Homeowners should add moisture to the air during dry periods. It is the homeowner's choice and responsibility to maintain humidity levels. Homeowners can either live with the cracks and separation or install a whole home humidification system to minimize this natural adjustment in their flooring.
If you are concerned about the wood getting damaged and want to mitigate it, one thing you can do is operate a household humidifier. This is especially helpful during the winter when the wood is most prone to cracking damage.
Recommended Temperature & Humidity Levels
As a rule of thumb, when the temperature in your home is at 65-80*F, ensure humidity levels are at 30-50%, or you could risk damage to your floor, and home. Maintaining a consistent humidity level can also benefit your health. Prevent water damage to wood floors.
You can fix minor splits and fractures with epoxy (wood glue) and filler. Fill the crack with epoxy, then apply the filler to help conceal it. Allow both to dry and harden completely before sanding and finishing the area.
Wood filler is a popular choice for filling small to medium-sized gaps in hardwood flooring. Available in a variety of colors, wood filler can be matched to the color of your floor for a seamless look. To apply wood filler, simply squeeze it into the gaps, smooth it with a putty knife, and allow it to dry.
The expansion and contraction of any piece of wood is a natural process caused by variation in the moisture level. Gaps in wooden floors are normal and occur when wood loses its moisture content.
Cracks often occur in older hardwood floors or in homes that are too dry. If the crack is small enough, use a wood filler to seal the wood and stain or color it to match the shade of the floor. Do not use wood filler on more significant gaps or holes.
I have found polyester resin to the be ideal for this kind of repair. It is very strong in it's cured state, it seeps into fibers and produces a strong bond (it's intended use is laminating wood and resining fiberglass) and it is slightly flexible, so it will move with wood as it bends and expands with humidity.
In the winter months when the home is heated and the air is dry, wood flooring releases some of its moisture and therefore shrinks. When this happens, thin cracks appear between boards. This is normal and is acceptable. Hardwood flooring is designed and installed to handle this type of movement.
Wood floors continually expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity of the jobsite/environment. In the winter, with heat being turned up for warmth, the moisture level will decrease. In turn, the wood floor boards will also get drier and shrink, and as they do, they will pull away from each other.
Usually, floor cracks are caused by foundation problems. If you have too much or too little moisture, or even fluctuating moisture in your soil, your foundation will become unstable. Most likely you will also have problems with your plumbing or draining, which can result in leaks.
However, wood that's not properly sealed will react to temperature changes and humidity, leading to shrinking and expanding. These fluctuations are what cause gaps and cracks to form in your floorboards. To prevent your hardwood from cracking or forming gaps, have it resealed every few years.
Reduce exposure to direct sunlight where rapid drying can cause the wood to split if possible. During a curing period for green woods, stack the wood so that even drying will occur. You may also paint the ends of larger lumber or even logs so the internal moisture evaporates more slowly.
The most common reason is foundation settlement. As the soil underneath your home becomes uneven, it can no longer properly support the foundation. This causes sections of the foundation to sink or settle at different rates, resulting in cracks and gaps between the floors and walls.
Temperature Fluctuations: Rapid temperature changes can cause wood to expand and contract quickly, increasing the risk of cracking. Humidity Changes: Variations in humidity levels can lead to uneven moisture distribution within the wood, causing internal stress and eventual splitting.
Customers say the Gorilla Wood Filler is easy to use and comes in a convenient squeeze tube that minimizes waste and prevents drying out. Many appreciate its strong adhesion and ability to fill holes and cracks effectively, with minimal shrinkage.
Covering fresh-cut firewood is highly recommended if you live in an area where it rains or there is significant precipitation year-round. While wood will dry out after becoming wet, it will take much more time and may lead to rotting wood if left too long in dampness.
Beyond the natural expansion and contraction of your hardwood floors, there are things you can do to prevent it from happening again. -You can add moisture to your home and reduce ventilation. A humidifier can help prevent wood flooring separation from happening. -Keep your home between 65-77 degrees during the winter.
What is the Best Filler For Hardwood Floors? We recommend Bona Pacific Filler, Woodwise Full Trowel, and Loba EasyFill.
To do this, you'll need epoxy filler. Epoxy filler is great because it forms an incredibly strong bond between both parts of the wood. It bonds to the material, rather than just filling the space between them. This can stop the crack from getting worse.
During warm, humid summers hardwood absorbs moisture and expands. Conversely, dry winter weather causes hardwood to lose moisture and contract. Gaps and separations often concern homeowners, but this seasonal movement is completely normal.
Sister the joists – “Sistering” involves attaching new lumber alongside the weakened or damaged joists. This adds strength to the original joist and can help to redistribute weight and improve overall stability. Install a mid-span beam or wall – Installing a mid-span beam or wall can also support the joists.