Wood flooring responds to humidity variations by expanding and contracting, sometimes the effects will be very noticeable. Now that warm and humid summer weather is rolling in, your wood floor will begin to expand. If you aren't sure what you're looking at or how to fix it, keep reading to easily identify the type of expansion and how to keep it under control.
Cupping Boards
The humidity inside your home can rise up to 90 percent from late spring until mid-fall. Just a few days of exposure to high humidity, or even a spilled drink, can cause wood flooring to cup. When a wooden board cups, its edges are higher than its center.
When extensive moisture or humidity cause the wood to expand a lot, the adjoining boards press against each other. In very extreme cases, this pressure can cause the boards to crack.
Prevention: If you are planning on installing new hardwood, keep the indoor humidity level within 40-60 percent. Never allow indoor humidity to rise over 65 percent; keep the A/C or dehumidifier on during warm, humid weather.
When extensive moisture or humidity cause the wood to expand a lot, the adjoining boards press against each other. In very extreme cases, this pressure can cause the boards to crack.
Prevention: If you are planning on installing new hardwood, keep the indoor humidity level within 40-60 percent. Never allow indoor humidity to rise over 65 percent; keep the A/C or dehumidifier on during warm, humid weather.
Crowning Floorboards
This is the opposite of cupping, the middle of the board rises higher than the edges of the board. This can occur when the surface of the floor encounters moisture. It usually results from a floor being sanded too soon after it has cupped. When this happens, the top edges of the board are sanded off, and when it returns to a normal moisture content the edges are lower than the rest of the board.
Prevention: Keep water from drying on the wood and don't use water-based products to clean. if cupping occurs, wait until the board returns to normal before sanding.
Prevention: Keep water from drying on the wood and don't use water-based products to clean. if cupping occurs, wait until the board returns to normal before sanding.
Buckling Wood Floors
Buckling is an extreme reaction to moisture that occurs with a hardwood flooring. It happens when the floor literally pulls itself up from the subfloor; it can pull up as high as several inches. Buckling is an uncommon occurrence and usually only happening after a flood. Even in such cases, it is possible that a floor can be repaired instead of being totally replaced.
Prevention: There is no way to prevent flooding but if your floors do buckle, find a reliable flooring specialist to advise you on repairing or replacing the damaged flooring.
FloorQuest has been providing outstanding customer service and products for over 10 years. Contact us today, or visit one of our four Wisconsin locations.
Prevention: There is no way to prevent flooding but if your floors do buckle, find a reliable flooring specialist to advise you on repairing or replacing the damaged flooring.
FloorQuest has been providing outstanding customer service and products for over 10 years. Contact us today, or visit one of our four Wisconsin locations.
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