Laminate flooring isn t exactly wood but it s made of a wood byproduct and it undergoes expansion and contraction with fluctuating humidity.
What happens if you don t acclimate laminate flooring.
Everyone loves a good horror story as long as it s not happening to them.
Because you know that things like this picture below can happen.
Like hardwood flooring laminate floors need a little tlc along the way.
So for your amusement and as a little bit of a warning here are some images that i have found online that demonstrate just how much this little expanding or contracting can affect the overall finish of.
Place the cartons in the middle of the floor laying each box flat side by side in the room in which you intend to install them.
Sadly some flooring dealers will tell you that you don t have to acclimate laminate floors.
All vinyl plank flooring has a high density fie core which is porous even when it looks solid.
If you don t acclimate laminate flooring before installation you risk the planks compressing or expanding from its installed position as it adjusts to the current humidity and temperature of the room.
Acclimating new wood flooring is important for all kinds of wood including laminate.
If we don t get asked do i need to acclimate my laminate floors everyday then there is a pretty good chance we are closed for the day this is seriously one of the easiest questions to answer because it is always yes.
Don t bring the hardwoods into the space until the heating or air has been runnin g for at least 5 days and wait 7 10 days before actually installing them.
What happens if you don t acclimate laminate.
This may result in buckling or gaps at the joints if the planks expand or contract.
They will tell you that laminate isn t real wood so it doesn t.
Acclimating allows the individual planks to adjust to the temperature and humidity levels found in the room they will be installed in.
Keep them away from the exterior walls.
What happens if you don t acclimate your laminate flooring.
If because of space you do stack the boxes try to.
This is called buckling and this is the most common thing that happens when you don t leave the proper expansion gap.
It therefore needs a period of acclimation in the.
From the moment you finalize your purchase there are a few things you need to do to ensure quality installation.
Open the boxes and lay them flat in the room where they ll be installed.
How to acclimate hardwood flooring.
Buckling occurs when laminate flooring does not have enough space to contract and expand with temperature changes.
The period within which you will acclimate your floor depends on various factors such as the material of your ideal flooring geographic location current temperatures and humidity and expected climate changes.
Inside the boxes.
Don t remove the shrink wrap and open the boxes.
Sadly though we run across a bunch of fly by night installers who tell you that you don t have to acclimate laminate floors.