I have solid maple hardwood flooring that I've been acclimating in my room for about 4 days. My moisture meter shows it's at around 3%, and the subfloor reads about 6-8%. Both my room and the one below are air-conditioned. I read that the moisture content of the flooring should ideally be within 2% of the subfloor, but that's usually when the flooring is wetter. Should I wait longer before installing this flooring, or is it okay to go ahead? What could potentially go wrong?
3 Answers
Are you sure your moisture meter is accurate? 3% is unusually low for hardwood. Normal readings are more like 6-8%, which matches your subfloor. Check if you're using the right settings on your meter, too. If everything checks out and that reading stands, it’s probably best to wait a bit longer to let the flooring acclimate properly.
It's great that your hardwood is acclimating, but make sure it's unboxed so air can circulate around it. Ideally, you'd want the wood moisture up to around 7-9%. If it’s too dry, you might encounter issues. Maybe try turning off the AC for a bit? A bit of humidity could help raise the moisture level in the hardwood, which is preferable before installation. Just take your time with this; it can really pay off in the end!
Yeah, the hardwood has been unboxed and is leaning against a wall for better airflow.
If you go ahead with the installation, the worst outcomes could include cupping or warping over time. Your subfloor may be pulling moisture from below, and with the dry air from the AC, it could keep your hardwood drier than ideal. If your planks are narrow (like 3" wide or less), you might be okay, but with 5" planks, you could run into more issues. Consider using a moisture barrier if you decide to install now; that might help a bit!
Totally get your point. Since I have wider planks, I need to be cautious!
I'm not certain about the meter! Just using a pinless one, though I'm not sure if the softwood setting is right for my maple floor. The humidity is around 55% now.