Tips for Preventing Hardwood Floor Gapping

03/18/2022

Regardless of their species or hardness rating, wood is an organic matter capable of absorbing water, moisture, and nutrients. In terms of solidity, flexibility, and tension, wood fibres tend to change continuously. The pieces of wood used to construct hardwood floors expand and contract at the microscopic level, and these changes are almost always beyond our perception. 

The atmospheric condition within a home is affected by multiple factors such as the relative tightness of the house, number of residents, outdoor temperature, and the efficiency of the HVAC system. As winter approaches, the heating system produces warm air to keep us comfortable. This, however, causes loss of moisture from the wooden floors. This results in contraction of the wood, leading to hardwood floor gapping. In regions where the atmosphere is dry, gapping in hardwood floors is a common concern for property owners. 

Gaps may also form between individual boards because of improper acclimatisation of the floor before they are fitted. Another common cause of this problem is the use of wood species that are more likely to expand or contract excessively. Hardwood floor gapping not only makes floors look dull, but also attract dirt and may pose a tripping hazard by starting to curl or cup. 

Luckily, however, there are several products available these days that can help you prevent hardwood floor gapping. Also, if you are already facing this problem, there are ways to fix it. Most importantly, you can avoid this by following some simple measures during and before the installation of the floor. 

Hardwood Preparation: 

The quality of finish of the hardwood determines the amount of moisture absorbed or expired into the air by the wood. Therefore, from the perspective of gapping prevention, it is important to ensure that the hardwood is finished efficiently by a skilled operator. 

Preparation of wood surface begins after cutting a slat of hardwood into accurate dimensions. A properly finished hardwood not only enhances floor appearance, but also protects it from possible damage. Some commonly used materials for hardwood finish include glazes, dyes, colorants, toners, sealers, wood fillers, shade coats, and primers. 

Hardwood Acclimation:  

One of the most important tasks before hardwood installation is to ensure that the temperature and humidity of the wood matches your home’s ambient temperature and humidity. If this equilibrium is not achieved, there can be some serious issues after installation. If the moisture content of the wood is higher compared to sub-floor, shrinking and gapping may result because of contraction after installation. On the other hand, if the wood is drier compared to the ambient environment, it may lead to buckling of the floor. 

Here are some simple ways to acclimate your hardwood flooring

• Always store the hardwood in the space where it will be installed.
• The HVAC system should operate at temperatures that are in accordance with your daily routine.
• Allow ample airflow by stacking the hardwood in a log cabin formation. 

In-home Humidity:

You can create the correct environment for hardwood installation and its long life by following these techniques.

• Weatherise your home to reduce ventilation by sealing old windows, cracks, etc. 
• Try to maintain your home’s relative humidity in the range of 35-55%.   

These were just a few simple ways to prevent hardwood floor gapping. Please contact us today for more hardwood flooring maintenance tips.