Effects Of Summer Weather On Hardwood Floors

Wood floors are installed with gaps around the edges covered with baseboards to allow for some expansion.

Effects of summer weather on hardwood floors.

Hardwood floors absorb this moisture and expand. Don t worry about seasonal expansion and contraction in your hardwood flooring. If you are noticing the squeaking during the extreme points in summer or winter then the movement is related to the environment. While this seasonal movement is a normal characteristic of laminate flooring these effects can potentially be reduced by following a few guidelines.

This can have an adverse effect on your hardwood floors. When spring shifts to summer your indoor humidity can rise up to 90. The weather has changed and i m not comfortable. Remember that both floating wood floors and nailed down applications experience shrinking and cracking during the cold weather and expansion in the heat.

Because this seasonal movement is normal for hardwood products the best way to reduce such movement is by installing humidity controls and making sure that they function before flooring is installed. In the peak of winter floors will naturally be drier your home can be drier than the sahara at times. When the humidity jumps the floor will swell and expand. Gaps previously opened during colder weather close in the warmth and planks installed tightly may cup.

This expansion and contraction can result in the flooring coming loose from the subfloor. Stop squeaky wood floors by using the right fastener. If the floorboards are at 9 percent humidity and the room is at 20 percent humidity the floorboards will swell and expand. Also sudden temperature or moisture humidity changes will affect expansion and contraction changes.

And that depends on a whole range of factors including the species of wood the width of the planks the location and the type of installation. Hardwood floors will usually shrink in the winter months and expand in the summer months. During dry winter weather hardwood flooring contracts. As i said wood shrinks and grows with the weather.

If a wood floor is installed in a home that sees wide fluctuations in temperature and humidity it reacts accordingly. Then in the summer they may see the opposite where their wood floors will expand and sometimes even buckle up. During warm humid weather laminate might expand to give the floor a crowned look. If the gaps close up in the summer and open in the winter it s not a defect unless the gaps are excessive.

The summertime can provide us with a plethora of opportunities whether it be family gatherings pool parties or bbqs. And there are some very predictable reasons for these warped floors. Clean your hardwood floor with a cloth lightly dampened with a recommended hardwood floor cleaning product. With humidity comes moisture which can lead to possible.

Though with summer also comes humidity. It is important to be aware that none of the damage caused by humidity variations is covered by any hardwood floor warranty.