Hardwoood flooring humidity control and wear layer surfaces

Humidity control and wear layer surfaces of hardwood.

This year the phone has been ringing off the hook for hardwood flooring.  People want to install new hardwood flooring into their homes and have been flocking to box stores and show rooms looking for product.  We are thrilled to have our phones ringing off the hook asking for installation but are less thrilled about the products that they have already purchased without understanding  product quality, wear surface or the required humidity control to maintain its stability in their home.

It is very important that you have a basic understanding of wear surface and humidity control before you purchase any products for your home.  We recommend you have a qualified flooring contractor to come in to before you begin your search process. They will measure, educate you about humidity control and wear layer surfaces.   They will also be able to show you any products that they carry and give you an idea on cost for good quality flooring.  You need to be prepared before you begin your shopping process.  You need to understand how different flooring adapts to our Minnesota climate.

Many of the box stores and show rooms carry inexpensive hardwood products that look like their more expensive counter parts on the surface.  The problem is that they have little or no wear layer.  This means the product is a buff and coat product that cannot be refinished.  These floors have a 5-7 year life span if nothing scratches them and you do not have any children or pets.  Often the boards are not finished on the sides so when they are installed the color in between boards is missing making the floors look like they were not installed properly.  The reality is that these products are cheaply produced and do not stand the test of time.   They look beautiful on the surface but are not a good value.

Be on your guard when shopping at a box store looking at these products because you will be working with someone who makes $10 an hour who has little or no education about hardwood.  This also can be true at show rooms that specialize in vinyl  tile and carpeting but happen to carry hardwood. They do not tend to understand the characteristics of wood species, climate control or wear surface.

Humidity control on your furnace is extremely important for hardwood stability especially if you decide to purchase exotic woods like bamboo or South American woods.  If you don’t maintain humidity control in your home, your boards will expand and contract causing gapping or crowning.  Before you buy hardwood, make sure you know the humidity levels in your home throughout the year. Two good humidification systems are April Air and Honeywell.  Any good HVAC contractor will be able to install them on your furnace. 

Hardwood flooring is an investment that should last a very long time.  Take the time to understand its maintenance requirements, installation requirements, and learn about humidity control so that your flooring purchase and installation stand the test of time.