Wood Floor Handling & Storage Recommendations

Hardwood Flooring manufactured is stored in dry, well-ventilated warehouses before shipment. Carriers which handle Wood Flooring are required to protect it during shipment to insure it is received in good condition. Abuses during shipment-particularly if the shipment has been wet-should be noted and reported immediately. Shipments are required to be tarped before leaving the premises. (Untarped shipments will be noted on bill of lading.)

The following are important recommendations for handling and storing Oak Flooring.

Unload in Dry Weather
If possible, unload flooring in good weather-never unload in the rain.

Delivery
If the atmosphere is damp, cover each truckload of flooring with a tarpaulin until it can be loaded. Never deliver or store unprotected flooring in rain, sleet, or snow.

Proper Warehousing
Kiln dried flooring should be stored in an enclosed building that is well-ventilated with weatherproof windows and located in areas where similar fine millwork is stored. The storage area within the building should be clean and dry. Provide good air circulation around stacks of flooring and prevent water drainage into the storage area.

Prevent Condensation
When air in a building is warmer than outside air, moisture may form on the underside of the non-insulated roof and affect flooring. Insulation in the roof or walls can prevent condensation. A covered area can also provide protection. If this is not possible, all top pallets should be covered with polyethylene film or other waterproof covering. The building should not be heated, unless temperatures are maintained and controlled humidity provided. Continual dry heat may dry flooring below its manufactured moisture content. Too dry flooring could result in buckled floors when flooring is delivered to the job and immediately installed without proper acclimation.

Moisture Content
Oak Flooring is manufactured at 6-9% moisture content. It is desirable to maintain this average moisture content as closely as possible.

Acclimate Stock
Recently manufactured flooring should be allowed to acclimate to the area. This helps prevent cracks which may result if the flooring is installed while at a higher moisture content, oversized, and later shrinks.

Rotate Stock
Maintain a first in-first out policy. Flooring which is received first should be the first shipped out. Maintain separate flooring stacks-one stack for the older flooring and one for the newly received flooring. Do not place new flooring on top of the old at any time. Use the oldest flooring before using the new.

Regularly Check Storage Area
Be sure there are no roof leaks, wall leaks, or condensation problems. Cracks in concrete block walls can permit rain or melting snow to leak on flooring. A monthly check is preferred.