In Phoenix, summer temperatures can soar to 115 degrees, putting major stress on HVAC systems. Unfortunately, these systems are often inactive during millwork installation, creating problems that are easy to overlook but costly to fix.
According to Design Solutions magazine (2017), the top concern for the Architectural Woodwork Institute’s technical team is wood movement inside built environments. And it’s no wonder—wood products are naturally responsive to the climate, expanding and contracting with humidity, temperature, and changes in air conditions.
This is especially true in Arizona’s dry heat and fluctuating summer temperatures. From June through September, climate control systems must remain operational during millwork installation. Failing to do so increases the risk of shrinkage, warping, and long-term performance issues.
Why Humidity in Arizona Matters for Woodwork
Humidity in Arizona—or lack thereof—plays a major role in how wood behaves indoors. Even though Phoenix is known for its dry climate, relative humidity still fluctuates with the seasons, and air conditioning systems have a significant impact on keeping that balance stable indoors.
The Architectural Woodwork Institute recommends that relative humidity at the job site be measured and maintained daily, seven days a week. For the Southwest, the ideal range is 26% to 35%. Once both temperature and humidity in Arizona are stabilized, millwork should remain on-site for at least three days before installation to climatize. This helps minimize movement post-installation and ensures a cleaner, longer-lasting result.
The Real-World Challenges
In a perfect world, HVAC systems would be fully operational before any millwork installation begins. But in reality, construction schedules make that a luxury. Most job sites don’t have stabilized temperature and humidity when millwork arrives, and delays in other trades often mean cabinetry is moved multiple times before it’s finally installed.
That movement increases the risk of trade damage and installation issues. Still, even with these challenges, making HVAC functionality a baseline goal before millwork installation is one of the most beneficial steps project teams can take, especially during Arizona’s hot summer months.
A Best Practice That Benefits Everyone
Millwork is an investment. When handled correctly, it elevates the entire space. A simple step like ensuring HVAC is running and that humidity levels in Arizona are within recommended ranges, can dramatically reduce callbacks, damage, and installation issues.
From our experience, this isn’t just a technical detail. It’s a best practice that protects timelines, budgets, and the final quality of the work.
Planning a project this summer? Let’s talk about how to protect your millwork installation from Arizona’s climate extremes.
