Hello,

I'm going to install a new Maple hardwood floor in my cabin in Big Bear, CA. I'm not going to be able to start the installation for at least 6 weeks (I'm only there on the weekends) because I'm tiling the Master bath right now and don't want to haul the concrete over the new floor. I do have the flooring at the cabin right now acclimating. By the end of Oct. the weather will be in the 20s at night and around 50 during the day with little humidity. Is there anything I should do to normalize the temp so I minimize problems?

Thanks

I'm guessing this is solid flooring instead of engineered. If you install when the humidity is at it's low point, then when the humidity rises to a higher level in the spring and summer, the flooring will expand. This expansion will cause the floor to look cupped because the sides will be pushed up higher than the center. The floor will develop compression set where the edges are crushed a little. Then when the humidity is low again, the floor will shrink and you will have gaps and cracks between the boards that will never go away because of the compression set.

To avoid all this, you'll either need to do one of two things, or both.

1) Maintain the interior relative humidity to 40 to 50% and the temp to no less than 55 and no more than 80. Ideally, it would be 65 to 75 but I understand it's a cabin and you're not there all the time. The use of the furnace with automatic controls and a humidifier will help to maintain normal levels.
2) Use a more stable wood. Engineered flooring can better handle temp and humidity swings. But even those can have problems if the differences are severe enough. If you must have a solid wood floor, then select a very stable wood, like mesquite. IMO, maple is a poor choice.