Edit Article

wikiHow to Acclimatize Hardwood

Community Q&A

Hardwood changes in size and shape according to the environment. In dry climates, it loses moisture and shrinks; in humid climates it expands. It's therefore important to make sure any hardwood you're working with has the chance to adjust its moisture content before you start working with it. Particularly if you're planning to install a floor, you want to acclimatize hardwood or you may find your floor buckling or gaping a few weeks later.


  1. 1
    Buy your wood from a reputable manufacturer who has kiln-dried and stored it in climate controlled conditions before shipping it to you. The best manufacturers make sure their hardwood has been acclimatized to an environment of 45 percent humidity, which is the median for the U.S. and Canada. Avoid sources that are vague about how they acquire, prepare and ship their wood.
  2. 2
    Open the ends of the packages, but don't remove the planks. While air needs to circulate around the hardwood in order for it to adjust its moisture content, removing the planks will allow them to warp and change shape. If your project involves fitting the planks together, you may find it impossible to do.
    • Beware that, depending upon the environment and wood species, the boards on the ends of the carton may swell or shrink faster than those in the middle of the carton. Opening the ends of the box usually results in calling the retailer / manufacturer and saying the flooring is mis-milled. This will also delay your installation.
  3. 3
    Stack the packages so air can circulate around them. Place bricks, sticks or pieces of scrap wood between the packages or stack them in a staggered fashion. Be careful that you provide support every foot or so under the packages so they don't bow in the middle.
  4. 4
    Let the hardwood sit for at about 2 weeks, longer if the environment is considerably more or less humid than 45 percent. You can buy a wood moisture tester to check the water content of the wood and see if it falls in the correct range for your area. Don't begin your project until the wood is ready.
    • Acclimation is a process not a matter of days or weeks. You are trying to acclimate the material to normal living conditions. You should factor in the room temperature, relative humidity, the moisture content of the flooring and the subfloor. In addition to a moisture meter you need a hydrometer to tell you the relative humidity (RH) at your installation.
  5. 5
    Consider completing your hardwood project during a season when the humidity is not too high or too low. Fall and spring are generally better times than winter and summer, unless frequent rains are common. However, if you acclimate to normal living conditions you shouldn't have to wait for spring or fall to successfully install your hardwood floor.

Community Q&A

Unanswered Questions
Show more unanswered questions
Ask a Question
200 characters left



  • Acclimatizing hardwood for furniture building is as important as for flooring. Allow air-dried wood to sit for several months; you can use kiln-dried wood after a few weeks. Make sure that your woodshop is climate-controlled.
  • If you're building a house, wait to have your hardwood delivered until the subfloor, drywall and windows are installed and you have the ability to regulate the temperature inside. You want to stack the wood on the opposite side of the room from where the installation will begin.
  • Consider purchasing engineered hardwood, which is much less susceptible to changing shape when the humidity changes. Engineered hardwood consists of several thin layers that are glued together. After installation, they have the same look as regular hardwood planks.

Article Info

Categories: Wood Finishes and Treatments

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 21,526 times.

Did this article help you?