Acclimatising laminate flooring may sound complicated, but it is really a simple process. During this process, the laminate floor will adjust to the temperature and humidity of the room of installation. These factors will have an effect on how much a laminate floor will expand or contract after installation. To reduce the amount of movement it is essential to acclimate a laminate floor immediately before installation. The normal period is 48 hours within the room of installation before beginning to lay the floor. If the flooring is not acclimated correctly, it can result in warped flooring or excessive movement in the flooring after the installation, creating creaks, gaps, or causing damage.

Important On-Site Checks for Laminate Floors

Humidity in a room is a very important consideration. Often it is a critical factor when the house is a new build or over 40 years old. With recently laid screed or newly plastered or painted walls, the moisture content in a room can be extremely high. Therefore, the room is not suitable for laminate flooring installation. Wet trades such as plastering or painting must be finished before the floor is acclimated. It is also important to ensure that the temperature of the room is between 16-25 degrees Celsius. in addition, humidity levels must be within 35-65% (RH Scale). Humidity can be measured with a hygrometer, available in DIY stores.

Checking a Sub-Floor

When it comes to your sub-floor, we recommend that moisture is no more than 12% MC on a prong test for timber sub-floors or 3% MC using a concrete moisture metre across the sub-floor. If you install or acclimate a laminate floor outside these parameters, it can cause issues with expansion which cannot always be easily fixed and possibly leave you with a permanently damaged floor.

How Long To Acclimate Laminate Flooring?

Ensuring that the site is now within the advised parameters, most manufacturers consider a period of 24-72 hrs suitable to acclimate laminate flooring. This means leaving the laminate flooring packs in the room in which they are going to be laid.  Please use this as a guideline and follow the manufacturer’s specifics on the floor you have purchased. It is best practice to receive the floors a few days before you have a fitter install the floor.

Correct Storage for Laminate Floors

During the acclimatisation period, ensure that the sealed packs are left flat on the ground with a small gap between them. Storing them upright may save space but it can cause bowing in the boards making installation difficult. Take extra precaution on under-floor heating. Ensure each pack is stored individually and flat on the floor. The heating system should be turned on at a comfortable temperature for a minimum of 48 hours.

By following our guide, any laminate floor installation will no longer be affected by poor site conditions. Always read the manufacturer’s recommendations as laminate floors can vary. For installation information, read our guide to laying laminate flooring.