Installing a wood floor in the winter - in an unheated house?

Don’t do it–it would be a disaster you have to redo. Natural wood (non-engineered) expands and contracts a lot depending on humidity and temperature, even when properly installed,. You’d be putting the boards in cold with low relative humidity, so when the temp and humidity raise they would expand and pop and cup and you’d have to install an all-new floor. If there contractor says otherwise that’s his problem. Get the heat on for several days and at a stable temp throughout your house before attempting this. I’m not sure whether drywall and paint would affect humidity, others may know.

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in General Discussion 4 years and 7 months ago

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Guest User | 4 years and 7 months ago

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I’m shopping for floors but learned that the floor is supposed to be acclimated to the house for a few days before it’s installed. But our house is currently under renovation and has NO heat, so it’s quite cold… The salesman at NY Floors (near Lowes) told me that it’s a bad idea to install in a freezing cold house, that it really should be done at the average temperature (around 70 degrees) that the house will be later once heat is working…

Anyone agree or disagree with this? Contractor wants to get the floors done now, and it’s even before the drywall is installed and painted, which the floor salesman also said is not standard procedure… Frusttrating when you get better, more honest info from the salespeople than from your own GC!

stickerhappy | 4 years and 7 months ago

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Yes installing a solid wood floor in an unheated space plus with no time to acclimate to the future normal indoor condition is insane having researched and gone this process myself

stevecym | 4 years and 7 months ago

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check out what the National Wood Floor Manufacturers Association has to say about this, if anything. they have a great website.

cate | 4 years and 7 months ago

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My understanding is you can install the subfloor now. But if you install the finish floor boards now, then when summer heat and humidity comes, the floor boards are likely to cup, ruining them.