Protect Your Floor: Controlling airborne moisture to benefit your wood flooring

Humidity is simply a high degree of moisture in the air, which when it is greeted with a cooler temperature results in condensation. Such levels of moisture can lead to warping, mildew growth or wood rot in the long term. This can affect your flooring, as well as other key structural components, and can mean big expenses in the long term. Therefore, moisture control is most definitely worth your attention in the short term. For hardwood flooring of course, high levels of humidity or moisture of any kind can really work against their natural beauty. Here are some of the strategies to protect your flooring that you may wish to consider when faced with an interior environment known to hold in humidity.

• Invest in a high-quality dehumidifier – Remember, spending a little extra on a quality, high functioning dehumidifier is less expensive than spending a lot more replacing your flooring, or other structural element! There are varieties of dehumidifiers which have a built-in evaporation function for all collected moisture. There are others which will allow you to attach a hose, in order to allow you to drain the moisture into a floor drain or nearby sink. In either case, a dehumidifier that will allow you to run it indefinitely without having to worry about emptying its reservoir is probably the most convenient model to consider for purchase.

• Put your ceiling or table fans to work - moving the air around the interior (and out of it) will discourage the collection of condensation on your surfaces, such as your flooring.

• Make sure that you have functioning exhaust fans for any bathrooms, particularly those with showers, and laundry rooms. Exhaust fans are designed for the sole purpose of removing damp, humid air out of your interior to discourage the growth of fungus and mildew. Ultimately, this will help to make sure that your flooring is protected, as well as the basic structure of your interior as well. Of course, the most important component in having exhaust fans in your bathroom is actually using them! Encourage this practice in all members of the household, employees or cleaning staff, if you are able.

• For flooring specifically, make sure you’ve chosen a quality vapor barrier and/or underlayment

As resistant to moisture as they are designed to be, laminate wood flooring, engineered hardwood flooring, bamboo flooring, or any other flooring solution you have chosen is vulnerable to a certain level of moisture. Solid hardwood flooring is particularly susceptible to being adversely affected by excessive moisture. There are some areas that cannot be considered for a hardwood flooring installation as a result. When considering a choice of flooring, work with your salesperson and get the facts. Become informed about which options should be best considered for your project relative to where you want to install the flooring. And always read your warranty information!

In taking steps to minimize moisture in your interior, you are proving yourself to be a protector of your own wise investment and the best ally your flooring has.

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