Spring Humidity and Hardwood Floors

Now that spring is in full effect, humidity will start to become a huge issue for homes. With its high moisture content, it can cause expansion, cupping, and buckling to hardwood floors in your home. Not only that, but dry air can also be a problem. It can cause separation within boards, shrinkage, and cracks.

The ideal environment for hardwood floors is a Relative Humidity between 35% and 55%. This can be checked using a hydrometer, which measures moisture content. You can also use your air conditioner and humidifier to find the perfect balance that will maintain the stability of your hardwood floors. Here are the problems that dryness and humidity can cause.

Cupping:

Occurs when edges of the board are higher than the center. Excessive moisture can cause wood floors to swell, which in turn crushes the boards together. The boards “cup” because of the excessive moisture in the floor.

Crowning:

Opposite of cupping; center of the board is higher than the edges. This happens when the surface of the floor takes in moisture or is left wet during high humidity conditions.

Buckling: 

This occurs when the flooring pulls away from the subfloor, and lifts several inches. This is the most extreme response to moisture in wood flooring, and does not happen often. Buckling usually occurs after there has been a flood, or it could be due to incorrect subfloor construction.

Tips to Protect Your Hardwood Flooring from Moisture Damage

Spring weather places your hardwood under a lot of strain. While humidity levels outdoors aren’t quite hitting the daily high marks that they do in the summer, the rainfall can be just as bad. Moisture damage is, in a lot of ways, a silent killer of hardwood beauty. It doesn’t become immediately apparent – and often it’s too late once you start noticing the signs. But there are ways to protect your hardwood flooring from suffering moisture damage.

Clean Up Spills

This is the easiest way to prevent moisture damage. If you spill something on your flooring, or you track in some rainwater from outside, wipe it up immediately. Start by blotting the area with an absorbent cloth, then dry with a towel. The sooner you can dry the area, the less chance there is of that liquid seeping into the underlayer of the flooring.

Use Doormats and Rugs

If you have hardwood flooring at an entry or exit, it’s critical to ensure you’re using rugs or doormats. These trap moisture from shoes and boots, protecting the hardwood underneath. Plus, they’ll help make the job of cleaning up rainwater tracking in from outside a lot easier. Just make sure your family and guests are using them properly!

Maintaining Indoor Humidity Levels

As we mentioned above, you’ll want to keep your indoor humidity levels somewhere between 35% and 55%. Some of the best ways to regulate your indoor humidity include:

• Using the air conditioner
• Using a dehumidifier
• Keeping a constant indoor temperature
• Ensuring an adequate flow of air

Proper ventilation is often overlooked, but is crucial for maintaining good humidity levels. And don’t forget – if you need to make changes to your interior humidity, do it gradually. Sudden spikes and dips can be particularly damaging to hardwood.

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Any type of moisture imbalance can cause problems for hardwood floors, but if you control the relative humidity in your home, these problems can be prevented. If you believe any of these issues are occurring to your hardwood floors, or want more information, contact the flooring experts at Signature Hardwood Floors. You can call us at 410.415.0755 or click here today! You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!