Dealing with buckled or cupped wood floors? What could be the reason? Often times very high or very low humidity can be the cause. So how can you find the right level in order to keep your floors in perfect shape? Find out below:
Why Do Wood Floors Buckle?
If the humidity level inside or underneath your house is much higher than the level of humidity present when the floor was installed, it can cause the boards to expand or buckle.
If the humidity level inside or underneath your house is much lower than the level of humidity present when the floor was installed, it can cause the boards to shrink and leave gaps.
Cupping can also take place if the humidity levels inside and outside of your house are far apart.
Where Is The Humidity Higher?
It all depends on the direction of the cupping. If your floorboards are cupping down, so the center of the boards is higher than the edges, the humidity inside your house is much higher than it is in the crawlspace or basement underneath. If the floorboards are cupping up, making a “U” shape, the humidity level in the crawlspace or basement is much higher.
How To Reduce Humidity Inside Your House
Run an air conditioner during hot, humid weather.
Run bathroom vents during and up to 15 minutes after showering or bathing.
Turn on your kitchen stove vent when cooking, if it’s vented to the outside.
Consider having a dehumidifier installed if none of the above options sufficiently lower humidity levels.
How To Reduce Humidity Under Your House
Check for and remove any standing water. This can be caused by plumbing leaks or drainage problems.
Seal the walls and floors of your basement with a waterproof sealer.
Make sure your crawlspace is adequately vented. There should be 1 square-foot of vent space for every 150 square feet of crawlspace.
For more information, give the experts at Hall Flooring a call. We’d be glad to answer any and all of your wood flooring questions. Labels: finished flooring, flooring, hall flooring, hardwood flooring, hardwood flooring fairfield, hardwood flooring long island, Protecting Your Wood Floors