Temperature extremes can cause destruction on your vinyl plank flooring. Temperature range, according to many experts, should be kept between 65-85 degrees F.

It’s super-important to maintain this range. The dry, temperature-controlled interiors ensure your vinyl planks remain intact for a very long period of time.

If the planks get exposed to extremely hot temperatures, they could, bulge or even break down and melt. Not only is this going to render your flooring unsightly but also introduce you in extra costs to replace the damaged planks.

In this article, we discuss the ideal conditions of temperature and other factors that will make your vinyl plank flooring stay in good posture for extended periods. Read on.

What Is the Ideal Vinyl Plank Flooring Temperature Range?

One of the most imminent questions you want to ask yourself even before you buy a vinyl plank flooring is the temperature range within which vinyl planks are safe. Let’s be frank, when temperature go to the extremes, there’s the potential of vinyl floor damage.

And, any flooring for that matter can be affected by temperature fluctuations. For the record, the ideal vinyl plank flooring temperature range is between 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Most vinyl planks can hold on in this range quite well. Remember, they are deemed to be very durable and versatile. Have the vinyl planks in areas with this temperature regime and they will remain intact.

But if you expose the planks at a temperature higher than 85 degrees Fahrenheit, you probably want to see them melt or develop some bulges.

What this means is that one has to consider the kind of weather conditions they live in before they have the vinyl plank flooring installed. Even more crucial, the manufacturer you choose to buy their products has a pertinent hand in the quality of vinyl planks you take home.

So, choose wisely to avoid disappointments and loss. As usual, don’t hesitate to consult professional flooring services if you feel short of ideas.

Does Temperature Affect Vinyl Plank Flooring?

Temperature changes is inevitable in any place. Sometimes you even want to raise or lower your home temperature to do something and it’s okay. When it comes to vinyl planks, does temperature affect vinyl plank flooring?

Generally, yes. Temperatures can affect your vinyl flooring. And for that matter, both extremes. High temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit can be dangerous as they cause your flooring to bulge and even melt.

Extremely cold wintry temperatures may prove too much for adhesives used in the case of glued-down vinyl plank flooring. Usually, adhesives become brittle and therefore crumble when temperatures fall as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

With that in mind, make sure that extreme heat sources are well controlled. Remember, vinyl plank flooring can be exposed to hot temperatures in different ways and heat sources are just one of the most prominent ways.

If you accidentally drop a cigarette on your flooring, it will burn. The same thing happens when you drop a hot pan on the floor or a lit match or a hot device such as a curling iron.

Also, your malfunctioning devices and appliances like refrigerators and dryers can generate a lot of heat. This heat is enough to melt the vinyl plank flooring underneath. Once the vinyl flooring is damaged, it cannot be repaired but can only be replaced with another plank.

Know this, extreme temperatures can affect your vinyl flooring beyond scorches and burns. This means that there are consequences harsher than the aforementioned issues.

For instance, when one plank gets melted, the overall look of the flooring becomes distorted. There’s discoloration that brings some sort of a bad outlook. Your pattern is entirely broken down and this may have a huge bearing on the design and ultimately the décor of your space.

When that happens, replace the damaged planks as soon as possible. It will cost you but that’s the right thing to do.

Does Vinyl Plank Flooring Need to Acclimate?

After you buy your vinyl planks, you may not know exactly what to do. Do you go straight to install the flooring? Or does vinyl plank flooring need to acclimate before laying it down on the floor?

Most often than not, vinyl plank flooring needs to acclimate. Acclimation plays a critical role as far as the longevity of the vinyl plank flooring can go.

What happens when you acclimate your vinyl flooring is that it blends in the prevailing weather conditions of the area it’s going to stay for a very long time.

It’s easy to note that vinyl plank floorings have a solid core. But the truth remains that tiny pores exist in the structure. These spaces allow exchange of elements in and out of the vinyl planks.

Failing to acclimate your vinyl plank flooring leaves it vulnerable to the surrounding weather elements. The outcomes may be unforgiving especially when humidity and temperature run to the extreme ends.

Hence, acclimation should be your deliberate effort and not something you have the luxury of doing or not doing. It’s a vital process for the longevity and proper function of your flooring.

How to Acclimate Your Vinyl Plank Flooring

While the modern day vinyl planks boast top long lasting performances, acclimation is a must to be on the safe side. It’s good to expose the planks to the kind of conditions they’ll be spending for the rest of their lifespan.

When you are acclimating in a pre-existing home, the procedure may be different to a newly constructed home. Let’s see how it happens in an already established home.

Acclimate the luxury vinyl floors for about 48 hours. That means you need to have the flooring shipped to your home 2 days prior to installation.
Carry your boxes of vinyl planks to the room you want to install them. Not just anywhere else.
Ensure that the room temperature is at the same level you’re accustomed having it. Don’t raise or lower it. Usually, that would be about 59-80 degrees Fahrenheit. At the same time, check to ensure that humidity is maintained at 35-75%.
You can take the vinyl planks outside or decide to leave them inside the box. Acclimation will still carry on in both situations.
Once you install the vinyl plank flooring, let the temperature remain in the range the vinyl planks were acclimated.

Someone may ask; what if I don’t acclimate? Well, that’s going to be a tough horrible decision to make. You have spent top dollar purchasing the flooring. It won’t make sense not following the right procedure of installing it.

That said, if you don’t acclimate your vinyl plank flooring, it will expand or contract. If, for instance, it came from hotter weather, and it’s installed in a cooler environment, the material will contract. If opposite, expansion occurs.

The end result of these occurrences is a destabilized flooring that pulls apart and creates gaps in between the planks. This is also the time you may see the planks buckle and the click-lock connections loosen or even become stuck together.

Thus, you could see an uneven and unsightly floor. There’s definitely no comfort in such a place.

Can Vinyl Plank Flooring Withstand Cold Temperatures?

If you live in cold climate area with cold freezing temperatures, your game plan with the vinyl plank flooring has to be well thought out. Note that cold temperatures can also destroy your vinyl plank flooring if you undertake a bad installation.

First forward, glued-down vinyl plank flooring is not recommended in cold climates. If you have it on the subfloor, the cold can cause the adhesives used to become brittle and crumble under very temperatures. So, you want to avoid this version of vinyl plank in cold climates.

However, the click-lock vinyl planks are best for cold temperatures. This is because it’s durable, waterproof, and also offers insulation – hence improving the warmth of your room.

While they are designed to resemble wood in appearance, you won’t see them expand and contract in cold conditions. And, if they must undergo the expansion-contraction changes, the floating design helps the planks hold up really well.

Usually, the vinyl planks come with an extra insulation in the form of a foam pad underneath. This plays a serious role of preventing the freezing effects of snow.

If you couple this feature with the embossed surface on top, your warmth and comfort are guaranteed even in the cold seasons.

Final Thoughts

The ideal vinyl plank flooring temperature range should be maintained between 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the perfect temperature for the optimal and efficient performance of your vinyl plank flooring.

However, it’s vital to acclimate your flooring before you lay it in place. Acclimation ensures that your flooring adapts to the climatic elements of the place you’ll be using it.

Before you buy the vinyl flooring, make sure it can survive your climate well. Too much exposure to higher temperature will cause the vinyl material to melt. This distorts the floor and leads to replacement costs.

Under extreme low temperatures, you should not use glued-down vinyl plank flooring as the adhesives under become brittle and crumble, leaving your flooring unanchored.