Dear Bob and Betsy,
I am getting ready to install my brand new hardwood flooring and couldn’t be more excited! I know I’ll have a good amount left over. We bought extra just in case something goes wrong during the installation. Can I store hardwood flooring in a garage or do I need to keep it in my house?
– Meredith M.
Dear Meredith,
How exciting! Getting new flooring can change the look of your home. We’re excited for you! It sounds like you made a smart choice in purchasing a little bit of extra material just in case something goes wrong during the installation. Having extra hardwood flooring on hand is a good idea so that no wrong cut or measurement will delay your project. Storing hardwood flooring in your garage might work but only if it meets a few requirements. We have compiled more information for you to help to decide what’s best for you. Cheers! Bob & Betsy
Climate Control
The room you store your leftover flooring in must be climate controlled. The climate where you store your hardwood flooring will impact how well it holds up. Temperature and moisture levels have a dramatic impact on your floors integrity. It’s a little like the story of the three bears. If it gets too hot, too cold, too moist, or too dry, you’ll run into problems with the flooring contracting or expanding. This will cause more havoc when you go to install your flooring and it readjusts to fit your room’s climate. On the extreme side, your hardwood floor can warp, making it unusable in any installation.
Grade Level
If your garage is below grade, or has at least one of the walls covered by ground (such as is the case with a walkout basement), you should not store your hardwood flooring there. This room will inevitably exposed to excess moisture, which can cause your floors to warp.
Long-Term Storage Tips
It’s a good idea to expose your hardwood floors to as minimal change as possible. If you need to store your hardwood flooring in the garage, make sure you acclimatize it before installing it in the room where it is going for at least 48 hours. This might mean stopping your project for a few days while the wood readjusts to the indoor temperature and humidity levels. If you’re storing your extra flooring for a long period of time, make sure it is stored flat. Leaning your extra boxes against a wall can cause the floor to warp and curve over time.
We also recommend getting a professional to install your hardwood flooring. This is not a good project for a DIYer. Professionals will know how to measure and will create as little excess as possible. This might mean you have more product left over but that’s better than not having enough during the installation process.
Good luck and happy installation!
Have any more questions? Write them in the comments below and we will be happy to answer!
Learn More About Hardwood:
- Does Hardwood Flooring Go Under Cabinets?
- Do Hardwood Floors Need Moisture Barrier?
- Are Hardwood Floors Slippery?
4 comments
I just had Laminate flooring put in and had 3 closed boxes left and one opened box. I put it under my bed and the smell is too much for me to bear. I want to store it in my garage but heard it is not good to put there for a long time. I am not planning to use for about 6 months or so. I have a small house and really no other place to store it but the garage. Is there a place or any way I can cover it to be good in 6 months? I hate for it to go bad, and unable to use. Need all the suggestions I can get. But the garage is the only place I can store with room. I live in California, and weather can change a lot daily. My garage keeps col till later afternoon, and can warm up a bit. Please help, looking forward to all the suggestions you can give. Carol
Hi Carol, thanks for the question. Do you have a closet or another spare room you do not use often to store it in? In the home is best, as it will not be exposed to temperature changes or humidity. If you must store it in the garage, make sure it will not be on the ground to receive any water damage and in a place that stays fairly the same temperature, possibly a shaded space. If you want to install it later, just acclimate it to the temperature of your home.
The delivery guy convinced my wife to allow him to leave our laminate flooring in the garage for the acclimation period. Will this be a problem?
Hi Aaron, thanks for the question! Unless your garage is temperature controlled, we would recommend moving it into the space you will be installing in. The reason you acclimate the flooring is so it adjusts to your steady room temperature. Be sure it is in a temperature controlled room, if you cannot place it in the exact room you’ll be installing it. This allows it to expand and contract normally. If it is in a garage, and then moved into a more humid area, it may expand and could cause issues during and after installation. Hope this helps!