The Effects of Temperature and Humidity on Engineered Wooden Flooring In India & Middle East: What Homeowners and Designers Need to Know

Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning it absorbs and releases moisture from the surrounding environment. Even though engineered wood floors are more stable than solid wood, they are still affected by changes in indoor climate, though lesser than solid wood. You might have heard the term Relative Humidity or RH. Well it is basically the water vapour that is present in the air. You can’t see it but surely can feel it.

Have you ever felt your skin to be sweaty and sticky during monsoons when you are not in AC? You experience that because the air has too much water vapour. And during winters, your skin gets dry. You use a chapstick or a moisturizing cream as the air has too little humidity and the skin starts to get dry and flaky.

So wood is similar in that respect in that it reacts to changes in humidity and temperature:

When humidity rises, wood absorbs moisture and slightly expands.
When humidity drops, wood releases moisture and may contract.

Engineered wood is designed to minimize movement, but extreme conditions can still cause changes in its shape and feel. This is where the quality of the construction of the flooring plank as well as the moisture control in factories comes into play. High quality products are not just expensive because they are made in Europe or the US or simply imported. One could get a low quality product from any country – it is the materials used and the care taken during manufacturing, transportation, storage, delivery & installation. High quality materials such as quality of the veneers (the top layer of your engineered wood floor), core and backing materials, installation profiles – these are the things that create a difference in the result and long range durability. And all this could go to waste if not installed well.

Effects of High Humidity on Engineered Wood Floors

1. Expansion and Buckling

• The floorboards may expand and push against each other, causing slight warping or buckling (rising up), depending on the root cause.

• Excess moisture can weaken the adhesive used in engineered flooring, leading to delamination (where layers of the plank start separating).

Effects of Low Humidity on Engineered Wood Floors

1. Gaps Between Planks

• Shrinkage can create visible gaps between planks, which may expand again when humidity levels rise.
• This is common in winter when heating systems dry out indoor air or the humidity in the air drops significantly for a period of time. Note that these are extreme issues and if the product and installation is good, then most likely these issues will not occur.

• If conditions remain too dry for extended periods, minor cracks may appear in the top layer of engineered wood.

Extreme temperatures alone do not typically damage engineered wood, but it is the relationship between temperature and humidity that is the key. E.g. If you keep a room locked for very long periods of time while the room is exposed to very high sun glare and low humidity (no curtains or UV films or heat resistant glass), it might have a shrinking effect on your wood floor.

Key concern: Thermal expansion and contraction

• If a room is heated or cooled too quickly or kept at a certain temperature and humidity, the flooring materials may adjust leading to minor shifts in plank positioning.

1. Keep Humidity in the Ideal Range

Ideal Humidity: 40%–60%

• Use a humidifier in winter if indoor air becomes too dry. This might be needed if you have a holiday home or a cabin up in the mountains in the snow range. 
• Use a dehumidifier in summer if the air is too humid and you are not using an AC. 
• Air conditioners help maintain balanced humidity levels. If the air conditioner is being used normally, it should be fine. 

2. Allow Floors to Acclimate Before Installation

• Always let engineered wood floors adjust to the home’s climate for a few days before installation.

3. Avoid Sudden Climate Changes

• Do not expose wood floors to sudden blasts of hot or cold air (e.g., opening a window in a very cool room on a humid day). This can lead to condensation and water droplets could start forming on the wall, ceiling and your windows. This is not good as the water droplets may start to fall on things below or dripping down the walls. 

4. Use Proper Cleaning Methods

• Avoid excess water when cleaning. Instead, use a damp (not wet) mop and a wood-friendly cleaner.