The most common wood species we hear complaints about with gapping and cracks is maple.
Installed hardwood and before i stained it gaps appeared.
Winter in chicago.
Gaps in hardwood floors can be a huge visual annoyance.
For larger gaps that don t close up call in a professional contractor who can repair floors properly.
Failing to install the first board perfectly straight in a hardwood flooring installation.
Below are summaries of questions we ve fielded over the years.
For normal gaps no repairs are needed.
Yes it can still have gaps.
Engineered hardwood flooring is designed to minimize gaps due to expansion and contraction of the wood.
It may take years for gaps to show up in your hardwood floors.
But to answer a common question.
Before installing hardwood floors it is important to acclimate the product to your home.
The best times to repair hardwood floors are april and october.
Improperly acclimating the hardwoods prior to installation.
Questions from our readers.
Not only are they an eyesore they can also collect dirt and dust.
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.
It will get pushed out as the wood expands with moisture.
Expansion and contractions causes hardwood floor gaps.
Failing to keep boards straight when working.
Have the installer perform a humidity level test because either very high or very low humidity can cause bowing splitting and warping.
Hardwood gaps are generally caused by one of a few installation errors.
Try to avoid gaps in the first place.
Hardwood takes on and loses moisture as the temperatures and the humidity rises and falls.
Whether your floors are newly installed or you ve had hardwood floors for years you can use humidifiers to reduce the likelihood of gaps.