Hardwood Flooring – Acclimate 1 day?
Hey all –
I’m repairing a good chunk of hardwood flooring in the living room that was ruined by pet urine. I’ve pulled up the old flooring (about 90sf) and picked up the new flooring today. I used a moisture meter on both the existing floor and the new lumber, and they are measuring very close to each other. Given this, could I forgoe the one week acclimation period and start laying my new floor today?
Thanks for the help,
Andy
Replies
I wouldn't count on it. I haven't had your exact scenario but my hw guys tell me there are other factors beside moisture like temp to name one.
When in doubt go with tried & true.
Thank you. I think you're right, no reason to have put in all this work only to have it come out less than perfect when all it will cost me is a week of rest!
Maybe.
If you used a penetrating mositure meter, tjhe kind with pins to measure inside the wood and not the surface only.
And if by fairly close you mean within one percent or less.
And it depends on the kind of wood - specieas. Some are more stabnle than others.
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Thanks Piffin. It is a penetrating meter. It's red oak, and measuring at 8.3 on the existing vs. 8.9 on the new lumber.
not too bad - personal judgement call.
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Red Oak is relatively stable, but it is certainly best to let it acclimate. Stickering would also be a good idea.
be careful on those readings. i worked for two years as a water restoration technician and carpet cleaner and pet urine on wood can sometimes give false readings.
If you are within 1% that's pretty darn close. I'm usually the first to say to wait a week or two, but a moisture meter reading like that is closer than what a lot of people get after waiting a week or more. Install the floor now and simply take more readings in a weeks time on your scrap--you'll see that it won't make that much difference.
I'd require the dog to learn how to use the moisture meter before he's let back in. My dog never did figure out which button to push so he's still outside.
:-)
Don
Thanks for the help everyone. You're right, the dog still needs a little bit of training. They say Basset hounds are beyond hope, I'm starting to think they're right!
Here he is going after the leftovers one night in our old apartment. Wife and I woke up to a whining outside the door. No trouble getting up, but he needed a little help getting down.
One the one hand, that's really cute. But on the other hand ... wow. Wonder how his stubby legs accomplished that.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt