Solid hardwood should acclimate on-site in the installation environment for a minimum of 3–5 days — and in some Utah winter conditions up to 7–10 days — with HVAC running at normal occupied temperature and humidity. Engineered hardwood typically requires 48–72 hours. Acclimation allows wood to reach equilibrium moisture content with its surroundings, reducing gapping, cupping, and buckling risk after installation. RainFire Builders builds acclimation time into every wood flooring project schedule. Rushing this step is one of the leading causes of flooring warranty voidance and is never something we do to meet a faster delivery date.