Direct sunlight can damage hardwood too. Cork is an increasingly popular flooring material that offers a number of advantages: it is hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and temperature stable, making it pleasantly warm in winter and cool in summer. Install the wrong materials and you could find yourself with unexpected problems. But, many have had … Our mythbusters can assure you that this is far from the truth. While popular, asphalt —and wood— shingles are not best for areas that experience triple-digit temperatures. I'm not so sure that a high thermal mass … Line open ventilated spaces with reflective foil insulation. Carpet is soft and cushy underfoot and it adds a bit of insulation, which adds comfort colder climates. South American hardwood decking such as Ipe, Cumaru, Tigerwood, Garapa and Massaranduba have proven to last up to 75 years in some applications. Cork floors will be harmed, however, by excessive moisture. Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. Ventilate roof spaces well with fans or whirlybirds and design for condensation removal (see Passive cooling). You can have solid hardwood flooring in dry climate, here in Arizona. Let's find out. "https://" : "http://" ); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + bbbprotocol + 'seal-sanjose.bbb.org' + unescape('%2Flogo%2Fs-and-k-construction-and-remodeling-referral-services-llc-trusted-home-contractors-1018383.js') + "' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); March 2, 2013 Flooring Installation Find a Trusted Contractor to Help. Stronger (that is, more costly) laminate floors will stand up to moderately humid basement conditions, although in flood-prone areas, be aware that they'll warp when exposed to standing water. ... - It adds a bit of insulation, which adds comfort colder climates. Fill your walkway with gravel to just below the top of the brick to hold the bricks in place and to allow good drainage from the … HOT AND DRY CLIMATE • General Characteristics :- • Hot dry weather in summer and cold in winter. For example, if you are living in Houston, Texas and it is 96°F outside and you want the indoor temperature to be 76°F indoors, that is a 20° difference you have to … One of the most tried and true flooring choices, hardwoods, are cool underfoot, making them a good choice for warm climates. While bamboo is also a natural material, its damp resistance is higher than hardwood's, and it doesn't support mold growth. Terms & Service | Privacy Policy | Truste Privacy Policy | Site Map My reason for going on this site was to get come answers as to why wood flooring is sold here and also to warn consumers of this problem with wood floors installed in dry climates. I have a customer that wants to put an engineered hand scraped floor in their home, they too leave for the summer. Insulate elevated floors with reflective, closed-cell bulk insulation to resist upward heat flow and condensation. to dry - in conjunction with the use of modern, more moisture sensitive building materials. A moisture barrier or underlayment beneath and proper sealing on top will safeguard your tile floor. Laminate. Available in rolls and tiles, short fibers and fuzzy, there’s a carpet suited to practically any living space where water isn’t present. Spray foam insulation is by far the best type of insulation for hot climates as it has considerably higher R-values than other insulation types. Install concrete as a flooring material on any level of your home, in any climate. Ultimately, there are plenty of flooring types that can dealwith the extreme temperature changes exceptionally well. Persistent damp conditions can lead to problems as the fibers and padding hold in moisture. End. Engineered timber. If that isn’t your idea of a dream home, there are some wood flooring options available. Yet another great option for Arizona desert homes is stone flooring. Thermal Insulation Types for a Hot Climate. The color is solid throughout, so it doesn’t show damage as easily. There ... Tough Ceramic, Porcelain and Natural Stone Tile. What products are best for the desert or coastal areas of the country? Insulation Tips for Hot, Humid Climates . Call us at (866) 441-6648, Get quotes from qualified local contractors, © Copyright 2020 Networx Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Building Science Corporation (BSC) in Westford, MA, warns that “most houses in hot, humid climates are over ventilated.” Humid attic air migrating into living spaces, operation of the HVAC system with external A/C equipment, HVAC ducts leaking into unconditioned pace, leakage of the building envelope, and unbalanced air flow, all can increase the home’s air change rate and humidity level. That cool touch is a boon in hot climates, both desert and more humid, and tropical areas such as Florida. A rooftop covered in moss and plants sounds like something straight out of … Because engineered floors are made up of several layers of wood, they tend to be a little more flexible in various climates. That’s not to say that they aren’t a good idea in colder areas, as radiant heating is appropriate under some wood floors. However Vinyl Flooring. Vinyl is a practical choice for floors above or below grade, in any type of climate. Vinyl is synthetic, but linoleum is a natural product made from ground cork and linseed oil. Wood flooring installation below grade in a basement (or in any room where moisture could be a problem, like a kitchen, laundry, or bath) is not a great idea. Broiling, freezing, moist and muggy, dry as a bone ... or somewhere in between. 5 questions to ask about your warranty before you purchase. A hot and dry climate will require thick walls to keep the temperature out. Your concrete floors will be cool compared to most other kinds. There are numerous, high-quality vinyl flooring options that aren’t your grandmother’s flower-patterned kitchen floor. In order to insulate a home properly, getting advice from a local contractor is essential. Begin Your Roof Replacement What are the customer's options? In such arid Portuguese locations, the rule to follow pretty strictly is ‘the right plant for the right place’ because otherwise there is little chance that the planting will be successful. Take time with your contractor to learn which flooring is best for you. However, concrete can be affected by the salts found in many de-icing products, so protect concrete flooring near the entrances to your home with mats. Designing planting schemes in a dry and hot climate is surely more challenging than working in a mild cool environment where basically everything thrives. Vinyl will fade when it's exposed to strong sunlight for long periods, unless you use the protective measures described in the section on hardwood (above). If you live in Arizona, you know that most sections are known for their hot, dry, desert like climates, warm summers and mild winters. 88. posted 6 years ago. pollinator Posts: 2392. Laminates have come a long way since the early days of obviously fake images of wood under layers of clear plastic. Properly cured and sealed, concrete is the most resistant type of floor when it comes to moisture and even flooding. All Rights Reserved. ... Best Flooring for Bathrooms Marble Floor Tile Options … I have no idea about the shrinkage rate of bamboo. Best flooring for a hot and humid climate. The weaker ones tend to expand or contract with extremes of temperature or humidity, so it's important to leave an expansion gap around the perimeter of the room. Engineered hardwood is an option for all climates, as its underlying construction resists swelling and shrinking. Copyright © 2020. Looking for a Pro? This is another stone best suited for patios in dry climates without winter freeze-thaw cycles. Another option is to layer a cold floor with large area rugs, rather than wall-to-wall carpet, and check the underside for dampness or mold growth occasionally. Carole Oldroyd is a freelance writer whose work focuses on home improvement and law. The best advice for a home in Boston can be disastrous for home in Phoenix and vice versa. This is the best insulation type as it rarely allows any heat transfer through the material. Laminate flooring comes in many varieties. Close the curtains when the sun is coming into the room, or for a longterm solution, apply UV-absorbing film to the windows. In hot climates, think about the temperature delta. This can be done several times, depending on the thickness of the material. However, bamboo's thermal properties are lower than those of its upscale "cousin," making it a less cozy option for cold climates. Find a Trusted Home Contractor That Can Make it Happen! However, you don’t have to give up on this dream just yet. ... rainwater harvesting, natural earth floor, rocket mass heated, alternative sewage system type of affair? Choosing the right flooring takes a bit more than picking out a color. Stone or ceramic tile is great for floors at any level of your home. … Luxury vinyl. High humidity in the home can cause serious problems with your flooring. The best thing you can do in this type of environment is maintain a consistent indoor atmosphere, especially during the summer months. Or what kind of modern conveniences can't you do without? Everyday cleaning requires vacuuming, but stains are harder to deal with. ... With this in mind all Lumber Liquidators flooring products can be used with success in dry desert or moist coastal regions … • Very little rainfall and very low humidity. Our experience in hot or dry areas such as Arizona, Colorado or California is that floatingengineered floors seem to work best for both bamboo and hardwood. Cork. Once the damage is done, the panel requires replacement. But it is in hot- ... Hot-Humid climates that most challenge builders and designers are: • keeping water out (including water vapor) • letting water out if it gets in Designing in hot-humid climates is complicated because sometimes the best strategies to keep water out also trap water in. How will popular types of flooring hold up to different climate conditions? Steam cleaning and spot treatments are necessary. Glue carpeting to your subfloor material to minimize moisture penetration. Reputable flooring contractors can tell you which varieties work with radiant heat. The best for hard wood would be bamboo. This makes bamboo flooring suitable for any level of your home, including the basement. • Sandy or rocky ground with very low vegetation cover. What is the "Green House effect"? Better options for homeowners in warm climates are metal, slate, clay, or rubber shingles. Both vinyl and linoleum are available in sheets and tiles and they clean up with a damp mop. Carpet is cozy underfoot in frosty winter weather but if you're planning to install a radiant floor heating system, choose a thin type of carpet that will not interfere with heat transfer. A radiant barrier reflects the energy and prevents heat transfer efficiency. Tile is suitable in practically any climate, although homes in colder regions might need heating installed underneath to curb its natural chill. Most tiles stand up to years of abuse and are water resistant, so you can mop to your heart’s desire. Vinyl and Linoleum: Not What You Might Think. Before making a decision, consider your climate and which materials work best there. Damp climates can be dangerous for your carpeting, so make sure the subflooring has a good moisture barrier. Vinyl and linoleum are words that are often used interchangeably, but they’re different materials. Dealing with Hot, Dry Climates. Some even realistically mimic wood and stone. This can greatly improve the look of your home while also adding to the property value. ... either propane or electric, … It's also antimicrobial and will not develop mold or mildew. They work in any room of the home, although bathrooms and kitchens are the most common places to find them. Consult a qualified flooring contractor to find the best type of floor for your home. Gravel paths may look beautiful, but they are nearly … Refinishing is not possible, … Sometimes the solid top layer of wood will dry out faster than the plywood portion of the engineered flooring, causing the boards to get wonky. Mix your native soil with good quality soil followed by a layer of composted mulch. The layering of engineered flooring can sometimes be the very reason that the floors begin to cup in dry climates. Dampness causes wood to swell, which can lead to buckling of the floor, but a dehumidifier regulates humidity and helps the floor stay put. Double-glazed window specifications: Whole-window U-value: 0.30 or less (the lower the better) Whole-window SHGC: 0.28 - 0.37 (the lower the better). Trusted Home Contractors. Contractor Login. Our dealer Nate McVay of Renew Bamboo has successfully installed dozens of Cali Bamboo floors in Reno, Nevada. Although tile can last for generations, it’s not ideal for areas prone to earthquakes. How close to the Gulf? Seal the floor seams adequately. In fact, this climate is so dry, some say that it is too dry for wood floors to be installed. Adobe is a great option that has been used for as long as humans have been constructing dwellings, specifically for its thermal properties. Which Flooring is Right For Your Climate? While not as immediately dangerous as flooding, hot and dry climates can take a toll on certain types of flooring (such as hardwood, bamboo, and laminate) over time. ... to scratching, and needs to be regularly sealed to prevent staining and water penetration. Comfy, Cozy Carpeting. Cork floors will be harmed, however, by excessive moisture. The best flooring for a humid climate would either be concrete or carpet. Work with your distributors to understand the products you are installing, and work with your customers to understand their wood floors and their role in the successful performance of their floor. While they’re suitable in any climate, they can feel a bit chilly underfoot. Excessive movement of the substrate leads to damaged tile. South Alabama? These hardwood decking species have shown to work in every climate from the dry dessert to hot and humid Florida all the way to cold and snow covered Buffalo, NY. The R-Value of insulation is a rating of how well it does its job. Similar to concrete, tiled floors are perfect for hot climates; in a colder locale, you might want to pair them with radiant heating. Stone is easy to maintain and also very durable, making for a great investment. Whatever the climate is like where you live, it is likely to affect your home decor choices. Meet a trusted home contractor who can install new carpet. Tile tends to be cool underfoot. The key to avoiding wood floor gaps and distortion, even in the most extreme climates, is to properly acclimate the flooring prior to installation. ... Read "Can bamboo … It has high heat resistance, making it useful in very hot climates. Floating engineered floors work best. The ideal humidity for the home is around 40 to 50 percent, which is high enough to prevent things from drying out but low enough to prevent damage and mold growth. Yes, you can install wood floors in dry climates. The best way to insulate your house (or church, school, or office building) greatly depends on what type of environment you live in.If you look at historic houses and buildings, you can learn a lot about how to design for your climate, because early builders had to adapt to the local conditions to try to make buildings as comfortable as possible.. A quick example of this is the … If the vinyl flooring is going to be installed atop a concrete slab or over a crawl space, be sure to use a vapor barrier. It is an excellent stone to use around swimming pools and performs well in wet, freezing climates. This can be a real problem if the … John Elliott. Cork is an increasingly popular flooring material that offers a number of advantages: it is hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, and temperature stable, making it pleasantly warm in winter and cool in summer. ... touch with your local Floor Coverings International to learn more about choosing the best hardwood flooring for humid climates. Vinyl and linoleum are words that are often used interchangeably, but they’re different materials. Mold and mildew can become a problem, especially with carpet installed in basements. There are horror stories about both bamboo and hardwood floors that buckle and crack inhot dry climates, and these same complaints are often heard in very wet climates as well. Building Materials for Hot and Dry Climates: First off, consider the building materials you are going to use. Or does it take a long time for them to dry & be treated? Would this work in their home? To make a radiant barrier more efficient and an extra layer of insulation inside the attics. Laminates edges swell in excessively damp conditions. If hard wood floors are the only thing that you would like in your home, here is a list for you ranking from the best to use through ones that would not be recommended. Most wood shrinks and swells the most between 12% and 25% MC, with smaller changes between 0% and 12%. Differing from solid timber flooring, engineered timber is made with several different layers, making it more resistant to moisture. Neither is leaving your hardwood floors in a very hot or cold home while you are away; leave the HVAC on at a low setting. Green or “Living” Roofs. Apply a moisture barrier to the subfloor before laminate installation and seal all seams properly. Both damp and dry conditions cause problems for hardwood, but there are remedies in some situations. 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