How to Store, Acclimate & Prep for Your Silvan Installation
Silvan is real hardwood, so a great install starts with respecting how wood behaves. Proper acclimation, a stable indoor climate, and well prepped subfloor set you up for decades of beautiful floors.
Pre-Installation Requirements at a Glance
These standards protect your warranty and your finished floor. Treat them as non-negotiable.
- Climate control: 65°F–85°F and 35–65% RH before, during, and after installation
- Acclimation: 48 hours minimum, flat in the conditioned install room
- Carton storage: Flat and horizontal, never on end
- Subfloor flatness: 1/16" over 6 feet
- Vapor barrier: Required on every floating install
- Underlayment: Hardwood-rated, minimum 60 kPa compressive strength
- Perimeter caulk: Bathroom caulk where flooring meets baseboard
Storage and Acclimation
Store cartons flat at all times, standing them on end damages the click mechanism. Bring them into the install room and acclimate for at least 48 hours with the climate already at spec before installation begins
Climate
Silvan needs 65°F–85°F during installation and 35–65% RH year-round. Wood swells in humid summers and shrinks in dry winters, holding humidity in range prevents gapping and cupping after install.
Subfloor Flatness
No greater than 1/16" height deviation over 6 feet. Bumps and dips can damage click mechanisms over time and create hollow spots underfoot. Patch low spots, seams, cracks, and joints before starting.
Installing Over an Existing Floor
Silvan can go over most hard surfaces — including hardwood, vinyl, and tile — as long as the existing floor is glued down, fully secured, level, and dry. Do not install over carpet, foam padding, or any existing floating floor system. Where tile or marble is involved, level the grout joints flush with the surface. Skim coats may be needed to achieve a flat enough base.
Floating or Glue-Down
For floating installs, maintain a minimum 3/8" expansion gap around all fixed objects and perimeter walls. Silvan can also be glued down, but glue-down installations have different adhesive, moisture barrier, and expansion-gap requirements. See the Silvan Installation Guide for glue-down details.
Common Questions
Why is Silvan's flatness spec tighter than Modin or Arista?
Silvan is made from real wood, which is less dimensionally forgiving than vinyl or LVP. The tighter flatness spec — 1/16" over 6 feet versus 3/16" for LVP products like Modin — protects the click mechanism and prevents hollow spots underfoot.
Do I need a vapor barrier even over plywood?
A vapor barrier is required on every floating install, not just over concrete.
Can I install Silvan in a bathroom?
Yes. Apply 100% silicone caulk — not grout — where the flooring meets the tub, shower, or toilet base, and ensure all wall penetrations are sealed before installation. See the Silvan Installation Guide for full details.