood in your Plano home can physically change under the duress of extreme temperatures! We at Floor Coverings International® of want to share some tips for managing flexible hardwood floors as the seasons come and go.
Holding Water in the Heat
In scientific terms, wood is “hygroscopic.” This means wood can absorb and hold water from its environment. Room temperature is ideal for the maintenance of consistent hardwood flooring. But as the temperature shifts, a steady temperature can be hard to come by! A good range of humidity for hardwood is 33-55 percent, but summer will ramp up the humidity levels and cause planks to swell with water content.
If there are existing gaps between boards during this process, they will often close up. This in itself isn’t so bad, but the high humidity can ultimately warp planks and set the symmetry of your lovely hardwood askew. Swelling and shrinking is quite normal over the life of a hardwood floor, but intense temperatures can damage the floor. In the summer, an air conditioner or a dehumidifier can make the difference between warped boards and lasting hardwood.
Be Wary of Winter
In winter hardwood suffers the opposite effect: air cools down, dries up and moisture leaves the wood. The planks will tend to shrink, which can lead to unsightly gaps in your hardwood floor. Swelling is hard on the eyes, but when planks dry up in this way it can create a tripping hazard!
A heater is not necessarily a good solution to shrinking planks because the air they produce is also quite dry, and this can worsen the gapping. Try a humidifier to maintain a comfortable the room’s moisture level at a consistent and comfortable level that will keep planks at the proper shape and size.
Contact Floor Coverings International® of Today!
For all questions or concerns about hardwood flooring and floor care, contact us at the number below or schedule a free in-home consultation for your next home improvement project! We proudly serve Plano and surrounding areas.