Storing a wood floor...

MarkDR

Member
Feb 18, 2016
264
9
18
What would you suggest to store a wood floor (panels that are 48"x7") to protect it from water and insects? We are thinking possibly of barrels? This is in Santo Domingo. What are standard sizes of barrels and where would we find them in SD? Thanks!
 

retiree

Bronze
Jan 18, 2008
978
10
0
Perhaps double wrap them in thick plastic sheets with every joint sealed with duct tape. Assuming you are storing inside.
 

CG

Bronze
Sep 16, 2004
984
146
63
Don't know about 4 ft barrels... Sealed plastic sheets could work, how long are you storing them?..

You for sure want to keep them away from any walls and raised off the ground (cinder blocks) and you will want to spray the flooring before storing and spray the storage space inside & out, the space should have some air flow & be easily accessible as you will want to check the space every two weeks (?). Termites work fast and will cross cement floors or climb cement walls to get at your wood. Nasty little bastards to say the least!
 

cobraboy

Pro-Bono Demolition Hobbyist
Jul 24, 2004
40,964
936
113
Stack them in wood vises or some sort of vertical compression to keep them from warping, and them wrap in visqueen sheets, sealed with duct tape.

After that it wouldn't matter what you put them in.
 

MarkDR

Member
Feb 18, 2016
264
9
18
Don't know about 4 ft barrels... Sealed plastic sheets could work, how long are you storing them?..

You for sure want to keep them away from any walls and raised off the ground (cinder blocks) and you will want to spray the flooring before storing and spray the storage space inside & out, the space should have some air flow & be easily accessible as you will want to check the space every two weeks (?).

Thanks for the tips folks. Will be storing for at least several months if not longer. What type of spray do you have in mind?
 

mobrouser

Bronze
Jan 1, 2002
2,339
98
48
Not knowing where you plan to store your flooring, if it is solid wood or laminate, and whether it is prefinished makes it difficult to answer your question. However, wrapping it in plastic if unfinished and solid wood is guaranteed to encourage mould and warpage. Raw wood needs to be stored with as much air flow as possible around it. More detail would help give a better answer.
 

MarkDR

Member
Feb 18, 2016
264
9
18
Not knowing where you plan to store your flooring, if it is solid wood or laminate, and whether it is prefinished makes it difficult to answer your question. However, wrapping it in plastic if unfinished and solid wood is guaranteed to encourage mould and warpage. Raw wood needs to be stored with as much air flow as possible around it. More detail would help give a better answer.

This is finished wood. Likely laminated. Can it be wrapped in plastic? Will be stored for the time being inside an apartment (3rd floor).
 

ctrob

Silver
Nov 9, 2006
5,591
781
113
This is finished wood. Likely laminated. Can it be wrapped in plastic? Will be stored for the time being inside an apartment (3rd floor).
Since you're storing inside, first priority would be a dehumidifier. Any amount of wrapping/sealing will not keep out humidity. And with a prefinished floor there is no fixing warps later.



If you're buying new, it's prob already strapped with nylon bands, definately leave them on.

But if you don't need them now or don't have them n ow, I would purchase later. What might be a great deal now could not be so great later if you just have to toss everything in the trash.
 

MarkDR

Member
Feb 18, 2016
264
9
18
Since you're storing inside, first priority would be a dehumidifier. Any amount of wrapping/sealing will not keep out humidity. And with a prefinished floor there is no fixing warps later.



If you're buying new, it's prob already strapped with nylon bands, definately leave them on...

The floor was purchased in Oct 2016, was used and is in excellent condition (no nylon bands).
 

ben jammin

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2007
648
160
63
The floor presumably was floating, meaning not nailed or glued to the subfloor (otherwise it wouldn't be in such good shape). Do the sides and edges have a locking mechanism or just a plain tongue and grove? Most of the later laminates are of a composite with just the thin laminated wood look on top. These do fairly well in storage. Some are engineered and the meat of the planks are more like plywood. These tend to warp more.
 

MarkDR

Member
Feb 18, 2016
264
9
18
The floor presumably was floating, meaning not nailed or glued to the subfloor (otherwise it wouldn't be in such good shape). Do the sides and edges have a locking mechanism or just a plain tongue and grove? Most of the later laminates are of a composite with just the thin laminated wood look on top. These do fairly well in storage. Some are engineered and the meat of the planks are more like plywood. These tend to warp more.

Don't know the exact composition of the floor at the moment. You were right about it being a floating floor. Just plain tongue and groove. Whole floor came off in less than an hour.