Gaps In Hardwood Floors

Whether your floors are newly installed or you ve had hardwood floors for years you can use humidifiers to reduce the likelihood of gaps.

Gaps in hardwood floors. Even though the hardwood is no longer living and growing it contains cells that still take on and lose moisture with changes in relative humidity. Engineered hardwood flooring is designed to minimize gaps due to expansion and contraction of the wood. As the humidity rises and falls it s common for gaps to form and appear in hardwood floors.

Generally speaking for 2 3 and 4 you know the gaps are there immediately after installing the board and you can pull the offensive board out and. Several factors can lead to its cause. Make sure the room is humid to avoid the risk of your wood strip being pushed out the next time your floorboards swell.

The problem is magnified when the boards were not tightly laid in the first place. To prevent large gaps in your wood floors stabilize your home s relative humidity by using a humidifier in the winter months. Use the results to decide what flooring is best for your home.

But to answer a common question. Improperly acclimating the hardwoods prior to installation. Have the installer perform a humidity level test because either very high or very low humidity can cause bowing splitting and warping.

Drag the tube along the length of the affected area releasing pressure only when you have reached the end or have corrected the problem. The example to the right shows a nickel sized gap. If the gaps in your wood floor are smaller and more cosmetic a prefabricated wood filler or a wood dust and wood flour cement mix would be good options.

It may take years for gaps to show up in your hardwood floors. Use exhaust fans and dehumidifiers to prevent too much moisture in the. Hardwood takes on and loses moisture as the temperatures and the humidity rises and falls.