I have a small (4'x4') stair landing that I need to install solid flooring (3-1/4" x 3/4" red oak) onto. I would love to get it done ASAP, as its the last step I have to do before completing our room remodel.

Ive read a ton of tips on what to watch out for if installing during HUMID weather, but what about dry?

Should I leave small gaps between every row of planks, assuming it will swell in the summer? Or maybe just some of the rows (i.e. washer rows)

If both the subfloor (3/4" OSB glued and screwed to 2x4 16" OC) and flooring materials are within the recommended 2% MC difference, can all the planks just be nailed tight together?

Hygrometer/thermometer currently says 62 degrees, 33% RH. We live in Connecticut, so RH can reach higher levels but I usually manage to keep it in the mid 40s during the summer (between a dehum and central A/C)

Thanks in advance.

-Chris

4 x 4?

It's such a small area. You probably won't see any movement.

Ideally you should acclimate the flooring to the midrange of the moisture content for your area before installing it. I'm in Mass and our midrange is 9%. Yours should be about the same. Best to check flooring and subfloor with a moisture meter. You could run a humidifier to get the humidity up. Also, you should try to keep the year round house humidity within the range specified by your flooring manufacturer.....should be 40% - 50%.

Thanks for the info!

I picked up a moisture meter from Lowes, thats the best I have available around here. This meter to be specific:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_562134-56005-MM ... facetInfo=


If I use the hardwood setting, it reads about 2% MC. Which to me doesnt make much sense...conditions where the wood is are 63 degrees, up to 40% RH now (been running our whole house humidifier).

If I use the softwood setting, it seems to be more realistic: 7% MC

But since its red oak, hardwood should be what Im reading with. It just seems that red oak with 2% MC would be turning to dust in front of my eyes

Not sure what to trust, or if I should just abandon looking at the MC and install the flooring. I know Ken said probably not an issue in a 4'x4' space....perhaps Im just overthinking this all?

Thanks again

-Chris

I didn't look at the product. Did the instructions say what wood species it is currently calibrated for? A lot are calibrated for Red Oak and they provide a conversion table if you're testing other wood species. The reading you are getting is very low. From the info I have read mills ship wood at a minimum of 6% moisture content. Have you got a local flooring store that could check a piece for you? Your softwood reading seemed low too. There are calculations you can do which will tell you how much the wood will actually expand based on current moisture vs future moisture content.

Hi Chris,

The moisture meter reading 2% is totally unrealistic. You might have to check with the moisture meter manufacture to see what species it is calibrated for. Some moisture meters may not have a calibration for different species and they typically default to a fur or pine.

Here is my advice:

1. Adjust your in home humidity between 35-50 degree.

2. Let the wood sit for 2 weeks and then install it following the manufacture installation instruction.

Red Oak is one of the most stable species on the market. If you are interested in reading up a bit about how moisture effects your hardwood flooring, check out this article:

http://www.uniquewoodfloor.com/blog/pre ... od-floors/

Any other questions, just ask. I'm happy to help.

Nice Web Site!!!!
Do you make your own transition moldings?

Thank you so much for the feedback. We are a hardwood flooring retailer and do not manufacture any of our own products. However, we do have access to transition moldings in over 100 different species of wood and different profiles. Many of these are in stock at our warehouse in Minnesota.

Thanks everyone!

Just wanted to say that I just installed the flooring today (well, started last night)

I know my moisture readings had to be wrong, but since Ive had the wood 10 days and cranked up the humidifier in the house when I got it, the wood has pretty much been sitting in mid 40s RH and about the same temp it will reside in.

So I figured it was good to go (plus as UniqueWoodFloors mentioned, red oak is stable, and as JIMMIEM mentioned, Im installing such a small area it will probably be fine)

I think it came out pretty good.....but of course, another question!

The board heights seem uneven....Im sure its common with solid unfinished hardwood. I figured I would have to sand it myself.

Is it something that might possibly be do-able with a normal everyday belt sander?

Or since its such a small area, should I rent just an edger to do the whole thing?

Thanks again.

-Chris