We are getting ready to install 3/4" prefinished hardwood flooring. Can you acclimate the wood by just opening the boxes or do you have to spread it out on the floor? It has been in our closed unfinished, but heated only to about 55 degrees, house for 3 months.

Does the flooring have to be installed perpindicular to the joists?

Yes the floor should be installed perp. to the floor joist in most cases. The floor needs to be within 2-3 points of what the subfloor moisture content .

Thanks for reply.

I wanted to know if there would/could be problems with just having the finished surface of the top layer of each carton exposed to the air in the home. I was thinking that the cardboard on the bottom of each carton, as well as the sides, might insulate the lower layers.