After Installing Hardwood Floors, How Long Should I Wait Before Sanding?
Allow Hardwood Floors to Acclimate Prior not After Floor Installation
Is Hardwood Acclimatization Recommended After the Wood Floors are Installed?
Asked by John B. in Chicago, IL.
As a general rule, you'd want your hardwood floor to be left to acclimate prior to installing it.
So, if you allowed for it to acclimate for a minimum of 3-5 days, with the HVAC unit on and, ideally, the humidifier set at approximately 35%, you don't need to wait anymore, once your wood floor installation is completed.
However, if you made the mistake of bringing the wood floor in the house and installing it right away, once the installation is completed, you have your last chance to allow the floor to acclimate, prior to sanding and finishing it.
Let it sit for as long as you possibly can, with the HVAC unit on, as well as the humidifier.
In the winter time, I've seen unaclimated wood floors, shrink more than 3/16", after the heat was turned on. The last thing you want to do, is install the wood floors without acclimatization, sand and refinish them right away, just to have them start cracking, buckling or cupping, after the sanding is completed.
In case they were not allowed to acclimate prior to installation, I suggest you let them sit, for even as much as two weeks, if posible.
You will be surprised, how much they can move within such a short period of time.
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