While everyone loves the look of hardwood flooring, it takes a bit of work to keep it in beautiful condition. One factor that affects its appearance and durability is the humidity—or lack thereof—in your home. As a leading installer of hardwood floors in New Hampton, NY, Floors Like Glass offers the following information to ensure your wood flooring looks good in every season.

How Weather Affects Hardwood

Both low and high humidity affect your flooring system. During the winter months, wood loses moisture to the dry air, causing gaps between planks, especially in areas near heating vents and radiators.

Conversely, warmer weather causes wood planks to swell. Wood is hygroscopic, which means it absorbs moisture in the air and responds accordingly. During summer, the edges of your floor can curl upward, creating a cupping effect. Cupping can also happen when wood comes into contact with a lot of water, such as flooding from a leaking pipe.

What You Can Do

Your best defense against gaps and cupping is to monitor the humidity level in your home closely with a humidity meter. This device reads the moisture levels of the air in your home. During summer, an air conditioner works best for combating high humidity. In winter, consider installing a humidifier to boost the amount of moisture in the room. The way you care for your hardwood also has an impact. Always use an approved cleaning product and avoid water-based products unless you’re spot cleaning.

If your hardwood flooring is showing signs of exposure to too much or too little moisture, contact the skilled installers at Floors Like Glass. They offer a range of flooring materials from hardwood to budget-friendly laminates. Customers in New Hampton, NY, can call (845) 294-9466 for more information. To see a complete listing of products, visit the website.