How do I prevent gaps in my hardwood floors?

How do I prevent gaps in my hardwood floors?

You can use putty, wood filler, caulk, or even long pieces of string or rope stained to match. These methods not only fix the gaps but can also prevent drafts from coming up through the floor. If done correctly, these fillers – made of putty or paste – can fill in gaps to give your floors their original smooth finish.

Does solid wood flooring expand?

Wood is a natural product and as such expands and contracts with changes in atmospheric conditions. Solid wood floors take in moisture when there is a high level of humidity in the air and let that moisture go when the humidity reduces. High humidity in the wood causes it to expand.

What is the expansion gap for hardwood floors?

approximately 1/2 inch
When installing wood flooring you are required to leave an expansion gap of approximately 1/2 inch (depending on the manufacturer) around the edges of the room. To cover this expansion gap we recommend removing the wood baseboard and reinstalling it later on on top of the new flooring.

Why is my wooden floor separating?

It’s pretty common for gaps to open up in a hardwood floor especially if it wasn’t installed properly or if flooring with the wrong moisture content for your climate was used. As wood flooring dries out and loses moisture it shrinks. The more moisture it loses, the more it shrinks.

Should there be gaps between floorboards?

Gaps Between Boards There will almost always be some slight gaps (1mm or so) between boards when you fit an acclimatised solid plank floor. This is a natural feature of solid wood flooring, so don’t clamp the boards to try and remove the gaps as this can cause expansion problems later on.

Do you need an expansion gap for hardwood flooring?

Yes, all types of wooden flooring need an expansion gap in order to expand and contract naturally with changes in their surroundings. If you do not leave a sufficient expansion gap when installing your wooden floor, it can lead to problems in the future.

Do hardwood floors expand and contract?

Wood feels heat and cold like we do Wood is a living, breathing product that contracts and expands as it releases and absorbs moisture. This is a natural process that will change from season to season. Gapping and splitting are considered normal parts of the life cycle of wood.

How do you fix separating hardwood floors?

Remedial action for flooring separation

1. If your floor isn’t fixed to the subfloor, you could try sliding the boards back into place.
2. Use a dust and resin mix to fill the gaps.
3. Insert filler strips into the gaps.
4. Use a colour-match acrylic filler.

Should you fill gaps between floorboards?

If you’re bothered by gaps in the dry winter months but don’t seem to notice them much during the relatively humid seasons, it’s probably best to leave the gaps alone, as filling them when they’re at their widest will create problems when the wood expands again and the gaps naturally close up.

What to do with an expansion gap in hardwood flooring?

There is no need to worry about the look of an expansion gap as it can be covered up by hardwood flooring mouldings and accessories, such as: skirting boards, beading, T-mouldings and pipe covers. There are a wide range of mouldings and accessories available to match or complement your choice of hardwood flooring.

Can a solid hardwood floor expand and contract?

Solid Hardwood Floors. 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.

Can a solid wood top be used for expansion?

To give solid wood pieces plenty of opportunity for wood expansion, here’s a list of things you should and shouldn’t do: Don’t glue a solid wood top to the rails in the base. Don’t screw the top in place, unless the screw holes have sufficient wiggle room to allow for wood expansion. Do use tabletop fasteners.

When does expansion take place in a wood floor?

Expansion Gaps – Contraction Of Hardwood Floors Explained. Expansion takes place, and the hardwood grows, for lack of a clearer term, across the grain or width of the plank (see below, not all will react this way). Conversely, when air moisture levels decrease, moisture content evaporates, shrinkage occurs.