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How Humidity Affects Houston Texas Flooring – And What You Can Do About It!
Anyone living near the Gulf knows the ups and downs of a humid climate, but are you aware that it even affects your Houston Texas Flooring? The average relative humidity in Houston ranges from 85 to 93 percent in the morning, and from 60 to 67 percent in the afternoon. In contrast, for a room with floors made of materials such as wood or bamboo, the recommended humidity level is between 35 and 55 percent. Houston, we have a problem!
Indeed, high humidity is great for your plants and your complexion, but it definitely has a down side. It is annoying when it frizzes your hair, and it can be downright serious for those who suffer from upper respiratory conditions. When it comes to the floors in your home, high humidity levels can also have a detrimental affect on various types of flooring products, causing them to buckle, warp, crack, or develop gaps at seams or next to walls and fixtures.
Especially sensitive to humidity are floors made of Wood or bamboo. Both materials are fibrous, so they absorb or release moisture in order to equalize with their environment. The fiber saturation point occurs at around a 28 percent moisture content. When humidity levels in the environment change, wood or bamboo flooring materials either release moisture and shrink, or they absorb moisture and begin to swell. In either case, this shrinking or swelling can cause unsightly damage to your floors. Wood and bamboo materials become relatively stable only when they reach their saturation point. This is the reason that manufacturers of these flooring materials recommend maintaining a 35-55 percent humidity level in rooms with such floors. (Note that engineered hardwood flooring is usually more stable than solid hardwood flooring.)
Humidity also affects other types of flooring materials, even laminate. You may be surprised to learn that laminate flooring is not “just plastic”. In fact, it is constructed with a wood core, and therefore it can also be damaged by fluctuating humidity levels.
Cork is perhaps the least sensitive to humidity. However, because it is a natural product made from bark, it does react to changes in a humid environment. Even cork can be prone to the shrinking and swelling that can cause problems such as buckling and warping.
What is the solution? If you are building or remodeling, do yourself a favor and be informed. With flooring materials such as wood, bamboo, laminate, or cork, proper care must be taken with the initial flooring installation as well as during the life of the floor. When shopping, be certain to choose a reputable company with expertise in flooring installation. Their knowledge is invaluable when it comes to matters such as subfloor preparation and other requirements for specific flooring products. For example, if you have ever installed wood, bamboo, cork, or laminate flooring, you may have heard the term “acclimation”. This involves allowing your flooring materials to acclimate to the new environment before installation, and the process is a vital first step. Ignoring it can result in disaster, not to mention void your floor covering’s warranty.
For residents of Houston, Texas with flooring made of these products, how can you protect your beautiful new floors from the high humidity? Once the job is finished, using air conditioners certainly helps with humidity (and in Houston you need A/C for more than just your flooring!). As well, for a humidity level above 60 percent, which is nearly always the case in Houston, running dehumidifiers is a good way to prevent swelling and buckling of floors.
Remember that while acclimation is crucial prior to installation, and expert installation is a must, humidity levels are a concern for the life of your floor. Be sure to discuss this issue with your flooring dealer, and take the time to read the flooring manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations. Maintaining control of humidity levels in your home will not only ensure that your warranty remains intact, it will keep your Houston Texas flooring as beautiful as the day it was installed.
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For more information visit Houston Texas Flooring where you’ll find a vast selection of quality tile, carpet, hardwood, and other flooring products, plus expert installation.
About the Author
Susan is a Web Designer and Internet Entrepreneur who is passionate about spirituality, helping others build success in their lives and businesses, all things family, and anything geeky (technology related, that is).
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