Use of portable dehumidifier to keep wood in good condition
Excessive saturation leads to the deterioration of many objects, endangering the value they hold. These humidity conditions are worsened in extreme thermal conditions, whether in low or high temperatures. In this sense, it is preponderant to maintain a balanced climate from all aspects, specifically taking care of atmospheric saturation.
The wooden floor is easy to maintain compared to other types of flooring, especially if you take into account the care it requires all the time. However, humidity or rather, an uneven saturation parameter is usually the biggest enemy of wood. In other words, excessive dryness will cause this material to crack, by directly affecting its molecular structure. Very high humidity will cause it to become damp, swell and even mold microorganisms to proliferate. These variations will invariably affect hardwood floors, just like everything else you have in your home or workplace.
In fact, a clear symptom of an already altered floor is when the wood begins to sprout upwards, forming a kind of pyramidal top or something like that. This happens because the humidity causes the wood to expand, and by not finding space for said expansion, then simply physics will do its thing.
Planning for the good installation of wooden floors and desiccant systems
Before thinking about putting a wooden floor, perhaps it is best to attend to other issues, so that humidity factors do not make a dent in the material over time.
One of the recommendations is to acclimatize the laminate floor before putting wooden elements. Dehumidifying mechanisms and the same resistance air conditioning could be good options. This will help the floor itself to acclimatize to the natural temperature and humidity of the house or workplace. Experts advise that acclimatization be at least 48 hours before starting to install the wooden floor or any other type. Now if you require specific specifications of the hygrometric and thermal values, then analyzes can be made, hoping that the humidity in the subsoil does not exceed 12% of atmospheric saturation -assuming the use of pin gauges for wooden subsoils-, or that it does not exceed 3% when using a concrete moisture meter in the subsoil.
Another of the recommendations in planning is to try to leave spaces in the perimeters, trying to calculate an eventual expansion of the wooden floor, -any obstacle could be problematic in the future and deform the floor-. It is essential that these spaces are considered in all rooms, especially those close to radiators, air conditioning and even door frames. The recommended expansion measures range from 10 to 12 millimeters between the walls and the wooden floor.
Avoid large floor dimensions. This especially if it is in a home or office. It is due to the principle that the more extensive in meters towards a direction, the expansion of the wood is likely to be greater. That is why experts recommend that the dimensions of the wooden floor do not exceed five meters, and if so, then at least talk and plan deeply with the flooring specialist. After all, this person must consider factors such as: hidden expansion spaces, floating mounts, and any issue that has to do with soil expansion in the face of climatic eventualities, especially humidity.
Caring for the wooden floor after its installation
If this type of flooring has already been installed, then there is no other option but to control and monitor all types of air conditioning, and rely
more on desiccant mechanisms, for the ideal balance of humidity and temperature. In this sense, it is highly recommended to install portable dehumidifiers in strategic places, or failing that, to know how to handle the dehumidification of central air conditioning.
Verifying natural and artificial ventilation is essential in every way. It must be ensured that the fans operate favorably, especially in areas prone to high temperatures and increased humidity conditions.
