Floor Acclimation Guide for Customers

Proper Acclimation Ensures Long-Lasting, High-Quality Flooring

Installing hardwood flooring requires the right environment before, during, and after installation. At WC Floors, we follow NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association) guidelines to ensure your wood performs as it should for decades.

This guide explains what acclimation is, why it matters, and what homeowners must do to prepare their home correctly.

1. What Is Floor Acclimation?

Acclimation is the process of allowing wood flooring to adjust to the temperature and humidity of your home before installation.
Wood is a natural material that expands and contracts with moisture—proper acclimation prevents:

✔ Warping
✔ Cupping
✔ Gaps between boards
✔ Buckling
✔ Premature floor failure

Every plank we bring into your home must stabilize to the environment where it will be installed.

2. NWFA-Required Environmental Conditions

For proper acclimation and installation, your home must be maintained at:

Temperature: 60–80°F (15–27°C)

Relative Humidity (RH): 30–50%

These ranges must be maintained:

During acclimation
During installation
After installation
All year long

Maintaining these conditions protects your investment and ensures manufacturer warranties remain valid.

3. How Long Does Acclimation Take?

The typical acclimation period is 3–7 days, but may vary depending on:

Season and weather
Humidity levels in your home
Wood species
Type of hardwood (solid vs engineered)
Manufacturer recommendations

WC Floors will confirm the exact acclimation time once your materials arrive.

4. What You Must Do Before Acclimation Begins

To ensure a successful installation, please complete the following steps:

✔ 1. Maintain proper home temperature & humidity

Start stabilizing your home at 60–80°F and 30–50% humidity at least 48 hours before wood is delivered.

✔ 2. Ensure HVAC is fully operational

Heating and cooling systems must be running and set to normal living conditions.

✔ 3. Complete all wet trades

Tile setting, drywall mudding, plaster, concrete, and painting must be finished and fully dry.

✔ 4. Clear the delivery area

Designate a clean, dry space where flooring boxes can be stored with airflow around them.

✔ 5. Ensure no water leaks or moisture issues

Any plumbing or moisture problem must be corrected before wood arrives.

5. What WC Floors Will Do During Acclimation

Our team will:

Deliver all flooring to your home
Stack materials for proper airflow
Monitor environmental conditions
Perform moisture testing on flooring and subfloors
Determine when the wood has reached optimal moisture balance
Notify you when installation is ready to begin

We follow strict NWFA testing standards to ensure your floors are ready.

6. What Happens If Acclimation Is Not Done Properly?

Failure to maintain the correct conditions can cause:

❌ Gaps between boards
❌ Cupping or crowning
❌ Cracking or splitting
❌ Excessive squeaking
❌ Finish failure
❌ Voided warranties

To prevent these issues, it is essential to maintain NWFA-approved conditions throughout the project.

7. After Installation: Continue Maintaining Proper Conditions

Your floors are still stabilizing in the first 30 days.
Please maintain:

Temperature: 60–80°F
Humidity: 30–50% RH

This protects the finish, prevents movement, and ensures long-term durability.

8. Customer Responsibility Acknowledgement

“I understand that maintaining NWFA-required temperature and humidity levels before, during, and after installation is my responsibility. Failure to do so may result in movement, damage, or voided warranties.”