Acclimation Secrets: Why Time is Critical for Hardwood in WNY’s Climate

Western New York’s climate is characterized by extremes: humid, hot summers and intensely cold, dry winters. Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning it constantly absorbs and releases moisture, and it must be at equilibrium with the environment where it will be installed. Skipping or shortening the acclimation process the period during which hardwood planks are allowed to adjust to the home’s temperature and humidity is one of the leading causes of installation failure, leading to buckling in the summer and unsightly gapping in the winter. We detail why taking the necessary time is not just recommended, but critical for achieving a stable, long-lasting hardwood floor in the face of WNY’s volatile climate.

Custom Carpet Centers has become the Number One floorcovering dealer in the WNY area for over 50 years, ensuring precision at every stage, including proper acclimation protocols that guarantee the longevity of your hardwood. We maintain a strict policy that we will never sell seconds or off goods to any of our customers.

The Hardwood Acclimation Requirement

Acclimation is the vital middle step between product delivery and installation, and it involves allowing the wood to stabilize its internal moisture content.

Why Wood Moves

• Moisture Equilibrium: Wood flooring, when manufactured, is dried to a specific moisture content (MC). However, once it leaves the factory and is shipped to the WNY area where it may sit in a truck, a cold warehouse, or a damp garage its MC will shift significantly.
• The Destination Climate: The goal of acclimation is to allow the planks to reach a moisture equilibrium with the room where they will be permanently installed. This means the wood should be installed only after it has expanded or contracted to match the conditions of your home.
• Consequences of Skipping: If a cold, damp plank is installed without acclimation, it will shrink drastically once your home’s heat is turned on, causing severe gapping between planks. Conversely, if a dry plank is installed in a humid room, it will expand, causing the entire floor to swell and buckle off the subfloor.

Best Practices for Successful Acclimation

Acclimation is not just about time; it is about proper positioning and climate control within the home.

The Correct Procedure

• Minimum Timeframe: Manufacturers typically require a minimum of 3 to 5 days for acclimation, but in the highly volatile climate of WNY, a minimum of 7 to 10 days is often safer, particularly for wide planks or solid hardwood.
• Climate Control: The room where the wood is acclimating must be kept at normal living conditions the temperature and humidity levels that will be maintained after the installation (e.g., $60^{\circ}\text{F}$ to $75^{\circ}\text{F}$ and $30\%$ to $50\%$ relative humidity). This means turning on the heat or AC well before the wood arrives.
• Rack and Stack: The hardwood cartons must be opened and the planks should be cross-stacked or “racked” in small piles across the installation area. This allows air to circulate freely around all surfaces of the planks. Simply leaving unopened boxes stacked in a corner is ineffective.
• Moisture Metering: Professional installers use a moisture meter to ensure the plank’s moisture content is within the manufacturer’s specified range and that it is within a $2\%$ to $4\%$ tolerance of the subfloor’s moisture content before they begin the installation.

The Role of Interior Climate Consistency

A stable hardwood floor’s long-term performance relies on the WNY homeowner maintaining consistent climate control post-installation.

Post-Installation Care

• Avoid Extreme Swings: Hardwood requires continuous climate control. Drastically lowering the heat during a winter vacation or shutting off the AC during a humid summer month can trigger the movement (gapping or swelling) that the initial acclimation was meant to prevent.
• Humidifier/Dehumidifier Use: In WNY, using a whole-house humidifier in the dry winter and a dehumidifier in the damp summer months is often the best way to keep the interior climate within the optimal 30% to 50% relative humidity range.

Hardwood Stability with Custom Carpet Centers

Proper hardwood acclimation is a critical, multi-day process that ensures your planks are stable and won’t buckle or gap after installation due to WNY’s extreme temperature and humidity swings. Custom Carpet Centers has become the Number One floor covering dealer in the WNY area, and our expert installers strictly follow all required acclimation protocols to ensure the long-term beauty and integrity of your hardwood.

To ensure your hardwood installation is perfectly acclimated to your home’s unique climate, Visit our showroom locations in Orchard Park, Williamsville, or Tonawanda, NY, or contact us for an In-Home Consultation.