Are you planning to install parquet flooring in your property and are wondering how to achieve the best results?

Parquet flooring is increasingly popular, and for good reason. Installing parquet flooring in a home can instantly enhance the floor space and give it a sophisticated and polished finish.

But that’s not all. Parquet flooring is durable and easy to maintain, making it the ideal solution for millions across the world.

Yet, to obtain the best results with your parquet flooring, you need to ensure its prepared and installed properly.

If you’re planning to install parquet flooring or plank flooring in your home, you need to comply with a specific moisture content, otherwise known as EMC (equilibrium moisture content).

EMC refers to a specific moisture level where the wood neither loses nor gains moisture.

The EMC is based on the moisture in the air at the time of installation, and if you’re wondering how to know the ideal moisture content for your parquet or plank flooring, your installer will have a moisture meter that can read this.

Every country has its own regulation when it comes to compliant moisture content. The average moisture content in Ireland can vary depending on the location but is usually between 11 and 12%. This means that if your parquet flooring is kilned dried to around 9%, the wood will gain moisture, taking on the relative humidity in the air (RH) as you open the packs of timber. That’s because the moisture present in the air will gradually be absorbed by your parquet flooring and cause it to expand. Now, if the level of moisture in the air is excessively high, your parquet flooring might experience excessive expansion.

However, if you work with a trustworthy and experienced fitter, they’ll consider the level of moisture in the air and will ensure there is space within the floor and around the edges to accommodate the gradual expansion of your parquet flooring.

But the opposite can happen when fitting your parquet flooring with underfloor heating systems. As discussed, parquet flooring arrives in at 9 to 10%. Leave to acclimate for 3 to 4 weeks while your underfloor heating is on. This will reduce the moisture content to 6 to 7% in your solid parquet flooring. Once it has reached the optimum moisture content, your parquet flooring is suitable for installation.

As I have mentioned previously, the timber in your parquet flooring (especially solid parquet flooring) is dynamic, meaning that it will absorb or lose moisture based on its environment. And this, in turn, will result in dimensional changes. That’s why it’s so important to know the exact moisture content in your timber and understand the environment in which your parquet flooring is going to be installed. Monitoring the room’s temperature and RH level should therefore be your priority.

And it’s also critical for you to make sure the moisture content in your timber or parquet flooring reaches its optimum and that enough time has been allowed for acclimatisation. As discussed, the environment in which your parquet flooring is installed will determine the time required for this to happen.

So, remember, every time you deliver parquet flooring to a property, you should leave it to acclimatise in the same environment it will be installed in for the correct period of time. And as discussed previously, this also includes leaving it in a room with underfloor heating.

Now, if you don’t follow the rules described above to the letter, your parquet flooring won’t look polished and might start showing signs of poor installation over time. This usually happens when the parquet or plank flooring is installed too soon due to timing issues, or the job being finished too late. This, in turn, can cause excessive expansion. If the moisture content in the air is too high and no expansion gaps have been fitted during installation, sections of the parquet flooring might start rising and lifting.

At MM Parquet & Carpentry, we specialise in providing clients like you with high-quality parquet and plank flooring. Leveraging over 35 years of experience in carpentry and parquet flooring.

We offer a wide range of styles and patterns to accommodate every need and preference, to help you create the perfect look.

What’s more, our carpentry, wood flooring fitting, and maintenance services allow us to be the one-stop shop for all your wood flooring needs. From staircases and doors to skirting, no project is too big nor too small for us.

So, if you need help with your wood flooring, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d love to discuss how we can help!