The city of Dallas boasts a humid climate, where the air can feel heavy and sticky during peak summer months. These weather conditions can impact even your strongest flooring, like vinyl and laminate. That’s why it’s important to understand how humidity affects your floors, so you can protect your home for many years to come. Plus, you can prevent many issues by choosing the right floors during your initial installation!
It’s time to get all the information you need about how waterproof laminate and waterproof vinyl plank flooring work in Dallas homes. Floor Coverings International of Highland Park, TX® is here to answer all of your questions with honesty to help you enhance your space. Book a free in-home consultation today.
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How Does Humidity Affect Vinyl Plank Flooring?
Is humidity bad for vinyl floor planks? The short answer is that yes, it can be! Vinyl may be a synthetic material, but severe enough humidity swings can still cause it to expand or shrink. This can lead to further damage, like buckling or shifting in the seams that lower the structural integrity of your floors. Humidity can also cause moisture to get trapped under your vinyl planks or tiles, which can lead to mold or mildew growth.
Luckily, there are a few things you can do to protect your floors from damage! The first thing to be aware of is that not all vinyl floors are waterproof. It’s easy to find planks or tiles that are waterproof, but it’s always a good idea to double check before sourcing your materials.
Next, you should leave your new vinyl planks in the room where you’re installing them for a day or two, so they can adjust to your house’s humidity before installation. You should also leave a small gap when performing the installation to allow the planks some natural breathing room. These steps can prevent the likelihood of shifting after installation. Finally, you should use dehumidifiers during high humidity times of year to reduce the moisture in your space.
Does Humidity Affect Laminate Flooring?
The relationship between humidity and laminate flooring is not always a friendly one. Because traditional laminate usually has a fiberboard core, it can be vulnerable to expanding and shrinking in extremely humid conditions. You can reduce the chances of laminate damage by practicing the following tips:
- Maintain ideal humidity levels. Laminate can’t be in too humid or too dry a space, so you should aim to keep your interior at around a 35%-65% relative humidity level.
- Acclimate your materials. Laminate should sit in the unopened box for up to 72 hours so that it can adjust to the area where it’s being installed.
- Choose the right flooring. Laminate is available in many waterproof varieties that feature treated cores and sealed edges to hold up against high humidity.
You can rely on our friendly local contractors to set you up with the right waterproof laminate flooring for your Dallas home. We follow a detailed installation process to make sure your floors will last.
Install Laminate or Vinyl Waterproof Flooring in Dallas, TX Today
Searching for vinyl or laminate flooring that’s waterproof? Dallas, TX homeowners can look no further for help improving their spaces to function in the local climate. Floor Coverings International of Highland Park, TX® performs tailored installations that feature down-to-the-penny quotes and top-quality materials. We guarantee you’ll be satisfied with the results of our work. Call (214) 699-8966 or submit our online form today for a free in-home consultation in our Mobile Flooring Showroom®.
