Moisture Management for you Bamboo Floors
Bamboo is an organic material that reacts to its environment. It is
hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs and loses moisture in reaction to
its surrounding environment. In humid environments, bamboo floors gains
moisture and swells. In dry environments, a bamboo floor loses moisture
and shrinks. This is completely normal and happens at all stages of the
bamboos
’
life cycle, even as the plant is growing in the forest.
Why is it so important to manage the moisture in my
environment?
If bamboo floors gains or loses too much moisture,
problems can occur.
Bamboo floors that gains too much moisture can cup.
Cupping occurs across the width of a floor board, with
edges that are raised on each board and centers that
are lower than the edges. Cupping always happens due to a moisture
imbalance through the thickness of the board.
Bamboo floors that lose too much moisture can gap. Gapping occurs
between floor boards. Gaps can vary in size and are considered normal if
they appear and disappear during seasonal changes in humidity. Gaps are
not considered normal if they are large or do not close during more-humid
months.
Both of these issues can be minimized by maintaining an environment that
is consistently between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit, and 30-65% humidity.
Significant fluctuations outside these ranges can result in cupping or gaps.
