ATURAL al floorcoverings and gives his tips on how to keep them pristine by managing moisture content
ENGINEERED WOOD While hardwood flooring is a thick layer of solid wood pieces, engineered wood is a thin top layer of hardwood that has been bonded to layers of high-quality plywood. This is done to prevent the floor from physically shifting as humidity levels fluctuate.
Because of the way engineered wood is manufactured, it’s more resistant to movement than solid hardwood and won’t warp as easily when it comes into contact with moisture, but it’s by no means immune.
MOISTURE MANAGEMENT While moisture is an important consideration for synthetic flooring, managing moisture is vital when it comes to natural flooring; if not properly managed it can lead to unsightly buckling, crowning, and cupping.
A USEFUL TOOL FOR MANAGING
MOISTURE CONTENT Moisture meters are small, hand-held devices that measure the moisture content of wood and other materials. They’re used prior to installation as too much or too little moisture in natural materials like wood, cork, and bamboo can cause serious problems. In fact, even after installation, natural flooring may still be subject to the negative effects of fluctuating ambient conditions, so you’ll want to address that too.
HARDWOOD Hardwood floors are available everywhere and are created using thick pieces of solid timber which is then installed over a plywood base.
Wood’s hygroscopic nature means that hardwood floors probably shouldn’t be used in moisture-prone areas such as basements and bathrooms. However, some finishes can increase the wood’s ability to resist moisture.
CORK Cork flooring is created by grinding up the cork found on the cork oak tree, compressing it, and then forming biodegradable resin-bound sheets.
Cork is on-trend right now because it’s a renewable resource in that it’s harvested without harming the tree so grows back and can be harvested over again. It’s also hypoallergenic and can be cleaned by simply sweeping or vacuuming.
Cork flooring has a finish over it that will protect it from moisture. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t get damaged by moisture. High humidity levels will cause the cork to swell and curl. In some cases, the individual cork tiles might even pop out.
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This is why it makes sense for owners of natural flooring to use a pinless wood moisture meter like the Wagner Orion 950 to manage their floor’s moisture content. It not only measures the moisture content in wood but the ambient temperature and relative humidity as well. It even calculates the Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) of wood, allowing you to know what moisture content the wood will eventually equilibrate to in that environment, and even has Bluetooth connectivity to a free smart device app for data recording and easy, comprehensive reporting.
Another useful tool is Wagner’s Smart Logger. It will allow you to monitor ambient conditions for temperature and relative humidity spikes and is capable of logging 12,000 readings over 300 days of replaceable battery life. This makes it easy for a flooring installer to have a conversation with the property owner about the proper care and monitoring of their ‘living, breathing’ floor so that it will last a long time — a win for both the installer and the owner.
Natural floors are a beautiful addition to any home or commercial space and will last for years with proper care. This includes carefully monitoring the moisture content of the natural materials both during and after installation since a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly flooring choice becomes the exact opposite if you need to tear it up and replace it.
www.wagnermeters.com NATURAL FLOORING | 19
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