Let’s Face It: Our High Desert Climate and Hardwood Floors Don’t Always Mix Well
Our high desert climate here in the Reno/Tahoe region requires specific considerations when installing and maintaining hardwood floors. Problems common to our area can include cupping, warping and very often because of our drier climate, shrinking, conditions which can escalate quickly, if not addressed in a timely manner by competent professionals. Anything which exposes the unfinished edges or undersides of your hardwood floor to the elements, for any significant amount of time, will only cause those problems to grow.
The industry magazine Hardwood Floors, published online by the National Wood Flooring Association, covers those topics in great detail. The general consensus is that a local expert in area specific climates will always be the best choice to install and maintain your hardwood flooring. Knowing the best specific kinds of woods to use, the best techniques and other professional trade craft is how a professional builds their reputation within a community.
What Problems to Look For
Winter and Summer, low relative humidity (RH) in our region can cause shrinking. Look for small gaps growing between slats, most notably where the ends meet. Moisture content in the wood can cause it to expand or contract, and our climate tends to the dry side. Using harder, denser woods like oak can stop shrinking before it happens. There are also prep techniques like quartersawn flooring, which shrinks about half as much as standard flatsawn, under the same moisture change conditions. Shrinking which is occurring in currently installed hardwood floors can be addressed in a number of ways. An inspection by a trained professional is recommended.
Cupping is just the opposite problem. A higher RH will cause your hardwood flooring to swell. That in turn will force the edges to rise perceptibly. The best solution to remove excess moisture from the room (or rooms) where the cupping is occurring is to use a dehumidifier or a standard home air conditioner. The wood slats will return to their original, flat surface once moisture content within the wood has normalized. Shaving, sanding or planing the edges down to flat, which may look like a viable cure, should only be considered by competent professionals under very specific circumstances.
Get It Done Right the First Time
A hardwood floor is a long term source of pride and value in any building. Hardwood floors are a beautiful, healthy alternative to carpeting, and can be seen as a work of art. Artisan Hardwood Floors is built on the idea that we are Artisans, not merely craftsmen. Our years of experience here in the Reno/Tahoe region have taught us how to compensate for the fluctuating, high desert climate we live in.
If you would like to set aside a time to meet with me, so we can discuss your hardwood floors and how affordable our work is, please contact me right away. I look forward to serving you.
Sorin Giurca