How to Prevent Humidity from Dyeing and Graying Your Wood Floors

Wood flooring brings warmth and beauty to any room. It’s also a natural, low-maintenance alternative to tile or linoleum that doesn’t require special cleaners or maintenance—just a quick sweep every couple of days. Wood floors, however, have one drawback: They don’t like humidity. And if you live in an area with high humidity like many coastal cities, your wood floors could be prone to warping, shrinking, and even graying from exposure to moisture.

To prevent these issues from happening, humidity controls are installed in homes with high humidity levels. These controls help keep the humidity in check so it doesn’t get too low or too high.

If you don’t have humid control in your home but want to install wood flooring anyway, there are some steps you can take to limit the impact of humidity on your new floor.

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Know Your Humidity Levels

Humidity levels are measured on a scale from 0 to 100%. What percentage of humidity is high enough to affect your wood flooring? First, you’ll have to figure out the level of humidity in your specific area.

Humidity levels are typically higher in coastal cities because of the presence of saltwater nearby. When warm, moist air near the ocean meets cold air above, it creates a fog called “sea fog”.

This fog is made of water droplets that fall as rain when they reach land. Because it’s humid air, it doesn’t cool as quickly as dry air and remains at a higher temperature.

Install a Vapor Retarder

If the humidity levels in your home are (relatively) high and you don’t have a humidifier on your HVAC system, you may want to install a vapour retarder. These are thick, water-repellent fabrics that you mount on the inside of your walls or crawl spaces.

They’re often found in very humid areas, like coastal cities, and in areas with lots of snow and rainfall. Vapor retarders can be a good short-term solution until the humidity in your home is under control. They keep excess moisture from coming through your walls, which can cause mold and rot to grow. They also help keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer by reducing moisture in the air.

Install a Humidifier

If humidity levels in your home are low, you can install a humidifier. Humidifiers work like dehumidifiers: they add moisture to the air. An installed humidifier will add water to the air and help bring the humidity levels up to a healthy level.

When humidity is low, wood floors shrink and warp much more easily.

As the wood dries out, it shrinks, which causes warping and cracking. Humidifiers prevent this by keeping the wood moist. Ventilation systems can also be set up to distribute humid air through the home. With humidity properly managed, your wood flooring will not only be safer, but also last longer.

Install an Air Conditioner

If the humidity levels in your home are too high, you can lower them by installing an air conditioner. Air conditioners reduce humidity by removing moisture from the air and replacing it with drier air. Air conditioners are often found in areas that have high humidity—like coastal cities.

Even if you don’t live in an area with humid air, you may want to install an air conditioner if your wood floors are in an area that gets very hot and humid during the summer. High humidity levels combined with extremely hot temperatures can cause your wood floors to warp and expand, even if they’re installed in a lower-humidity part of the house.

Don’t Forget the Ventilation

If you’re installing a humidifier or air conditioner, it’s important to remember to keep your windows open while they’re running. Humidifiers and air conditioners pull air into the house, which can cause indoor pollution levels to rise. Air conditioners also pull warm air out of the house and let it cool outside, which can lower indoor temperatures, making it necessary to open a window to keep the indoor temperature comfortable.

Keeping indoor humidity levels in check is key to keeping your wood floors safe and beautiful for years to come. When humidity levels are too high or too low, your wood can shrink, warp, or even become discolored. The best way to prevent these issues is to install humidifiers and air conditioners in strategic locations in your home. With the proper equipment in place, you can rest easy knowing that your wood flooring will be safe from the damaging effects of humidity. And with gorgeous wood floors in your home, you’ll be able to enjoy their beauty for years to come.

Conclusion

Humidity can damage any type of wood flooring, but that doesn’t mean your floor is doomed. To keep your floor protected, you can install humidifiers and air conditioners in strategic locations in your home. With the proper equipment in place, you can rest easy knowing that your wood flooring will be safe from the damaging effects of humidity. With gorgeous wood floors in your home, you’ll be able to enjoy their beauty for years to come.