Remember, hardwood is a living material which reacts to changes in relative humidity. All movement in a wood floor is due to moisture. Therefore, the more constant the moisture content is maintained, the less likely there will be any problems with the floor.
Gaps between the boards, checks/cracks and luster cracking are a result of the moisture content being too low. Warping or cupping is the result of the moisture content being too high or uneven. To avoid this, maintain a relative humidity of 35%-55% inyour home at all times to reduce the natural expansion andcontraction of wood.
Sometimes moisture levels rise considerably after a floor has been installed. Several factors effect moisture levels in your home. Some examples are:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Ground water tables
- Hydrostatic pressure (concrete sub-floors)
- Drainage around your home
- Landscaping
- Leaky pipes
- Crawl space ventilation
It is the homeowner’s responsibility to make sure a 6-8 mil vaporbarrier is installed in their crawl space, when applicable.
Avalon Flooring can not warrant nor guarantee any floor that is affected by moisture after it has been installed.
Some of the factors listed above are controllable such as: temperature, humidity levels, drainage, landscaping, leaky pipes,crawl space ventilation and vapor barriers.
It is the sole responsibility of the homeowner to monitor and control the above mentioned factors in their home. Ground water tables and hydrostatic pressure are not controllable and therefore not covered by any warranty.