The Canadian Winter Survival Guide: Humidity Control for Your Floors
In Canada, we don’t just experience winter; we experience extreme indoor climate shifts. When we seal our homes and crank up the heat, the Relative Humidity (RH) can plummet below 20%.
For a hardwood floor, this is an emergency zone. To preserve the beauty and structural integrity of your floor, you must maintain the “Goldilocks Zone”—the perfect range where the wood is most stable.
Your Best Preventive Tools
At GC Flooring, we believe in providing customers with the tools to succeed. To protect your high-value flooring investment, we recommend a three-pronged approach to environmental control:
The Thermo-hygrometer
This is your most important tool. It’s a small, inexpensive device that monitors real-time temperature and humidity.
Place one in your main living area to ensure your home stays between 35% and 55% RH.
The Humidifier
Whether it is a whole-home system integrated into your HVAC or a high-quality portable unit, a humidifier is “health insurance” for your floors.
It replaces the moisture the furnace strips away, preventing the wood from stressed cracking or permanent “through-cracks.”
The 2-Degree Rule
Avoid “thermal shock.” If you need to adjust your thermostat, do so gradually. Never increase or lower the temperature by more than 2–3°C at a time.
Rapid temperature changes amplify the mechanical stress on the wood fibers.
Relative Humidity is Your Best Preventive Tool
Maintaining a stable environment between 35% and 55% RH is the single most important thing you can do to protect your flooring investment.
By monitoring your home with a thermo-hygrometer and using a humidifier to balance out the dry winter air, you reduce internal mechanical stress and preserve the integrity of your floor’s finish.
Learn more about Hardwood Floor Gapping & How Humidity Impacts Your Flooring
Get Quality You Can Stand Behind with GC Flooring
Since opening our doors in 1995, GC Flooring has specialized in sourcing high-performance floors that are built for the reality of Canadian life. We anticipate the challenges our customers face and only stock products that meet the highest standards for durability.
When you choose GC Flooring, you aren’t just getting low prices through our bulk purchasing—you’re getting the peace of mind that comes with a floor that allows you to sleep soundly at night, regardless of the weather outside.
Want to learn more about protecting your home’s foundation? Call or visit GC Flooring (Giant Commercial Flooring) in Ottawa, Ontario. We ship our high-value floors and expert environmental advice to homes and businesses across all 10 provinces.
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Ontario
- Quebec
- New Brunswick
- Prince Edward Island
- Nova Scotia
- Newfoundland and Labrador