You are the only one with the correct answer so far... that's a real shame too in this day and age.

It is hard for builders to deal with, but that's part of his job description. Install it too early without using proper testing methods and you would be a prime candidate for a problem to arise later on.

if wood flooring isnt acclimated, isnt tested for mousture equalization to the area, isnt tested to ensure moisture content is within minimum recommended standards, and the interior building products as well (subfloor) isnt moisture tested, its a failure waiting to happen.

It might fail and might not fail.

it's a gamble ... Do you want to gamble ?

Also, the enviroment should be set and stable at the time of the acclimation period, installation, and throughout the life of the product. In other words, it should be the average enviroment temp and humidity expected for the life of the area ... not just the hardwood and the area, but the subfloor as well, so yes, the HVAC should be opperating under settings normal for the entire acclimation period and installation unless manufacturers/standards-assc says otherwise, else there could be a dramatic negative effect on the flooring when teh climate does change after its turned on.

For instance, it its humid and the wood picked up humidity, you can have gaps later when the hvac is turned on and drawls out the moisture. OR if the subfloor is too moist and the wood is dry, the wood can pull moisture from the subfloor and case buckling or cupping.

industry standards exist because they are tried and true methods to ensure problem free installation and to protect the lifecycle and ensure the flooring product will perform as expected over the course of its life.

in the end it doesnt matter why they were not adhered to if there is ever a failure, because, in the end, its still a failure. Then everyone has so much fun playing the blame game.

alot of bad things could happen.

nothing could happen.

its best to play it safe.

you might want to do some reading here:

Here is a link that might be useful: National Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association - publications

Yes, it is sad, when the builders are clueless. It has to cost them in the back pocket for them to wise up. Evidentally they have been passing the buck, switching floorguys, often.

I have a few pictures of a couple of wood floors, where the GC were trying to wiggle out of it being their problem, when they now have 1500 sq.ft. of firewood. They won't be practicing that anymore with a soild, like they had in the past with an engineered.

Thanks for the replies. When is the proper time to install new hardwood floors in a new construction house? Typically the HVAC isn't turned on here(Louisiana) until after cabinets/plumbin/electrical top out. It is usually not turned on until the permanent electric inspection has been done, so it's usually one of the last things done. Should the HVAC be turned on earlier in the build? Or, should the hardwood flooring be installed later in the build?

I understand why it should be acclimated and how it should be acclimated I just don't know the sequence of events in the build process to make sure it get's acclimated.

When do you typically install real hardwood flooring?

Thanks!

flooring should be the last thing done to the interior of the property, with the exception of paint touchups and a final pre-turnover cleaning.

I meant to say, in terms of possible damage from other work and workers, flooring should be the last thing done in a property, with the exception of paint touchups and pre-turnover cleaning.

The HVAC should be running and the area, wood, and subfloor within moisture/humidity limits before the hardwood is installed, and I do not mean turned on the morning of the isntallation. It should be running at least a few days to a week so all surfaces and products are acclimated to the average interior climate (temp/humidity) the wood will be in for its life.

You do not want any drastic changes in interior climate after the hardwood installation.

Builders are not wood floor professionals. In fact they will rarely hire someone that knows their stuff. Why??? Because a professional and knowledgable wood professional, won't put up with the builder dictating his job, leading them to lost profits. Builders want total control over the job, dictating when and where things will get done. Builders don't understand the relationship between wood and humidity. Especially how much a board will shrink if installed in a humid environment, or how much it can swell and buckle when brought in and installed in a home that has no HVAC, and is closed up and locked to keep theives out, while this builds and holds tremendous humidity swelling the wood after it is installed and before the homes closing.

The manufacturers of all wood flooring demand and require the home be finished of all "wet trades" and the HVAC up and running for a minimum of 2 weeks, to pull all the excessive humidity from the building stages. That doesn't mean turning the therostat up to 85, either. Then the wood can be brought in to acclimate. Acclimation is not a time thing(two days / two weeks) It is a hygrometer and wood moisture meter, thing!!!! Guessing and placing a stop watch on acclimation, is just an uneducated practice.