When your brand new laminate flooring arrives, the excitement of transforming your space can make it tempting to dive straight into installation — but there’s one absolutely critical step that should never be skipped: acclimatising your laminate flooring. Whether you’re fitting your laminate yourself or using a professional flooring fitter, taking the time to let your boards properly adjust to their new environment could be the difference between a flawless, long-lasting floor and one that warps, lifts, buckles, or develops unsightly gaps between boards within months of installation.
Acclimatisation is not optional — it’s an essential part of the installation process that every reputable flooring manufacturer recommends, and skipping it can even invalidate your product warranty. Yet it remains one of the most commonly overlooked steps by homeowners eager to get their new floor down as quickly as possible.
In this comprehensive laminate flooring acclimatisation guide by AQ Carpets, we’ll explain everything you need to know, including:
Acclimatisation is the process of allowing your laminate flooring boards to gradually adjust to the specific temperature and humidity conditions of the room they’ll be installed in — before a single plank is laid. Like all natural and composite flooring materials, including engineered wood, vinyl, and LVT flooring, laminate is sensitive to its surrounding environment. As temperature and humidity levels fluctuate between seasons, your boards will naturally expand in warmer, more humid conditions and contract in cooler, drier conditions — and acclimatisation ensures these natural movements happen before installation, not after.
Skip this step, and you’re taking a significant risk. Boards that haven’t been properly acclimatised can shrink dramatically in winter and expand under summer heat — placing enormous stress on the locking joints and subfloor beneath. The result can be a range of costly and frustrating problems, including:
The solution is simple. By leaving your laminate flooring packs laid flat in the installation room for a minimum of 48 hours before fitting — ideally with the room maintained at its normal living temperature between 18°C and 27°C — you give your boards the time they need to reach their natural, stable size for that specific environment. Fitting laminate that has been properly acclimatised means your floor will stay flat, tight, gap-free, and beautiful — whatever the season.
Follow these expert Gulcarpet laminate flooring tips to ensure perfect installation:
Make sure all painting, plastering, or decorating work is fully dry (allow 7 days).
Keep the room at a stable temperature between 16–25 °C.
Ensure the subfloor is dry, clean, and level (damp subfloors cause damage).
If you have underfloor heating, set it to the temperature recommended by your flooring manufacturer.
Keep your laminate flooring in its sealed boxes.
Place each box flat on the floor, leaving small gaps between packs.
Do not stack them vertically, as this can bend or damage the locking system.
Check your manufacturer’s guidelines. If none are provided, allow 48–72 hours for acclimatisation.
Longer acclimatisation times are better in homes with high humidity or temperature changes.
Once acclimatised, your boards are ready for fitting..
No. Always lay the boxes flat with gaps between them. Stacking can damage boards and cause uneven acclimatisation.
A minimum of 48 hours is required, but for the best results, leave your laminate flooring to acclimatise for up to 72 hours.
Skipping this step often leads to:
Boards separating due to shrinkage
Peaking joints from swelling
Flooring lifting or warping
Expansion gap issues
By letting your flooring acclimatise, you reduce the risk of costly repairs in the future.
At AQ Carpets, we provide a wide range of high-quality laminate flooring that looks just like real wood or stone but is more affordable and easier to maintain. Our flooring experts can guide you on choosing the best style, fitting it professionally, and caring for it long-term.
Order free laminate flooring samples from AQ Carpets today and see how they look in your home.
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