Scheduling the fitting of hardwood floors

It is essential that the heating system is covered either temporary or permanently as soon as possible for its protection. The hardwood flooring should be scheduled as a finishing trade as close as possible to the end of the project. If the floor is installed too soon it will be at risk from high moisture levels as well as damage by working practices of various trades. Traditional screed should be allowed 28 days and an anhydrite screed 21 days natural curing before heat is applied to assist drying.

Moisture tests can only be carried out on a cold screed, so time needs to be allowed for cooling and testing with the expectation that the heating and testing sequance will need to be done again. In practice it is fairly common that this is often left to the last minute when the Hardwood flooring installers arrive and the Architect is required to sign a disclaimer because the schedule is running out of time.

The correct test is a surface hygrometer test to be carried out prior to the installer date.
The maximum (ERH) equilibrium relative humidity as specified by British Standards is 75%. The heating needs to be commissioned and working for at least 14 days prior to the installation of the wood floor. Thermostats need to be programmed at a temperature high enough to make sure that the floor is warm 24 – 7 and prevision of constant ventilation is required to prevent excess humidity in the building.