Wood floors are commonly used in gymnasiums because of their durability and natural aesthetic. They’re also the preferred flooring for several sports such as volleyball and basketball. However, as the winter months count down and we move closer to the spring and summer, the increase in humidity can affect your wood gym floor.
Wood is a hygroscopic material which means that it absorbs and releases moisture. This causes the individual wood boards of a gym floor to expand and contract. During the winter months, the low humidity levels cause the wood to contract, leading to visible gaps between the floorboards. The higher humidity levels in the spring and summer cause the wood to expand, leading to tighter seams between the floorboards. It’s extremely important to maintain the appropriate humidity levels within your gymnasium to avoid excessive expansion and potential crowning of your wood gym floor.
The best way to avoid issues with a wood gym floor is to keep the relative humidity level between 35% and 50%. When the humidity level gets above or below this range, problems with wood gym flooring are much more likely.
How Does High Humidity Affect Wood Gym Flooring?
When the relative humidity is too high, the wood gym floor will absorb excess moisture which leads to cupping, crowning, cracking and buckling.
How Does Low Humidity Affect Wood Gym Flooring?
When humidity level is too low, moisture within the wood is released, leading to splitting and gapping.
How Do You Control Relative Humidity Level?
The easiest way to track the humidity level is to install hygrometers that can give you a reading of the relative humidity and temperature in real time. It helps to have multiple hygrometers installed in different locations to get a complete picture of the humidity levels throughout the facility.
How to Lower the Humidity Level in the Gym?
One way to lower the humidity is to invest in an industrial dehumidifier that can work with the HVAC system. Another way is to control the temperature by keeping it between 65 degrees and 75 degrees. And lastly, you can regularly clean and replace your air filters. HVAC systems help maintain indoor temperature and humidity levels when they are working efficiently.
How to Increase Humidity Level in the Gym?
While this may not happen often, it is important to prevent the humidity levels from dropping too low in the gym. If your gym is in a dry climate, you should consider installing an industrial humidifier. For some areas that experience lower levels of dryness, portable humidifiers may be enough to keep humidity within the appropriate range.
Hardwood gym flooring gives gymnasiums a classic aesthetic and they can last a long time with effective care. By keeping the relative humidity levels in your gym between 35% and 50%, you can ensure that your wood gym flooring lasts for many years.
