FLOOR ED
Why Pay Attention to Moisture in Wood? When it comes to the moisture content of wood flooring, ignorance is NOT bliss.
W
ood is extremely sensitive to its surrounding environment. So if you’re not paying attention, your wood flooring could contain too much moisture at
the time it’s being installed. And this could easily lead to a catastrophic flooring
failure due to various issues such as buckling, cupping, crowning, cracking, mold, or mildew. Jason Wright Mr. Wright brings more than 30 years of flooring industry experience specializing in hardwood floor products and installation. Beginning in 1986, with a small sundry distributor in Medford, Oregon, Jason ascended through regional sales, Product Development, Business Development, and Marketing programs within different flooring companies. Jason brings a wealth of experience from starting new companies to supporting the flooring industry within the wholesale and retail sectors. Over many years, the flooring industry has come to rely upon Jason’s extensive experience. Contact him by email at jwright@wagnermeters.com. www.wagnermeters.com.
Why is wood moisture content important? If, at the time of installation, the moisture content of the wood is out of whack with the surroundings, it could spell disaster for your floor.
No one wants a wood floor to fail. However, the risk of a problem is high if you
don’t assess the wood’s moisture content (MC) before, during, and even after the floor installation. That’s because wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning that it will absorb or release moisture depending on ambient conditions.
Wood tends to absorb moisture in wet or humid conditions, and when it does,
it expands. Conversely, wood tends to release moisture if the air is dry, and this causes the wood to shrink.
If the process of expanding or shrinking is severe enough, you may end up with
an uneven floor surface. Or perhaps you’ll start to notice significant cracking or sep-
aration of floorboards. Unless you undertake remedial measures, which are often quite costly and time-consuming to perform, the floor may never recover. Likely, it
will always look unsightly, or—even worse—it may become a potential tripping hazard.
Giving heed to wood’s sensitivity to ambient conditions is an essential factor in the success of any wood flooring installation.
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Premier Flooring Retailer | D2 2021
