How to flatten a buckled hardwood floor?

Author: Itzel Herman III  |  Last update: Sunday, July 6, 2025

One of the first things to do, when you notice signs of buckling and warping in your hardwood floor is to determine the extent of the damage. Minimal buckling can even be repaired by just placing a heavy weight on the buckled area and forcing it to settle back into its space.

Will buckled hardwood floors go back to normal?

depends on how much the buckling is but outside of resanding the entire floor, there is no easy solution. Wood buckles and will not return to its previous state. Its wood.

How do you flatten a swollen hardwood floor?

Here are the steps you can follow to fix a water-damaged, swollen wood floor:
  1. Step 1: Identify the source of water. ...
  2. Step 2: Remove standing water. ...
  3. Step 3: Dry the area and Assess. ...
  4. Step 4: Sand the swollen areas. ...
  5. Step 5: Apply wood conditioner. ...
  6. Step 6: Apply wood glue or epoxy. ...
  7. Step 7: Sand and refinish.

Can you flatten warped hardwood?

Yes, warped wood can be straightened using a few different methods. One popular technique involves applying a combination of heat and moisture. You can dampen the wood, wrap it in a wet cloth, and then use a heat source like an iron to help it straighten out.

Can you fix buckled wood?

Once the problem has been identified, all you need to do is humidify or dehumidify the air so that the wood can return to its original shape. This is possible unless the wood has warped too much. Note that the level of humidity in the air for the laying of wood flooring must be between 45 and 65%.

What Causes Wood Floor Cupping & What To Do

How do you flatten a buckled hardwood floor?

One of the first things to do, when you notice signs of buckling and warping in your hardwood floor is to determine the extent of the damage. Minimal buckling can even be repaired by just placing a heavy weight on the buckled area and forcing it to settle back into its space.

How do you straighten buckled wood?

To straighten warped wood, I soak in water. Or if you can't submerse them put a wet cloth on the inside of the warp curve, and soak until straight. Once straight, switch the water formula for an Elmer's white glue or the wood glue with water.

How to unwarp hardwood floors?

Here are some practical techniques:
  1. Sanding: For minor warping, sanding can help level the surface. Use a floor sander to smooth out the warped areas. ...
  2. Heavy Objects: Placing heavy objects on the warped planks can help flatten them. ...
  3. Replacement Planks: For severe warping, you might need to replace the affected planks.

How long does it take to flatten warped wood?

Depending on the extent of the warping, you will need to keep the wood in sunlight for two to four days. Spray the towels with additional water throughout this period to keep the wood moist. As before, the material should only be moist and not dripping wet.

What can I use to flatten wood?

Tim Inman: Technically, one should use a jointer to flatten one side, then a planer to "thickness" and surface both sides.

Why would hardwood floors buckle?

Buckling wood floors are a result of individual floorboards expanding and contracting typically due to moisture changes. All hardwood will expand and contract due to seasonal changes in most regions of the US. Usually, the floorboard changes are small and will reset to their original size and position.

How do you make swollen wood go down?

Use an Iron

Cover the swollen furniture with a wet rag and set your iron to a low-temperature setting. Hold the iron down on the rag for a few seconds. Be careful not to hold the iron in the same place for too long as this could further damage the wood.

Will cupped hardwood floors flatten out?

In many cases, floors with minor cupping will flatten out once the underlying moisture issues have been addressed.

Why is my floor bulging upwards?

Have you noticed your floor bulging upwards? This common issue can be caused by factors like moisture damage, poor structural support, foundation issues, or improper installation.

Can you fix swollen hardwood floors?

How to Fix Water Damaged Swollen Wood Floor. If the floor is swollen because of humidity, then you need to install ventilation fans to dry out your room. You can set up a dehumidifier in the room to help dry out the flooring, capture the moisture, and speed up the process.

Can you sand buckled hardwood floor?

Cupped wood flooring can be sanded and refinished. However, due to the nature of cupped floors, it's important to try to normalize the moisture levels in the environment first. Cupped floors that have been sanded and refinished before trying to normalize moisture levels may end up crowning.

Can you flatten warped wood floor?

Usually the services of a professional refinisher will be required if the damage is extensive, as they will sand the floor down properly to get rid of any damage (this will remove a layer of the wood, reducing the thickness of the board), and then refinish the wood.

Can you Unwarp warped wood?

To flatten a warped piece of wood, you'll need to change the moisture content on one side of the board. Look at your warped board and identify the inside face of the “C” or cup. The wood fibers on this side of your board are dryer and have shrunk. You can use water to relieve the tension and allow the board to flatten.

How to fix a warped wood floor with an iron?

Place a damp cloth over the warped area and gently heat it with a steam iron set to a low heat setting. The heat and moisture should help the wood fibers to swell back into place. Repeat as necessary, allowing the wood to cool and dry between treatments.

How to fix a hardwood floor that is buckling?

How to Repair Buckled Hardwood Floor: Top 6 Easy Steps
  1. Identify and fix moisture sources.
  2. Dry out the affected area.
  3. Apply weight to minor buckling.
  4. Replace severely buckled boards.

Will swollen wood go back to normal?

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.

Why do my hardwood floors look wavy?

It's common for moisture to enter the floorboards from below through the subfloor. This is why the bottom of the board swells and makes the edges curve upward into an almost wave-like pattern. Cupping can happen even to a flawlessly-installed wood floor, depending on the conditions of the building and the environment.

Can warped wood be made straight again?

To flatten a warped piece of wood, apply moisture to the concave side and then place weight on the convex side, or clamp it in a flat position.

How to fix a warped wood floor from water?

The Solution:
  1. The quick way: There are many companies that offer dehumidifier services that can dry out your floors very quickly. ...
  2. The slow way: Wood will eventually dry out on its own and become almost completely flat again. ...
  3. The alternative way: Another option is to tear-out the wood that is wet and replace it.

How do you flatten swollen wood?

Olive Oil and Vinegar: Using equal parts olive oil and vinegar, wipe the mixture in the same direction as the wood grain using a soft cloth until the ring is gone. Irons: If the water damage is still damp, lay a cloth on top and put the iron on a very low setting with no steam.

Previous article
Is Tomcat rodent repellent safe to breathe?
Next article
What does mold poisoning feel like?