Am I the only one who sees guys not letting vinyl plank acclimate?

I did a job in Tempe last week where the homeowner said the previous installer just opened the boxes and went to town, and now the floor is buckling near the patio door. I mean, it was 110 degrees outside and the AC was blasting inside, idk how you skip that step. What's the shortest time you'll let material sit before installing?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_robin2mo ago

People forget the boxes themselves can hold moisture from the warehouse. I always open them up to let the air hit each plank, does that change your timeline?

gibson.oliver2mo ago

That's just asking for warped boards.

skyler_white951mo ago

Oh man you're overthinking it. Look, opening the boxes to let air hit each plank is a nice thought but it doesn't do much if the wood is already moisture soaked from the warehouse. The real trick is to let the whole stack acclimate in the room where you're installing it for at least 48 hours before you even open the boxes. I've seen guys rush this and come back a month later with boards cupping like potato chips. And if you're really worried about warping, lay a dehumidifier nearby for a day before you start. That's saved my ass more than once on big jobs.