6 Common Wood Flooring Problems and Suggested Fixes

Wood flooring is a classic, so seeing this material in turn-of-the-century houses is normal. It's beautiful and elegant, allowing you to bring a natural element from the environment into your living space. However, wood is not infallible and has its drawbacks. Those who have had their wooden floors rot often switched to vinyl or hybrid floors for easy maintenance.

Wood flooring requires meticulous care and maintenance during installation and when you begin living in the home and using the floors. Improper handling will result in problems that could cost thousands in repairs or replacements. Look at the common issues that could happen if you opt for wood flooring.

Bulging or Crowing

No one likes unsightly bulges in places where they shouldn't be. This includes your wooden floors. Since wood is sensitive, it readily responds to environmental stimuli. For example, if your flooring absorbs too much moisture from a spill that gets left unattended, accidental flooding, or even condensation from the sub-floors due to incorrect installation, the planks will swell. The materials push against each other, forcing the centre of the board to bulge or crown. Thankful, you can do your best to avoid this by:

• Avoid leaving standing water on your wooden floor and clean up spills and messes immediately
• Pre-treat wood for moisture and temperature before installation
• Make sure to choose quality materials that have been sanded and thoroughly dried

Cupping

This is a common issue with wooden floors. Cupping happens when wood absorbs moisture on the surface from the environment. It could also occur when there's moisture at the sub-floor. Since the underside of the wood is not dried correctly, the wooden planks become inconsistent. The edges raise and appear concave, so wood flooring loses its beauty because it no longer lays flat. You can mitigate this by:

• Treat the wood and acclimate it to the environment before installation
• Work on the subfloor to correct humidity and moisture levels
• Choose wood flooring that matches your property's environmental conditions
• Ascertain proper installation to prevent problems

Oxidation

Since wood is a natural material, it can degrade faster with environmental exposure. To illustrate, areas exposed to the harsh sun can turn much darker because of oxidation. Usually, oxidation is not visible until you move furniture and realise it looks lighter compared to the rest of the flooring. You can avoid oxidation by:

• Installing window treatments in areas that have harsh sunlight
• Rearrange your furniture and area rugs to give the floors somewhat equal sun exposure
• If you notice the mismatched colour, give it several weeks for the newly exposed parts to oxidise and blend with nearby planks.

Gapping

Having floor gaps is not ideal because they distract you from appreciating the floor's beauty. And if the gaps are too big, they can injure your foot or cause accidents. Gapping usually happens when there's a loss of moisture in the wood. Since the wood is dehydrated, it shrinks and leaves space between two floorboards. One of the primary reasons for this is installing wooden planks when there's high environmental moisture. When the weather shifts and becomes dry, the floorboards react by shrinking. Note that wood floors, especially solid planks, are expected to have a degree of gapping and seasonal movement, but they should not be excessive. Make sure you don't have to worry about gapping by:

• Purchase wooden floors that complement the type of climate where you live.
• Ensure that the floors are installed in the right season for the kind of wood you've invested on.
• After installation, maintain a climate-controlled environment to promote stable ambient conditions with an HVAC, humidifiers, etc.

Cracks or Fractures

Since you likely spent a lot of money on your hardwood floors, it's disheartening to see any future cracks or fractures. This phenomenon is more common in factory-finished flooring than in unfinished panels and planks. These damages can quickly occur when the wood is dried too fast in the kiln, making it more brittle. It can also happen based on how installers nail the wood or the pressure you subject the floors to while living in the house. Say adieu to fractures by taking note of the following:

• Make sure adapters for nailers are utilised in floor installation to prevent the nails from bearing down and causing cracks
• Invest in high-quality floors that are manufactured using a 4 to 6mm wear layer over a solid core
• Be ready to fix fractures with a repair kit containing wood filler, marker, and finish
• Don't drop or drag heavy things on the floor

Buckling

Imagine having your precious floors lift right off? That's a nightmare no homeowner wants to face. The most likely culprit for this is the presence of moisture under the surface. Another probable cause could be leaky ceilings or flooding. You can also expect buckling when excessive moisture compromises adhesives and fasteners stabilising the floors. Prevent this issue by:

• Checking if there are visible or hidden leaks that could be saturating your floors and making them wet
• Use minimal water when mopping and sanitising your wooden floors
• Make it a point to wipe spills immediately
• In the event of flooding, mitigate damage with the help of a professional
• Ensure you reduce the humidity in the sub-flooring and under the house

Although wood can give you problems, all of them have corresponding fixes. If you want to enjoy the beauty of hardwood floors in your abode, make sure you're aware of the potential issues and make an informed choice.

Check out this article for some additional ideas!

12 Quick Fixes for Common Wooden Floor Issues

There are a number of benefits to installing hardwood floors. They’re easy to clean, add warmth, reduce dust and allergens and they go well with practically any decor. And as with most of your possessions, proper care and maintenance can make timber floors virtually last a lifetime. It’s normal to encounter issues with your wood floors but they are not the end of the world. What’s important is to know how to properly deal with these issues to keep your floors looking gorgeous for a far longer time.

1. Crayon Or Candle Wax

Wax Finish: Cover the area with a plastic bag filled with ice for a few minutes, then scrape with a plastic scraper or one of those expired membership cards you still keep for no reason. Alternatively, you can use a blow-dryer set to warm and soften the crayon or candle wax stain, and then soak it up with paper towel. Buff with a dry cotton cloth to finish.

Polyurethane Finish: Cover area with a bag full of ice for several minutes, then scrape with a plastic card and finish off with a polyurethane specific cleaning solution. Voila, all gone!

2. Chewing Gum

Any Finish: Freeze stuck-on chewing gum with a bag full of ice. Crumble the frozen gum and scrape away with the same expired plastic membership card.

3. Dark Spots

Wax Finish: Rub the spot with fine steel wool (00). For deeper water stains, apply a paste made from a mixture of water and oxalic acid. Let the paste sit for 5-10 minutes, then wipe with a dry cloth. Rub on wax and buff with a clean cloth.

Polyurethane Finish: Follow the same procedure as you would with wax finished floors. But use a damp cloth to wipe away the paste instead.

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