Wood is a completely natural product; you only have to look in a forest to see that! But when we bring wood into our homes we often forget that. Even once wood has been lumbered, dried, cut and processed into wood flooring and furnishing, it continues to respond to the environment in which it finds itself. Humidity is one of the factors that affects wood most of all. When humidity levels are high, wood expands and when humidity reduces the wood contracts again. This happens even when wood has been in place for a long time. While this is no big deal if it’s only minimal, problems can occur when humidity is excessive.
When it comes to protecting your wood flooring, things like leaving expansion gaps around your room will help prevent excessive cupping, bowing or gaps as your floor expands and contracts, but you still need to have humidity on your agenda if you want to keep your floor looking great for longer. This, and making the right choice of wood flooring for high humidity areas will help you avoid problems. In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the most common reasons for high humidity in the home as well as what you can do to make sure you’re not a victim of damage caused by humidity.
Reasons why you might have high humidity:
Damp walls
There are a few principal reasons why you might have dampness on your walls. It could be that your house is in need of a damp-proof course or it could be that your room is poorly ventilated. With a real dampness problem, it’s important to get professional advice, but if dampness is being caused by condensation, you may well find that improving ventilation is all that’s required. You may also find that dampness is coming from your walls if they’ve recently been re-plastered. In this instance, the walls will dry out in time, but it’s worth keeping an eye on your floor to make sure the dampness from the walls doesn’t cause damage.
Damp in your subfloor
It’s really important when fitting any new wood flooring to an existing concrete sub floor that the sub floor is in good condition and has a low moisture content. Ideally, the moisture content should be no more than 8%, and ideally less. You owe it to yourself to check moisture levels before fitting a new floor, otherwise you could be stocking up problems for the future.
A busy kitchen
In any family home, the kitchen is the hub of the home. Not only is it the space that sees the family get together, it also faces all the hustle and bustle of mealtimes. Mealtimes in any family kitchen give rise to lots of heat and humidity. While these periods might be long or short-lived, there’s no getting away from the fact that any wood in the room will be put under pressure, but particularly your wood floor, so it’s doubly important to make the right choices.
Once again, bathrooms are a tough environment for wood but that doesn’t mean you need to miss out. With the right choice of wood flooring, you can splash about as much as you like in your bathroom, ensuite or shower room.
Measuring humidity in your home
There are various humidity machines that you can buy or hire to measure humidity in walls and in floors. If you think you may have a humidity problem, it’s well worth taking the time to make readings and assess the severity of the issue.
When it comes to subfloors, it’s really important to establish the moisture levels you’re dealing with before fitting your new wood flooring. If your subfloor is timber, you should ideally take around 30 moisture readings across the entire area to establish whether or not you are facing a moisture problem. Ideally, you’re aiming for a consistent average across your readings of no more than 2-3%. If your subfloor is concrete and recently laid, you’re likely to face more of a challenge when it comes to moisture. Ideally you should aim to have a reading of somewhere between 35 and 40% humidity or 2-3% moisture content before laying your new floor.
If you do happen to notice that you have an isolated high reading, there isn’t normally be anything to worry about. That said; if you find that humidity and moisture are fluctuating significantly across your readings, you shouldn’t ignore this information.
Why engineered wood flooring is the very best solution
When it comes to choosing the right wood flooring for any high humidity area, there’s no getting away from the fact that engineered wood flooring is the very best solution. Constructed in such a way to resist moisture take up much more effectively than solid wood, engineered wood flooring expands and contracts much less than solid wood flooring.
It’s for these reasons that when you choose engineered wood flooring you can safely install it in your kitchen or bathrooms without undue stress. Even where moisture readings are slightly high, it shouldn’t pose a problem. All of that said; if you’re truly in doubt, taking the time to seek a professional opinion always pays dividends.
If you’re thinking of laying a new wood floor in an area with high humidity, why not get in touch so we can help you make the very best decision? It costs nothing to chat and we’d love to hear from you.
—
FAQ
How Does Humidity Impact Wood Flooring?
Humidity significantly influences wood flooring. When humidity levels rise, wood expands, and when they decrease, wood contracts. This expansion and contraction can occur regardless of how long the wood has been in place and may lead to problems such as cupping, bowing, or gapping if humidity levels are excessive.
What Measures Can Be Taken to Protect Wood Flooring in High Humidity?
Leaving expansion gaps around the room during installation can help accommodate the natural expansion and contraction of wood, protecting the flooring from excessive deformation. Choosing the right type of wood flooring suited for high humidity areas, and controlling indoor humidity levels are also crucial steps to maintain the aesthetics and durability of your wood floor.
What is the Ideal Moisture Content in a Subfloor Before Laying Wood Flooring?
Before installing any new wood flooring on an existing concrete subfloor, ensure the subfloor is in good condition with a moisture content no more than 8%, ideally less. If your subfloor is timber, aim for a consistent average across moisture readings of no more than 2-3%.
How Does Engineered Wood Flooring Respond to High Humidity Areas?
Engineered wood flooring is the optimal choice for areas with high humidity. Thanks to its construction, engineered wood flooring resists moisture uptake more effectively than solid wood and undergoes less expansion and contraction.
How Can Humidity Levels be Measured in Floors?
Humidity in floors can be measured using specific humidity machines available for purchase or hire. When assessing a timber subfloor, approximately 30 moisture readings across the entire area should be taken to determine if there’s a moisture problem. For a recently laid concrete subfloor, the goal is to achieve a reading between 35-40% humidity or 2-3% moisture content before laying the new floor.