How to Acclimate Flooring Materials
The most commonly skipped step that ruins new floors. Flooring materials expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes. Acclimating them to your home's conditions before installation prevents buckling, gaps, and warping. This waiting period is mandatory, not optional.
Quick Summary
Time needed
48-72 hours
Cost
$0
Difficulty
Very Easy
Why Acclimation Is Non-Negotiable
Your flooring just spent weeks in a warehouse, then sat in a truck, then maybe in your garage. The temperature and humidity in those places are completely different from your living room. Wood and wood-based materials are hygroscopic - they absorb and release moisture from the air.
Critical Warning: Installing flooring before proper acclimation is the number one cause of DIY flooring failures. You'll see buckling in humid months and gaps in dry months. Most manufacturers will void your warranty if you skip acclimation. There are no shortcuts here.
When flooring is too dry or too wet compared to your room, it will change size after installation. If it's dry and absorbs moisture, it expands and has nowhere to go - causing buckling and lifted planks. If it's moist and dries out, it shrinks and creates gaps between planks.
How to Properly Acclimate Flooring
Step 1: Check Manufacturer Requirements
Open your installation instructions and find the acclimation requirements. Different materials need different times:
- •Solid hardwood: 5-7 days minimum
- •Engineered hardwood: 48-72 hours
- •Laminate: 48-72 hours
- •Luxury vinyl plank (LVP): 24-48 hours
- •Bamboo: 5-7 days
Step 2: Set Room Conditions
The room must be at living conditions during acclimation. This means the same temperature and humidity the floor will experience year-round.
Ideal Conditions:
- • Temperature: 65-75°F (18-24°C)
- • Humidity: 35-55% relative humidity
- • Climate control: Run HVAC normally
- • No extreme changes: Keep consistent
If installing in winter, the heat must be on. If installing in summer, the AC should run. Don't acclimate in a hot garage then install in an air-conditioned house - the conditions must match.
Step 3: Remove All Packaging
This is where people go wrong. You can't acclimate flooring in sealed boxes. The plastic wrap and cardboard prevent air circulation.
Proper Unpacking:
- ✓Open every box with a box cutter
- ✓Remove all plastic wrapping from bundles
- ✓Separate planks or tiles with air gaps
- ✓Spread materials across the room
- ✓Stack loosely if needed (not in tight piles)
Step 4: Position in Installation Room
Materials must acclimate in the room where they'll be installed. Don't acclimate in your garage, basement, or another room with different conditions.
Important: Spread flooring across the subfloor if possible. Don't stack all boxes in one corner. The more surface area exposed to room air, the better the acclimation.
Step 5: Wait the Full Time
Mark your calendar and resist the urge to start early. The full acclimation period is necessary even if the material "looks fine."
During the Wait:
- • Maintain consistent room temperature
- • Don't open windows in extreme weather
- • Keep pets and children away from materials
- • Use this time to prep tools and read instructions
- • Inspect planks for damage while waiting
Professional Tips
Use a Moisture Meter
Professional installers use moisture meters to test both the subfloor and flooring materials. They should be within 2-4% of each other. You can rent a moisture meter from Home Depot for about $20. This removes guesswork and confirms proper acclimation.
Add Extra Days in Extreme Climates
If you live in very humid or very dry climates, add an extra day or two beyond the minimum. If materials were stored in extreme cold or heat (delivery truck in January), give them longer to stabilize.
Inspect While You Wait
Since you're opening all the boxes anyway, inspect every plank for damage, color variation, or defects. It's much easier to return damaged pieces now than after installation. Lay out some planks to see the color variation and plan your pattern.
Don't Acclimate in the Box
Some people think just bringing boxes into the house for 3 days counts as acclimation. It doesn't. The sealed packaging prevents moisture exchange. You must open and spread materials out.
Acclimation Mistakes to Avoid
Starting installation after 24 hours
"Close enough" doesn't work. If manufacturer says 48 hours, wait 48 hours minimum. Cutting corners here causes expensive failures. The extra day won't hurt, but installing early will.
Leaving materials in boxes
Sealed packaging prevents proper acclimation. Air must circulate around all surfaces. Open every box and remove plastic wrapping.
Acclimating in a different room
Your basement, garage, or spare bedroom has different humidity than the installation room. Materials must acclimate in the exact space where they'll be installed.
Not controlling room temperature
Turning off heat or AC during acclimation defeats the purpose. Maintain normal living conditions - the same climate the floor will experience year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to acclimate flooring before installing?
Wood and wood-based flooring materials expand and contract based on temperature and humidity. If you install flooring straight from a warehouse or truck, it hasn't adjusted to your home's climate. After installation, it will expand or contract, causing buckling, gaps, or warping. Acclimation lets the material stabilize before you lock it in place.
How long does flooring need to acclimate?
Most flooring needs 48-72 hours (2-3 days) in the installation room. Solid hardwood may need up to 7 days. Engineered wood and laminate typically need 48 hours minimum. Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) needs 24-48 hours. Always check your manufacturer's specific requirements - installing before proper acclimation voids most warranties.
Do I need to open the boxes during acclimation?
Yes, absolutely. Remove all flooring from boxes and packaging. Stack planks loosely with air gaps between them, or spread them across the floor. Air needs to circulate around all surfaces. Leaving materials in sealed boxes prevents proper acclimation and defeats the purpose of waiting.
Does luxury vinyl plank need to acclimate?
Yes, even though LVP is more stable than wood, it still needs 24-48 hours to acclimate. Vinyl expands and contracts with temperature changes. The material needs to reach room temperature before installation. If you install cold LVP, it will expand as it warms, potentially causing buckling.
Ready for the Next Step?
Now that your flooring has acclimated to room conditions, it's time to plan the layout pattern to minimize waste and create the best visual effect.