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Within the next 2-3 weeks we are having Spotted Gum T&G 19mm x 85mm (245sq) laid over our particle boards . The company installing told us that when we receive the timber floors to Acclimatise for 1 WEEK in the house!!, IS THIS LONG ENOUGH FOR ACCLIMATISATON???
I've been doing a little reseach on Overlay Installation , is is true that the particle boards should have no more than 14% moisutre before laying and the timber board's moisture contect b/w 9%- 14% ?? any suggestions, tips??
Time to acclimatise depends on the mositure content of the floor boards vs the average humidity in your house. Assuming the boards have been kiln dried correctly they should be pretty close to the correct value. Letting them acclimate for a week is just a good precaution.
If the boards have been stored in a different environment or come from a different climate then a longer acclimatising time may be needed.
The 9 - 14% is probably the normal range you would expect in coastal Aus or NZ. The under 14% is standard in most building codes for framing timber to be dried to before wall linings etc are put over it. It's close enough to 'dry' that the builders can carry on work without causing problems later.
Sounds like they are doing things right.
Cheers
Ian
The first time I was involved with an "overlay" floor, it was 13mm Blackbutt over yellow tongue. About 1 1/2 weeks after it was finished the whole lot cupped significantly (we were crapping ourselves). We'd had some rain & it got wet under the subfloor, luckily it was a matter of holding ones nerve because eventually the moisture content of the p.b & T&G flooring reached an equilibium & it all settled back down. The lesson I learnt was to go buy a moisture meter & most definitely follow the recommendations for moisture content. Be mindfull of the humidity levels when you're laying it & if necessary, wait. Make sure you get the particle board sanded before you lay the flooring over it, this enables the Bostik "Ultraset" or "Finish Pro" adhesive that they will (must) use to adhere to the sheet flooring. Make sure they don't cut any corners with the glue, it says on the manufacturers recommendations to apply a complete cover over the substrate with a 4mm notched trowel, so no squirting it along the back of the board.
I moved to Melbourne from Perth 11 years ago. I'm not acclimatised yet!