Keys to a Successful Installation Preparation

Throughout September I received several installation based questions, many of which were the unfortunate few who have problems after installation because certain key parts of the installation process were either unknown or skipped over. For October’s editorial I am going to help break down the preparation needed for the installation process and explain the keys to ensuring your install goes smoothly and your floor performs well for years to come.
After going through the process of finding that floor of your dreams and getting it to your home the first thing I can stress is patience. The installation process is not something to rush.
Preparation
This is the most important part of installation and is broken down into several different important factors: Acclimation, Inspection, Measuring and Subfloor Prep.
Acclimation
Your wooden floor, as solid and unmoving as it is now, was once a living, breathing, growing object. As such, it is organic and will inevitably have reactions to other natural factors. These factors include temperature, moisture, and humidity – factors that are all present in your home. Acclimation (also acclimatization) is a process that allows wood to adjust to its new environment. By leaving the floors inside the room for a certain period of time, the natural moisture content of the wood is able to adjust to the relative normal conditions of where it will be installed. In the long run, this crucial first step will help prevent the gapping, swelling or buckling of floors after installation.
When flooring material is delivered to a job site, you should use a moisture meter to check the moisture content of the hardwood floors before installation. The wood will acclimate to the indoor humidity and temperature in about three or four days. Some professionals even recommend that you bring the hardwood floors into your home for a minimum of two weeks for best results. I tend to suggest a week of acclimation or more in certain environments where it is more humid.
The process of getting your wood floors properly acclimated is quite simple:
Check jobsite conditions.
The area’s temperature and humidity conditions must be measured prior to installation. Moisture levels should not exceed 12-14%.
Check weather conditions before having the floors delivered.
There’s a very good chance that if your boards are delivered during a damp or rainy day, these will absorb moisture. Similarly, if floors are installed under these conditions, you can expect some shrinking and cracking within a few months after installation.
Check if plastering and painting have been completed.
Moisture evaporates from damp walls straight into the air inside the house, and some of this will definitely be absorbed by the wood floor. Do not have your floors delivered until after paint is completely dry.
Check the ambient humidity at the jobsite.
In many cases, installation will be done when the occupants of the house are away and when heating or cooling is turned off. This results in a differential humidity level than when occupants of the house are at home and the heater or air conditioner is turned on. The goal of acclimatizing floors is to let it adjust to normal living conditions; hence, you should make the necessary adjustments.
Stack flooring boxes in proper fashion to allow for best acclimation
When boxes of flooring are stacked properly this will allow for even acclimation across each plank to the environment of the room where it is to be installed. Stack the boxes in a Lincoln log like fashion where each box has minimal contact with boxes in the upper and lower rows. This will allow for maximum air floor around the boxes and even acclimation of your floor. Although it is usually not necessary to open the boxes, you can open them to help this process.
Inspection
Inspection is critical to ensure damaged or defective pieces of flooring are not installed. Your first inspection should occur when your floor is picked up from a store or delivered to your home. Ensure there is no damage to the outside of the cartons. As long as there is no visible damage to the boxes, it is likely there is no damage to the flooring inside as well.
After acclimation, inspect each plank of flooring and ensure to look for the following:
Damaged Planks
This can include splits, cracks, dents or problems in the finish of the floor such as spotting, flaking, bubbling or blotches.
Warped or Mis-milled Planks
Make sure that your planks are not warped (such as bowing or twisting) and ensure the milling is proper. Make sure the plank has square edges and that the tongue and groove or locking mechanism is properly sized and undamaged.
Subfloor Prep
This is key to ensuring your installation goes smoothly. The basic rule is to ensure that your subfloor is clean, flat and dry.
Ensure your subfloor is flat
This will involve getting out a level and checking to ensure your floor is level. If you subfloor’s height changes 1/4″ or more over 20ft you should look into using a self leveling compound to level your subfloor out.
Make sure your subfloor is clean
Remove left over staples, nails or remnants of previous flooring. Also make sure to remove over spray or splatters from drywall mud and paint. Sweep up dust and dirt after removing everything to ensure your floor is clean. Avoid washing your floor and do NOT leave any moisture on the subfloor before installation.
Rack out your floor
This process involves laying out your floor to arrange boards and prepare for cuts visually. This also will allow you to arrange flooring boards to get an even look and mix grains of planks to get a desired visual appearance.
Measuring
Although you will have already measured your floor to determine how much flooring you needed, you will also want to remeasure to determine cuts and how you will layout your floor. Important measurements include the cut pieces, near corners or vents and through doorways. Take your time with measurements and ensure to double check before making any cuts. Most of this measuring will be done during the subfloor prep process.