Best Time of Year to Replace the Flooring in your Home
When Is The Best Time To Buy Flooring?
The best time to buy flooring and get the best prices is in the off-season, between December and January. This is when you are likely to find the best clearance sale prices. You may want to wait until spring to actually install your floors, as winter installation can be problematic due to low temperatures affecting acclimation and the convenience of airing/off-gassing.
February 16, 2023, by: Jamie Sandford
Spring and fall are the best times of the year to replace the flooring in your home. However, these are typically not the best time to look for bargains and cheap installation estimates.
Here are the top 3 reasons to plan your flooring installation for the spring and fall seasons.
1. HAVING DOORS OPEN WON’T BE UNCOMFORTABLE
When you’re having flooring installed, the doors will be open a lot. Old flooring will be carried out; new flooring will be carried in. If you have home flooring pros install the material, they may be going out frequently to get tools or supplies from the truck. If this takes place in winter, your home will cool off; in summer, your home may heat up and your AC will work overtime.
2. YOU’LL WANT VENTILATION AND FRESH AIR
Secondly, you may want the windows open for ventilation to get rid of fumes and odors. When installing carpet, tape is being ironed, floor adhesive, adhesive removers, stains and sealers can all emit noxious fumes and odors you’ll want to alleviate as soon as possible.
3. HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE ARE MORE MODERATE
All types of flooring, but especially wood flooring, need to acclimate to the indoor environment before they can be properly installed. This means that they need to take on the humidity level and temperature found indoors. If they don’t, problems can arise.
For example, in the summer, the outdoor humidity may be 75% to 90% or higher in some climates. Wood flooring stored in a garage or warehouse that is not humidity-controlled will absorb more moisture and swell.
If you install the wood flooring without complete acclimation, it will dry out after installation. The air conditioner acts as a dehumidifier. In winter, homes can get very dry. When the wood flooring dries out, it will shrink. This may lead to it cracking or pulling apart.
NOTE: If you install wood flooring in winter, make sure your home is humidified. Likewise, if installed during humid summer months, you may want to run a dehumidifier or the AC to remove excess humidity. Wood flooring should be installed when the home’s relative humidity is 35% to 60%, and the flooring should be acclimated for 7-14 days.
Spring and fall allow the fastest, most complete acclimation with the least risk of problems because homes are not likely to have either very high or very low humidity. So, if you want new flooring installed before the holidays or in time for the summer graduation party, plan ahead to ensure the best results.
Do you have any tips for the right time to install new flooring? If so, please share them with our readers below.
About the Author:
Jamie Sandford
Jamie Sandford is the Owner and Chief Editor of Home Flooring Pros (find out more). After 12 years’ experience in screen and stage set construction, followed by a further 15 years working in the home renovation/remodeling business, he now writes and curates online home improvement advice.
“Buying and installing home flooring should be a fairly straightforward process, but often it isn’t. After more than 15 years experience in home flooring and remodeling, I started Home Flooring Pros in 2013 to help homeowners navigate the often-over complicated process of choosing, buying and installing a home floor. The aim is to save you time and money by helping you to make better floor buying decisions.”