Our Carpet Call service team often
receive calls from worried customers who notice that their timber flooring has
changed colour since they had it installed and are worried what else may
happen. Do not be alarmed.
Our Carpet Call timber expert
explained to me that of course your timber flooring will change and there are
two things you need to know about timber floors
1.
Timber
is natural
2.
Timber
is hygroscopic
Carpet Call timber teams run educational
sessions for our store sales teams on the characteristics of timber flooring.
All Carpet Call Timber will adjust to its
environment and must adapt to reach its EMC
Equilibrium Moisture Content. Timber will expand or shrink depending on the
temperature and humidity of its environment.
Carpet Call installers regularly remind our
teams that there are a number of factors that can affect the EMC and changes in
your timber flooring which may result in shrinkage or expansion of your timber
·
Heating
which has the effect of lowering the EMC in the house. In cool temperate
climates this can create quite a dry internal environment. The environment in
the upper level of a heated two storey house is often drier than the lower
storey
·
Continuous
use of refrigerated air-conditioning can severely reduce the moisture content
in your house resulting in both
shrinkage and expansion of timber floors
·
Full length windows,
skylights or large glass areas allow direct sunlight to flood a room increasing
room temperatures and lowering moisture causing flooring to shrink.
·
Homes
close to a dam, ocean or river can be affected by increased moisture resulting
in expansion of timber floors
·
Dry
northerly winds can lower the humidity of a home increasing chances of timber
flooring shrinkage
·
Climatic
variations throughout the year can result in both shrinkage and expansion of
timber flooring