Before starting a wood installation project in your home, there are key considerations to keep in mind. One of which is selecting the most suitable time of year for your flooring installation. While planning for your project, weigh the different pros and cons each season offers.
Especially in Iowa where our seasons differ so drastically, the time you install your new hardwood floors will vary depending on your home and family. Drawing upon our years of experience, we’ll shed light on the benefits and downsides of installing your hardwood floors during each season.
Benefits of Installing Hardwood Floors
Installing hardwood floors is more than just visual appeal. Hardwood floors are a beautiful addition to your home and serve practical and long-lasting advantages.
- Investment: Hardwood floors are a smart investment in your home. Their high return on investment (ROI) is sustained by their timeless beauty and resale value. According to the National Association of Realtors 2022 Remodeling Impact Report, installing new hardwood has a 118% ROI, and refinishing existing hardwood provides a whooping 147% ROI. Additionally, the easy cleaning of hardwood floors ensures durable flooring for generations to come.
- Air Quality Improvement: Regular sweeping and mopping of hardwood floors contribute to improved indoor air quality, creating a hypoallergenic environment. Also, hardwood floors are considered carbon-neutral, as they continue to hold carbon within themselves even after being cut and installed in your home.
- Sustainability: Hardwood floors are among the most sustainable flooring options available. The majority of hardwood flooring is sourced sustainably from forests, and it can be recycled or repurposed at the end of its use. The popularity of LVP floors over the last few years will have a devastating impact approximately 10-15 years from now. Millions of square feet of this non-recyclable product will end up filling landfills all over America.
Considerations During Seasonal Hardwood Floor Installations
After learning about the benefits of hardwood floors, you’re likely eager to take the next step in your installation project. However, before diving in, there are a few considerations that may determine when the best time of year is to have your hardwood floors installed. Factors such as humidity and weather can influence the timing and installation process, but ultimately, while you may prefer one season over another, any time is a great time to have your new hardwood floors installed.
Winter
Winter is the least busy time for hardwood flooring installation due to cold temperatures and low humidity in the air. Dry air is ideal for hardwood floor installations as it reduces the likelihood of moisture getting trapped beneath newly installed floorboards. This allows the floorboards to ‘settle,’ and when the weather warms up the boards will expand. So, don’t be alarmed if you notice minor gaps between the boards during winter installation; hardwood flooring naturally expands and contracts in response to humidity changes.
Opting for a winter installation helps prevent issues with contracting floorboards in the colder months ahead. Additionally, it provides more flexibility in project scheduling, as contractors typically have fewer projects during the winter months.
Summer
On the contrary, you may be thinking that summer isn’t an optimal time for flooring installation. However, it’s still a viable and realistic option. Having your floors installed during the summer gives you the perfect excuse to take that long-awaited vacation and avoid the inconvenience of the project altogether. Imagine leaving for a relaxing break and returning to brand-new hardwood floors.
To avoid contracting and other floorboard issues in the colder months following a summer installation, a simple solution exists. To mitigate this issue, bring the wood boards indoors and allow them to acclimate at least 7-10 days to indoor conditions. This waiting period allows the wood boards to acclimate to the indoor conditions, and with the professional expertise of Barnum Flooring, they can be installed to minimize the typical amount of gapping that occurs in winter.
Pro tip: Opt for narrower planks to create the illusion of less contraction and expansion, even though all boards contract and expand at the same rate. Also, rift and quartersawn minimize seasonal separation.
Fall and Spring
Historically, fall and spring compete for the title of the best season to install hardwood floors. These two seasons shine because they naturally create the optimal conditions for installation. With humidity levels ranging from 35 to 50 percent and indoor temperatures hovering around 60 to 75 degrees, the environment is more conducive for wood boards to settle and adhesives to firmly bond.
The mild weather puts less strain on your heating and cooling systems since you can leave doors and windows open during installation. By keeping windows and doors open, you can also encourage the smooth circulation of fresh air, helping dissipate any lingering fumes or odors.
During both Fall and Spring, the risk of excessive moisture absorption or drying out of your new hardwood floors due to weather is reduced. Furthermore, completing a flooring project before the holidays or the onset of summer parties offers a strategic advantage, allowing you to showcase your newly installed hardwood floors.
Have Barnum Install Your New Flooring Anytime of the Year
Surely, you’ve caught on—any time is a suitable time to have your hardwood floors installed! Thanks to modern HVAC systems, controlling your home’s temperature and humidity levels has become sophisticated and efficient.
With over 25 years of experience, Barnum Floors has the expertise to flawlessly install or refinish your hardwood floors throughout the year. Our photo gallery showcases a variety of completed hardwood projects, including new installations, refinishing, patterns, medallions, and more.
Get in touch with our Des Moines-Area Hardwood professionals today!
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