Why Do I Have Gaps In My Hardwood Floor

The problem is magnified when the boards were not tightly laid in the first place.

Why do i have gaps in my hardwood floor.

Hardwood gaps are generally caused by one of a few installation errors. The gaps that you have now are probably permanent. During winter months complaints usually start trickling in. Gapping in engineered hardwood can be due to many factors including but not limited to the material s manufacturing changes in humidity and the type and quality of the installation.

But to answer a common question. Engineered hardwood flooring is designed to minimize gaps due to expansion and contraction of the wood. Some finishes may also help reduce the risk of your hardwood floor drying. They weren t there in the summer solid 3 4 hardwoods will expand and contract with seasonal changes in moisture.

In any case wait until spring before you do any filling and do it sparingly. Failing to keep boards straight when working. Do all this if you expect your solid wood floors to stay tight. Another exacerbating condition is water damage.

If you do discover that your hardwood floor is beginning to gap in spots it s important that you take care of it sooner rather than later. Gaps in hardwood floors can be a huge visual annoyance. For normal gaps no repairs are needed. Why do we have gaps.

Large gaps in wood floors that do not close up during the summer months could be a result of excessive moisture check the crawl space below being located too close to a heating vent incorrect nail spacing or structural settlement issues. Hardwood floor gaps cracks. The wood shrinks because it loses moisture and gaps. Improperly acclimating the hardwoods prior to installation.

Don t even think about repairs until the spring the floors amy have corrected. Adding filler is not a good idea. In cases where the gaps aren t repaired by increasing the humidity levels you will need to fill these cracks. Water logged wood will first swell then shrink as it dries out.

Almost every wood floor will show some separation between boards particularly in the winter months when homes are heated and the air is dry. Repairing permanent floor cracks photo credit. Yes it can still have gaps. 10098557 don t delay fixing hardwood floor gaps.

With older tongue and groove hardwood or even wide plank floors gaps inevitably develop between the boards mostly because the wood shrinks over time as it dries out and loses moisture content. Failing to install the first board perfectly straight in a hardwood flooring installation. Don t put any filler into prefinished floors it never looks good. Often it s a floor owner concerned with new hardwood floors separating or gapping.

While humidity may affect your hardwood floor permanent cracking is also a possible issue. Not only are they an eyesore they can also collect dirt and dust.