Water & Wood

It's May, and most likely the flowers and plants are blooming where you live. That also means it's raining!

Solid hardwood flooring contracts in low humidity and expands in high humidity. If your residence is pier and beam, new construction or old, it's critical that you have proper ventilation.

A well performing floor is the result of a professional wood flooring installer taking the time and care necessary for a proper installation.

Potential sources of moisture include:

• In new construction sub-floors can be rained on trapping moisture that needs to evaporate, as well as moisture left by "wet trades".
• Ground water is sometimes raised due to heavy rains.
• Surface water can collect by improper drainage, falling under the foundation and walls.
• Many houses are built on pier and beam construction, over a crawl space. Moisture problems can happen due to the construction of a crawl space in a high water table area, improper grading of the lot, or the omission of moisture barriers, ground cover, and ventilation openings.

Be sure to look for the ways moisture gets into crawl spaces:

1. Ground water moving through the foundation walls or up through the earth.
2. Surface water moving through the foundation walls or through vents
3. "Green" slabs, or concrete that wasn't fully cured when the rest of the house was built above it.
   

Building codes in most areas require cross ventilation in a crawl space equal to at least 1.5% of the square foot area within the crawl space.



Did you know: Mopping the floor in a 150 square foot kitchen can release the equivalent of 4.5 pints of water into the air? Shower or bath = 1/2 a pint.

What is acclimation?

Hardwood flooring acclimation is allowing the moisture content of the wood to adjust to "normal living conditions" at the site, which is the temperature and humidity conditions that will be experienced once the structure is occupied. A hardwood flooring professional will check the wood moisture upon delivery and prior to installation.

Tip of month... Maintain Your Floors!

Be sure you follow these easy steps to keep your floor in great condition:

1. Sweep or vacuum your hardwood floor regularly, but never "mop" a hardwood floor with excessive water or cleaning agents.
2. Buy a floor care kit. De Lago Grundl Hardwood floors recommends Bona cleaning products.
3. Clean light stains with a damp cloth - never harsh chemicals.
4. Have your floors re-coated periodically as the finish wears down.

Have a great May, 2011 from your local Austin Hardwood Floor mechanic!

-Joe