Had a whole section of engineered wood buckle on me in a Phoenix summer install

I was putting down this prefinished engineered oak in a big living room out in Scottsdale, maybe 500 square feet. The homeowner wanted it done fast before a party, so I agreed to a two-day schedule. I left the boxes in the garage overnight to acclimate, but the garage wasn't air-conditioned and it hit 110 degrees that day. Next morning, I started laying it and it seemed fine, but by the afternoon, a whole center section, maybe 8 planks wide, had these huge humps and gaps. The heat in the garage made the wood swell way more than the house's AC, so it contracted after I installed it. I ended up having to pull up that whole section, let the planks sit inside for another 24 hours, and redo it on day three. Cost me a full day's pay. Anyone else run into major acclimation issues in really dry or hot climates? How long do you guys wait when the temps are extreme?

3 comments

3 Comments

carr.luna2d ago

You left it in a hot garage and only gave it one night? That's asking for trouble. In Phoenix, I'd want that wood inside the actual living space with the AC running for at least three full days before I even think about installing it. The garage doesn't count as acclimating unless it's the same temp and humidity as the house, which it never is. That extra day of waiting would have saved you the day of rework.

the_spencer2d ago

It's like we're always rushing the last step after putting in all the work. @carr.luna is totally right about the garage not being the same as the house. I see this everywhere, people skip the final bit of patience and it ruins the whole project. Maybe it's just me but it feels like a weird human thing to get so close and then cut the corner that matters most.

kellyt262d ago

My uncle did floors in Tucson for 30 years. He always said the wood needs to sit in the room where it's going down, no shortcuts. A garage is a totally different environment.