The most common signs of buckled hardwood flooring are cupping and crowning. Lifting is the hallmark of extreme buckling and typically will only occur after a major water catastrophe like flooding.
Warning Signs of Damage
Lifting indicates extreme buckling and occurs only when the hardwood floors are flooded with water. Cupping, crowning, and cracks on the other hand are the more common signs that can be an effect of a damp environment.
Comments Section Wood once warped is generally just ruined. You can find a guy to sand it flat and refinish it, but then it may, for lack of a better term, unwarp and then you're left with the inverse problem. If this is from water damage, it's time to bust out your homeowners insurance policy and get it replaced.
Buckling is like the opposite of cupping, bowing upward into a peak instead of inward, and sometimes even lifting off the flat underlayer surface. Buckling hardwood floors occur when there is excessive moisture, caused by flooding or a build-up in moisture from, say, your basement's concrete slab subfloor.
If you've eliminated the moisture issue, minorly buckled planks may simply return to normal given time. For boards that are cupping, add weight to the floor by setting a few heavy boxes on top. It's simple but it really does work. For serious buckling, you may need to consider replacing an area of your floor.
In many cases, floors with minor cupping will flatten out once the underlying moisture issues have been addressed.
If your floorboards change in shape, seem uneven or seem to lift from the subfloor, you're probably dealing with warping. Some of the most common types include: Buckling: when floorboards lift from the subfloor, creating tent-like peaks. Cupping: when your floorboards dip inward in a cup or bowl shape.
Tips to Avoid Buckled Hardwood Flooring
Wipe up spills immediately. Wood will quickly absorb spilt water — and instead of drying, the trapped moisture will build up over time. Excess moisture not only causes buckling; it also causes mold to grow between your floorboards and subfloor.
Depending on a floor's thickness and the experience of the flooring professional, a floor can be sanded around 4-6 times in its entire life. Hardwood floors can be refinished every 7-10 years, making the 4-6 refinishes more than enough.
The hotter temperatures cause the wood to expand. This expansion can put a lot of pressure on the floor, causing it to buckle. But, as the temperature cools in the evening, the wood contracts, creating gaps between the boards. Over time, this can cause the floors to warp and become uneven.
For minor warping, sanding the affected area can be effective. Sanding removes the top layer of the wood, making it flat again. However, this should be done with care to avoid over-sanding, which can damage the floor. For more severe warping, a professional assessment is recommended.
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.
Many homeowners are facing hurricane-related water-damaged floors this year, so if you're looking at buckling hardwood or bubbling laminate, you're not alone. Most homeowners don't realize that insurance will likely cover their floor's water damage.
Generally, if your floor rises or falls more than half an inch over a horizontal run of 10 feet or less, you should call someone about your sloping floor. This degree of slope indicates that there is likely a problem with your floor or your foundation. With that said, it's also important to consider comfort and safety.
As time passes, the moisture trapped within the wood creates an ideal environment for mold and mildew growth. Within 24 to 48 hours, mold spores can begin to colonize, posing health risks to residents and further compromising the structural integrity of the flooring.
As mentioned, weather and moisture are the most common culprits of buckling wood floors. If the buckling is minimal, you can try drying the damaged area and see if it returns to its normal shape. You can also try putting a little pressure or a heavy object on the buckled wood to settle it back into its place.
To fix a buckled wood floor, identify the cause of the moisture and address it first. After that, gently remove the affected boards if necessary, allowing them to dry completely. Once dried, you may need to sand them down or replace them. Reinstall the boards, ensuring they have proper spacing for expansion.
A buckled wood floor is almost unavoidable in humid environments or climates. Any wood floor will absorb the humidity from the air, so you might end up with a hardwood floor buckling without any visible leaks. Humidity levels change throughout the year. During winter there are usually lower levels of humidity.
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.
If you notice black, gray, green, or other discolored spots on or between the planks of your hardwood floor, this could be mold, meaning prolonged water damage.
Use a dehumidifier placed at the highest setting possible to dry the floors. Place it in the center of the room and leave it on for at least 24 hours. Next, place fans around the room so the entire surface receives the blowing air. Place the fans at the highest settings possible.
WET DOWN THE DRY SIDE
Remember, this side shrunk because it's drier. You don't need to soak it. Just apply a thin, even layer of water all over the surface. Now set the board on a flat surface with the cupped and wet side facing DOWN.
Since wood reacts to moisture quickly, floorboards can warp as they react to the change in their internal moisture content (MC) after the floor's installation. But if you catch it early and can address the moisture issue, there is hope in returning your floor to normal.