Flooring in the North Texas Climate
Hardwood flooring's natural materials make it uniquely vulnerable to changes in the climate. This article will help you understand the issues and make the right decision.
What Should You Choose For Our Unique Climate?
Not all flooring is ideal for every climate and every situation. Here in North Texas, your flooring has to take into account the humidity and heat – both of which can be significant.
Hardwood flooring’s natural materials make it uniquely vulnerable to changes in the climate, so we urge you to read this article before you make a decision.
Let Us Help You Decide.
We encourage you to reach out to our sales team to discuss your specific flooring needs, as some properties need more adjustments and considerations than others considering the location, tree cover, type of room, windows, and more.
With that in mind, consider the following:
- Material – Not all material is going to work in this type of climate. Hardwood flooring – including both natural and engineered hardwood flooring – are both great options, as they have good dimensional stability. Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and porcelain tile are also great options, as they don’t expand, are non-porous, and are waterproof to protect from humidity damage. Bamboo can also be a useful option, though it is not uncommon in this region.
- Plank Width – for a humid climate with rapid temperature changes, it is advised to go with a lower plank width. 2 to 4 inches is perfect. This creates more seams, which will allow your floor to make the small adjustments it needs as the weather changes. You could still have larger planks (5 inches and above) but they would need to be a high quality product, carefully installed and adjusted for fit to eliminate the risk of excessive warping.
- Installation – It’s not just the flooring choices that matter. It’s also the installation. Depending on the flooring material, it may be helpful to give the flooring a chance to acclimate to high humidity to make sure that everything fits properly.
While these tips can help you select a flooring material, you need to consider future maintenance as well. For example, hardwood flooring (with thinner planks) is great for areas of high humidity, but because of the humidity any water spills will need to be cleaned up immediately and the Cleaning itself should be as water-less as possible. If water sits on a hardwood floor for too long and is prevented from evaporating by humidity, it can lead to damage.
Lastly, choosing the right installation team will be important. You have to have the right subfloor preparation, make sure the flooring has enough space to expand, ensure that the floor is level, and more. All of those benefits from local expertise.
Personalized Help for Your Flooring Needs
There are flooring options for almost every preferred style, and even flooring that is not ideal for the region – for example, wide hardwood planks – may be possible in some situations or have an alternative that would meet your needs.
Despite the challenges of the weather, you will still have the choice of hundreds of different options. At Texas Hardwood Flooring in Dallas, we encourage all clients to visit our showroom and find the flooring that speaks to you and your home’s unique personality.
Every situation is different! For help with flooring in Dallas, reach out to Texas Hardwood Flooring today. We’re experts on flooring AND the North Texas climate, and we’d be delighted to help find the right floor for you.
