Yes, hardwood floors handle Denver’s dry climate well when installed and cared for properly. Floor & More gets this question constantly from homeowners considering wood floors for the first time.
What Dry Air Does to Wood
Wood naturally releases moisture in dry conditions. That can cause boards to shrink slightly, leading to small gaps in winter. Those gaps often close back up in summer as humidity rises again. This is normal and expected, not a sign of a failed installation. Floor & More explains this to nearly every first-time hardwood customer, since it can look alarming if you don’t know to expect it.
How to Prevent Bigger Problems
A whole-home humidifier is the single best defense. Keeping indoor humidity between 35 and 55 percent minimizes wood movement significantly. Floor & More recommends this to nearly every hardwood customer across Centennial, Aurora, and the wider Denver Metro. A simple hygrometer, which measures indoor humidity, can help you track whether you’re in the right range throughout the year.
Do Hardwood Floors Handle Denver’s Dry Climate Better With Engineered Wood?
If you’re worried about movement, engineered hardwood is more forgiving than solid wood. Its layered construction resists shrinking and gapping better than solid planks. Floor & More often steers first-time hardwood buyers toward engineered options for exactly this reason, especially in homes without a whole-house humidifier already installed.
What About Older Homes?
Older homes across Denver’s established neighborhoods sometimes have less consistent humidity control than newer construction. Floor & More still installs solid hardwood in these homes regularly, but we’re upfront about the maintenance commitment involved, including seasonal humidity monitoring and occasional gap-filling if needed.
The National Wood Flooring Association publishes helpful guidance on humidity and wood movement worth reviewing.
Thinking about hardwood for your Denver home? Contact Floor & More to talk through your options, or browse our hardwood flooring products to get started.
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