Storing flooring correctly before installation is a step that is easy to overlook but has a significant impact on how the floor performs once it is laid. Wood-based flooring in particular is sensitive to temperature, humidity, and physical stress during storage, and poor storage conditions can cause problems that are difficult or impossible to correct after laying.
Why Correct Storage Matters
All wood-based flooring — solid hardwood, engineered wood, and laminate — contains moisture that is in equilibrium with the surrounding environment. When flooring is moved from one environment to another, it adjusts to the new conditions by absorbing or releasing moisture. This process causes the boards to expand or contract slightly.
If flooring is stored in conditions that are very different from the room where it will be laid, the boards will still be adjusting when they are installed. A board that continues to expand after laying pushes against adjacent boards and can cause buckling. A board that continues to dry out after laying may develop gaps. Allowing the flooring to acclimatise in the room where it will be laid — or in conditions that closely match that room — prevents these problems.
Storage Conditions
The ideal storage conditions for wood-based flooring are:
- Temperature between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius
- Relative humidity between 35% and 65% — matching the expected conditions of the finished room
- Dry environment with no condensation on walls, floors, or surfaces
- Away from direct sunlight, which can cause fading or localised drying
- Off the ground — store packs on timber battens or a pallet to allow air circulation underneath and to protect against ground moisture
Do not store flooring in garages, outbuildings, or unheated spaces unless the temperature and humidity in those spaces closely match the installation environment. A builder's garage in winter is typically cold, damp, and exposed — unsuitable for storing wood flooring even for a short period.
How to Stack Flooring
Flooring packs should always be stored flat and horizontal. Boards stored on end or at an angle can warp or bow under their own weight, particularly if stacked in this position for more than a day or two. Lay packs flat, stacking them with the heaviest at the bottom and no more than five or six packs high to prevent excessive compression of the lower packs.
If you are storing opened or partial packs, ensure the boards are kept flat and protected from dust and debris. Boards left loose and unsupported can twist if stored for any length of time. Wrap partial packs in the original packaging or in a breathable cover — not plastic sheeting, which traps moisture.
Acclimatisation Before Laying
Most solid and engineered wood flooring manufacturers require the product to be acclimatised in the installation space before laying. This typically means leaving the unopened or open packs flat in the room for a minimum period, usually 48 hours for engineered wood and up to seven days for solid hardwood. Check the manufacturer's specific recommendations for the product you are installing.
The room must be at its normal living temperature and humidity during acclimatisation. Do not acclimatise flooring in a room that is cold and unheated — the boards will simply need to acclimatise again once the room is brought up to normal conditions. Ensure any wet trades such as plastering or screeding are fully complete and dry before bringing flooring in to acclimatise.
Laminate and LVT products generally have shorter or no required acclimatisation periods, but storing them in appropriate conditions is still good practice. A little care during storage and acclimatisation results in a floor that goes down cleanly and performs well from the first day of use.
