Wood moves as its moisture content changes. Wood doesn't move much lengthwise, so you don't have to worry a lot about boards getting shorter. But a board can move quite a bit across its width. A board that's 6 inches wide during a humid summer might shrink by 1/32 of an inch in winter.
Solid wood floors take in moisture (expand) when there is a high level of humidity in the air and let that moisture go (contracts) when the humidity reduces. Depending on the area, hardwood floors should be kept at a relative humidity level of 40% – 55% to ensure successful long-term performance of your wood flooring.
Solid hardwoods by far, will expand and contract more than engineered products. How much will depend on the layout involved, seasonal change in relative humidity, species selection, and type of hardwood cut. For smaller areas such as 10' x 12' rooms, leaving 3/8" expansion would be satisfactory.
One simple rule of thumb serves as an approximate guide to predicting wood movement: “Most species of flat grain material will change size 1% for every 4% change in MC.” Applying this formula to a situation where the seasonal EMC ranges from 6% to 10%, a 12-in. wide board will change dimension 1/8 in.
Every year, countless homeowners have wood flooring installed—and not just because it looks great. Some studies show wood floors can increase your home's value by three to five percent.
What Flooring Adds the Most Value? Hardwood flooring has long been the top choice for homebuyers and remains so today. According to Realtor.com, installing new hardwood floors may increase a home's value by as much as 2.5%, though some realtors place that figure at 6 to 10% or more.
Hardwood floors are a top feature that buyers seek, significantly increasing your home's resale value. Homes with hardwood flooring often sell faster and for a higher price, making it a smart choice if you're looking to maximize your investment.
The tendency of wood to contract and expand, shrink and swell cannot be stopped. You must plan for it. Design and build with dimensional change in mind.
Plywood is stable; it does not expand and contract like solid wood. Many hardwood species are available or sheets can be made using veneer.
Shrinking and swelling occur as the wood changes moisture content in response to daily as well as seasonal changes in the relative humidity of the atmosphere, i.e., when the air is humid, wood adsorbs moisture and swells; when the air is dry, wood loses moisture and shrinks.
When the air naturally warms up and the environment becomes more humid again, your planks of wood will start to absorb some moisture and begin to expand again. If you noticed small gaps in your floor during the winter months, these will start to disappear and return to normal.
According to the National Wood Flooring Association3 : 99% of realtors feel homes with hardwood floors are easier to sell. 82% feel they sell faster. 90% feel they sell for up to 10% more.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Luxury vinyl is excellent for cold areas because it does not expand or contract in extreme temperature changes.
For example, for red oak hardwood flooring, expect it to move 1/16” for every foot across the grain. That means, in a 16 ft wide by 20 ft long room, you'll need a 1-inch expansion gap, 1/2inch on each side. The recommended expansion gap for the engineered hardwood floor is 8mm (5/16 in).
Although wood expands and contracts with varying temperature, these dimensional changes are small compared with shrinkage and swelling caused by varying moisture content. In most cases, such temperature-related expansion and contraction are negligible and without practical importance.
Engineered hardwood is made of layers of wood which are criss-crossed with regard to their grain direction, then a top layer gives you your species or color. That criss-crossing is what helps engineered wood maintain its lovely shape. This is exactly the reason engineered flooring was invented, to handle this issue.
This can be disastrous if not handled correctly and can cost you a pretty penny and a lot of time to fix. With modern technology advancing at breakneck speed, one has to wonder; Does sealing wood prevent warping and expansion? Sealing wood will not prevent it from warping or expanding.
In the simplest terms: as moisture increases, wood expands. As moisture decreases, wood contracts. Wood tends to expand and contract across the grain — meaning along the width of your board or perpendicular to the long grain. This is an important point.
Yes, a swollen door will go back to normal. The swelling is caused by humidity and temperature changes, which cause the wood to expand and contract.
Quarter sawn wood (growth rings perpendicular to the face) expands and contracts less across its width. Wood also expands alot less along its length. That is why frame and panel doors exist. Combine this with quartersawn rails and styles (parts that are not the panels) and you have a stable door.
Seal Your Wooden Doors
This can be done by using a water-resistant finish or paint, which will not only help prevent swelling but also add an additional layer of protection from the elements.
The average ROI for installing hardwood floors is about 70% to 80% according to Realtor.com, with hardwood floors boosting resale value by as much as 2.5% for a strong return on investment home renovation.
Greige and white oak are two of the most popular choices for hardwood flooring when it comes to house resale. They provide timeless elegance and neutrality, making them ideal for any home. Greige is a mixture of gray and beige, creating a subtle tone that can fit into any color palette or design style.
Bathrooms and laundry rooms are rooms where you should not install hardwood floors. Separately stands the basement, where it is not recommended to install hardwood flooring under almost any conditions. Humidity, the possibility of spills, and floods make these rooms dangerous for hardwood flooring.