Making Wood Last

Water and Wood, the new technical brochure from the National Wood Flooring Association, identifies how homeowners can minimize or prevent water damage to their wood flooring.

The free brochure is available to builders, architects and interior designers and is full of tips on how to avoid problems associated with moisture like cupping, swelling and cracks in boards.

A dimensional stability chart on the 23 most commonly used woods for flooring shows how each reacts when exposed to a new environment and when exposed to moisture.

A selection of moisture-testing tools also is featured in the brochure along with a U.S. map showing the average moisture level by region.

A checklist includes a troubleshooting guide designed to help builders evaluate moisture-related situations may also be found in the brochure, as well as guidelines for successful installation according to the NWFA, a nonprofit trade organization of about 2,200 wood flooring professionals.

The brochure may be obtained by writing to the NWFA, referring to technical publication No. A100: Water and Wood, at 16388 Westwoods Business Park, Ellisville, MO 63201 or call (800) 422-4556. Visit NWFA’s website at www.woodfloors.org for more information on wood flooring.