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How Do You Acclimate Laminate Flooring?

Writer Rachel Davis

What is the best way to get laminate flooring used to your home? Make sure the cartons are positioned in the middle of the floor in the room where they will be installed. Keep them out of the way of the building’s exterior. Before installing them, let them sit for at least 48 hours.

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Do I really need to let laminate flooring acclimate?

To minimize movement, laminate flooring must be acclimatized immediately prior to installation. Before beginning to lay the floor in the room of installation, the standard time frame is 48 hours.

Can you stack laminate flooring to acclimate?

It is possible to stack your laminate flooring, but make sure to lay it down as flat as possible. More time is better, but a minimum of 48 to 72 hours is recommended for optimal results.

What happens if you don’t acclimate laminate?

Acclimating laminate flooring before installation reduces the chance of the planks contracting or expanding from their installed position due to the room’s current humidity and temperature. If the planks expand or contract, this can cause buckling or gaps at the joints.

How long do you need to let laminate flooring acclimate?

Even though laminate flooring isn’t technically made from wood, it does expand and contract in response to changes in humidity. As a result, it requires a period of adjustment before it can be installed. A two-to-three-day acclimation period is generally recommended by manufacturers.

What happens if wood flooring is not acclimated?

The cupping, warping, and gapping of hardwood planks can occur if they aren’t allowed to acclimate to their environment before installation.

What happens if you don’t stagger laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring that isn’t properly staggered is more prone to separating from the boards it is attached to. As a last resort, the boards may lift or shift out of place in extreme circumstances.