STEP 1: PRE-INSTALLATION
Site Inspection
Prior to installing hardwood floors, the building must be structurally complete and enclosed, including installation of exterior
doors and windows. Concrete, masonry, drywall, and paint must also be complete, allowing adequate drying time as to
not raise moisture content within the building.
HVAC systems must be fully operational at least 14 days prior to flooring installation, maintaining a consistent room
temperature between 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity between 35-55%. This not only stabilizes the
building’s interior environment, but also is essential when acclimating hardwood flooring to the job-site.
Exterior grading, directing drainage away from the structure, as well as gutters and downspouts should also be completed.
Floors can only be installed on or above grade level and are not recommended in full bathrooms.
It is essential that basements and crawl spaces are dry. Crawl spaces must be a minimum of 24" from the ground to
underside of joists. A vapor barrier must be established in crawl spaces using 6 mil polyethylene (poly) film with joints
overlapped and taped.
During the final pre-installation inspection, sub-floors must be checked for moisture content using the appropriate metering
device for wood.
STEP 2: EQUALIZING HARDWOOD FLOORING
Wood is a porous material with a natural cellular structure that expands and contracts depending on the amount of relative
humidity present in the surrounding atmosphere. Equalizing moisture content to the job-site equilibrium point before
installation is paramount to stabilizing movement after installation.
Handle and unload hardwood flooring with care and store within the environmentally controlled site in which it is expected
to perform. Flooring stored upon “on-grade” concrete floors should be elevated at least four inches to allow air circulation
under cartons. Hardwood flooring must acclimate for as long as necessary to meet minimum installation requirements for
moisture content. Using the equilibrium moisture content chart below, determine the proper moisture content for the
installation. Always use a moisture meter to determine where the flooring and present job-site conditions are in relation to
the projected final equilibrium point taking into account seasonal changes.
Equilibrium Moisture Content Chart
Temp. Relative Humidity, Percent
5 101520253035 4045 50556065 7075 80859095 98
30° F 1.4 2.6 3.7 4.6 5.5 6.3 7.1 7.9 8.7 9.5 10.4 11.3 12.4 13.5 14.9 16.5 18.5 21.0 24.3 26.9
40° F 1.4 2.6 3.7 4.6 5.5 6.3 7.1 7.9 8.7 9.5 10.4 11.3 12.4 33.5 14.9 16.5 18.5 21.0 24.3 26.9
50° F 1.4 2.6 3.6 4.6 5.5 6.3 7.1 7.9 8.7 9.5 10.3 11.2 12.3 13.4 14.8 16.4 18.4 20.9 24.3 26.9
60° F 1.3 2.5 3.6 4.6 5.4 6.2 7.0 7.8 8.6 9.4 10.2 11.1 12.1 13.3 14.6 16.2 18.2 20.7 24.1 26.8
70° F 1.3 2.5 3.5 4.5 5.4 6.2 6.9 7.7 8.5 9.2 10.1 11.0 12.0 13.1 14.4 16.0 17.9 20.5 23.9 26.6
80° F 1.3 2.4 3.5 4.4 5.3 6.1 6.8 7.6 8.3 9.1 9.9 10.8 11.7 12.9 14.2 15.7 17.7 20.2 23.6 26.0
90° F 1.2 2.3 3.4 4.3 5.1 5.9 6.7 7.4 8.1 8.9 9.7 10.5 11.5 12.6 13.9 15.4 17.3 19.8 23.3 26.0
100° F 1.2 2.3 3.3 4.2 5.0 5.8 6.5 7.2 7.9 8.7 9.5 10.3 11.2 12.3 13.6 15.1 17.0 19.5 22.9 25.6
From the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture “Wood Handbook — Wood as an Engineering Material”
57
(800) 525-BR111(2711)
•
Fax (800) 577-2711
•
www.br111.com
33
33
//
//
44
44
""
""
SS
SS
OO
OO
LL
LL
II
II
DD
DD
II
II
NN
NN
SS
SS
TT
TT
AA
AA
LL
LL
LL
LL
AA
AA
TT
TT
II
II
OO
OO
NN
NN
II
II
NN
NN
SS
SS
TT
TT
RR
RR
UU
UU
CC
CC
TT
TT
II
II
OO
OO
NN
NN
SS
SS
(continued)
Indusparquet
®
8/30/04
