Almost 70% of American homeowners admit that hardwood flooring is their desired choice, based on research by the National Wood Flooring Association. Are you surprised?
With a natural feel and infinitely diverse stain options, hardwood floors bring a combination of warmth and instant luxury to a space.
But natural products like wood also bring their own set of precautions to ensure a long, beautiful life against issues like buckling and warping. We hope by explaining the different problems you might face, their causes, prevention, and repair, that you’ll feel more confident in caring for your floors and know when to reach out to us for assistance.
The 3 -INGs of Hardwood Floors
Buckling, warping, and cupping are the primary headaches you can encounter with hardwood floors. While you never want to experience any, warping and cupping more minor issues that should be easier to repair. But what are you looking for?
Warped hardwood floors can present a variety of appearances. One side or another may be raised, you may see bubbled patches in the middle of boards, or it may even look like it’s beginning to twist. Cupping is similar, only planks will specifically remain flat in the center, and all four edges have begun to raise, giving it a slightly bowed look.
Buckling hardwood floors, on the other hand, are a more pressing issue. Hardwood floors are installed on top of a supportive layer called the subfloor. When buckling occurs, the planks begin to rise until they completely separate from this base layer, where they are then more susceptible to additional damage.
If the thought of buckling floors makes you buckle at the knees, no need to panic! Next, we’ll explain how you can prevent major issues and why you should contact us for any help.
Causes and Prevention
Water is an arch nemesis to homeowners everywhere, and that’s no exception when it comes to hardwoods. Humidity and excessive moisture that penetrate the floor are the top causes for distortion. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to mitigate the risk you face.
If you’re building a new home from the ground up, you can talk with the contractor about letting the subfloor sit in the home to adapt to the specific environment of the area. By allowing it to settle, it’s less likely there will be shape changes in the subfloor itself that affect the planks laid on top.
For already installed hardwood floors, prevention involves monitoring for spills and removing liquid quickly. Periodically check appliances like your refrigerator and dishwasher, as well as pipes for hidden leaks that could be pooling and soaking into your floors. Additionally, use of fans and properly installed HVAC reduces moisture in the air, thus reducing risk to your floors.
Houses in extreme climates may encounter more issues with their hardwoods. Natural materials contract and expand in general with temperature changes, but dramatic swings can be difficult for the wood to tolerate. But that doesn’t mean it’s not possible! We just recommend staying away from certain wood species that may be more susceptible to damage in these environments.
Repairing Damaged Floors
The great news is that damaged hardwood floors can be repaired! Of course, like most home improvement projects, the extent of the damage and exact materials used will affect the time and cost associated with repair.
For very simple cupping or warping, sometimes merely drying and fanning the area will allow it to return to its original shape without any additional effort on your part. You can also place a heavy object on the area and force the plank into position until it’s dried completely.
For more severe warping or buckling, removal of the affected area may be required. You’ll likely see majorly misshapen boards, discolored wood, and large bubbles. Our flooring experts will remove both the damaged area and a bit of the perimeter in order to stop any moisture spreading. Worried about matching? That’s why we worked with hundreds of wood species that can be stained to match your current look!
Why Hire the Pros?
Without hiring professionals, you may not have access to that same breadth of flooring choices. And more importantly, a DIY flooring job can be a recipe for disaster! Properly installing hardwood floors is more of an art than a trade and requires proper training and skill to obtain a result that will not only look great but will last for years, even a lifetime.
Hardwood flooring services are well worth hiring for any wood floor project you have including refinishing, restoration and most importantly installation.
Install Hardwood with the Pros
Some homeowners let the potential problems with hardwood floors deter them from the choice altogether. And while proper care and prevention is imperative, you should also remember you have hardwood flooring experts like us here at Cameron the Sandman who can address wood floor issues before they turn into big problems. Call and speak to a wood floor expert today!