Your hardwood floors are the star of the show for your property. They are an investment you could never get tired of, and for some, a dream come true. Keeping them in their finest shape is a priority, especially if you wish to save on maintenance or repair costs over the years. While you may be doing your best following care instructions from your flooring contractors, were you aware that temperature and humidity can prevent that goal?
That’s right, especially in Ohio. Columbus’s summer weather is known not for how hot the temperature gets but for the vapor levels in the air. Humidity wood floors are two elements that will never get along, so keeping extreme moisture out of your investment can save its’ life (quite literally). But how can you do that if you don’t know what are the symptoms of high levels of humidity on wood floors?
We have all the answers you seek. In this blog, we’ll go over the effects moisture can have on your investment, the ideal levels you should keep in your home to prevent damage, and professional and convenient tips to help regulate those levels.
Let’s begin.
Symptoms of High Humidity Levels on Hardwood Floors
Humid summers are unbearable not only for us, but also for our hardwood floors. While the wood may not be part of a living tree anymore, it still reacts to changes in moisture and temperature. This is why hardwood floors and humidity together are big no-nos. If your investment suffers constant exposure to high moisture, in the long run, it will rot, no matter how much care we put into avoiding that ending.
So, how can you tell your floors are in danger? Below are the most common effects of humidity levels, and, therefore, temperature for wood.
Splitting
Extremely high humidity levels can lead to splitting, and sadly this kind of damage has no repair other than a complete installation. If your hardwood floor is splitting, you will notice splinters in the arrangement of the fibers (in simple terms, the grain). Not taking immediate action to handle this matter will cause further deterioration, since the splint gives a path to water or other debris seeping into the flooring.
Buckling
Excessive temperature and humidity produce the buckling of planks. But what does this mean for your investment? Well, the floor will suck in all the water in the atmosphere, causing it to expand, and you’ll start to notice the wood floors separating from the subfloor by a few inches.
When not treated correctly, buckling will eventually lead to cracking. The only fix for that severe damage is replacement. Before reaching that no-return point, however, you can dry the floors and reseal them, and we suggest contacting specialists like our Davila Floors & Tile team to handle it for you.
Cupping and Crowning
Cupping and crowning are two effects of excessive moisture content in the air, but they occur in opposite forms. When the wood floor temperature and, of course, humidity rise to extreme levels, your investment will soak all that moisture and expand upwards. In some cases, this will be reflected in a cup, as the planks expand higher than the center, or a crown, when the center expands over the rest of the planks.
This usually happens if the humidity comes from below, such as a basement, which is why we advise keeping the temperature throughout the entire house under control. However, improper treatment for cupping can produce crowning: that is, sanding the surface before it has time to completely dry.
Cracking
Finally, if the humidity levels rise too much, your solid wood will experience severe expansion. This expansion, as we mentioned above, comes from sponging the moisture in the air, but in this specific situation, that may lead to cracking. Since the planks are installed with a determined width from the very beginning, once they grow, they will push against each other and crack. Similar to splinting, the only way to restore the integrity of your investment is to replace it whole.
What Are The Ideal Temperature And Humidity Levels For Your Hardwood Floors?
We humans have a certain comfort level for warmth and humidity, before we start to suffer the consequences of heat stress and other illnesses. Wood floors are the same. Particularly during the summer months, your investment might experience the symptoms we mentioned in the sections above. To avoid any harm coming to your floor, it’s essential to maintain an ideal humidity for hardwood floors in the property.
The optimal humidity level is exactly the same for humans, between 30 and 50%. If it goes above those numbers, then you risk your investment growing in size, causing the planks to change in shape, and either crack or twist. Permanently. So while it may be tempting to expect the change in weather to restore the shape and size of your hardwood floors, the truth is once the damage happens, it will stay the same way until you install a new flooring.
We advise that during summer or warm spring days, check the moisture levels and, if they go above 50% (exotic woods might still be safe up to 70%), follow our tips to maintain an ideal humidity range.
Tips To Regulate Moisture And Protect Your Hardwood Floors
We can’t control the weather (as much as we wish to some days), but we have power over the moisture inside our home. Below are our specialist’s recommended tips to keep the ideal wood temperature and humidity levels.
- Listen to your contractor’s advice: Different floors will have different optimal humidity levels. Most are in perfect condition between 30-50%, but your contractor can determine if your investment is safe on 60% of water levels. Particular exotic woods can still thrive on 70%, but once again–only the professionals will be able to tell.
- Lower the moisture in the air with a dehumidifier: Keep a thermostat in the house and regularly check the temperature. If it goes above 80 °F and you sense it’s too humid inside your property, use a dehumidifier to dry the air around your home, and bring it back to the ideal levels.
- Clean your investment with specialized products: Cleaning is part of the maintenance job to protect your hardwood floors over the years. It also prevents water from sitting on your investment for long periods of time. If there are any spills or flooding in the area, we recommend draining the liquid quickly and cleaning the surface with solutions that are safe for your floors.
- Inspect the condition of your HVAC system: A damaged air conditioner or heater can raise moisture levels. If it isn’t promptly repaired, it can produce an excess of humidity in your home. Regulate the moisture by constantly tending to your HVAC system. That way, you can prevent mold or cracking from threatening the integrity of your investment.
Maintain Your Hardwood Floors Safe With Davila Floors & Tiles!
Regulating the humidity levels inside your home, particularly during the summer months, will protect your investment from water damage, and reduce continuous repairs and, over the years, replacement. Our wood floor installers assist you in finding the perfect moisture levels for your property, and provide seasonal care tips to keep your beloved hardwood flooring in perfect condition.
Or, if you’re already experiencing the effects of high humidity levels, we also provide swift repair to all types of damage! Contact us at (614) 707-9492 to know more!