Wooden floors are made of a natural material so elements such as water and moisture may affect your natural wooden floor. In the majority of homes where wooden floors exist, exposure to water or moisture will have no long term effects, but sometimes this isn’t the case.

Natural Behaviour

Wood will naturally change with the weather. Wood will contract during periods of minimum humidity and may expand during periods of high humidity. As wood is a natural material, it naturally contains a percentage of water as part of its make-up. The key is how to balance a wood’s natural moisture content with its role as your flooring.

It’s all in the cut

From the moment that a piece of timber is felled it begins to lose moisture. Lumber will be stored for a period of time before it is sawn and made into planks. While this process is taking place the wood is slowly losing more natural moisture and the wood can harden and change colour. In some places, the timber is also placed in a kiln to further reduce its moisture content. In normal circumstances the wood will be placed in a kiln to take its moisture content down to about 9%. If it is reduced completely the wood may become brittle and break. A small percentage of moisture keeps the wood subtle and workable.

Potential Sources of Moisture

• Construction Phase – if any water is trapped in between the framing during construction this will develop as moisture and may be significant.
• Ground Water – this is the natural level of the water table and not the water on the ground after rain.
• Surface Water – water that remains under or next to the foundations after heavy rains or due to poor drainage.
• Crawl Space – crawl spaces should be made to minimum heights. If water accumulates in the crawl space it may cause issues.
• Moisture from the House – from activities such as mopping the floor or even the steam from bathrooms. Spillages also contribute.
• Moisture from Mechanics – items such as air conditioners and central heating systems can let off moisture.
• Humidity – relative humidity that is experienced year round in northern Australian and in warmer months in southern Australia.

• Ensure that all wood is stored appropriately when delivered to your worksite. Don’t unload it in wet weather and store in a dry place.
• Ensure your building meets all requlations including crawl space size and that the drainage is well prepared and operational.
• Sweep and vacuum your wooden floors regularly. This will lessen the need for you to use a mop and water.
• Use a damp mop and avoid using a dripping mop or too much water. Keep away from harsh cleaning products, they can affect the seal.
• Clean up spillages with a cloth ASAP.
• Keep humidity under control by using air conditioning or a humidifier or dehumidifier. Small humidity absorbing units are available cheaply.

Is it important to understand that although moisture is part of wood’s natural compound, it doesn’t mean that wood can withstand excess moisture as well. Be careful and sensible with your wood floors and they will give you years of enjoyment.