Moisture Problems - Part 3

Prevention is the Key
Acclimation of hardwood floors to the jobsite, proper moisture testing and control –before, during, and after installation- all play an important role in the results and performance you will see from your hardwood flooring. Most manufacturers suggest 40-55% relative humidity in your home to maintain and avoid any potential moisture problems. Stay well-ventilated in the hotter months so moisture can flow out of the house. Dehumidifiers may help. If relative humidity is not maintained, you could see shrinkage, buckling (swelling), or other sometimes-irreversible damage.
Never leave standing water. Clean up spills immediately. Fans may be needed to help dry out the flooring.

A damaged floor may need to be sanded, refinished or even replaced. Dry out the floor before you call for repairs. Many humidity problems are temporary so keep an eye on it.

Check out our Buyer's Guide: Seasonal Care for some prevention tips. Hardwood Floor Care will also give you some great maintenance do's and don'ts.

Moisture Problems - Part 2

Results of Moisture Problems
You will usually see moisture problems in the Spring and Summer because the air inside is more humid than during the drier months in the Fall and Winter. Wood flooring will absorb the moisture in the air and expand. Depending on where you live, you may experience these problems year-round. Your flooring will continue to absorb the moisture until it is in equilibrium with the atmosphere. (For more information, see Moisture Problems- Part 1.)

The possible results:
1.) Cupping
A moisture imbalance between the subfloor and new hardwood flooring can create a number of problems, most commonly cupping. This is usually a problem for new constructions because unprotected subfloors can often be exposed to prolonged periods of standing water during building. There is no real danger is this, however, if the building process is rushed and the subfloors are not allowed to dry out properly or completely, you will most likely experience any or all of the problems associated with moisture damage. Cupping occurs when planks begin to look like shallow cups as the sides rise above the center on the slat. The bottom of the floor contains more moisture than the top. Water spills are sometimes the cause but moisture and humidity are more often the problem. Leaks in the subfloor or improper drying of the subfloor, whether it’s wood or cement, usually cause this moisture to become a problem.

2.) Crowning
Crowning occurs when the center of a wood floor board appears to be higher than the sides. Standing water is the most common culprit and will cause the most damaging crowning. Spills should be wiped up immediately.
Sometimes crowning will occur naturally which is much less severe, however, this is the exception rather than the rule and would only be seen by an extremely discriminating eye. Naturally occurring crowning is usually caused from a humid environment and will disappear once the wood is allowed to dry out completely. Note: Beveled edges will hide some of the distortion if you live in a humid area and your floor is prone to absorbing the ambient moisture.

3.) Buckling
Buckling is a serious problem. This occurs when the wood flooring detaches from the subfloor. This problem is never caused by normal changes in humidity. If your flooring is reacting this way to humidity, it was most likely installed incorrectly. You will need to contact your installer as soon as possible. Buckling is very common in homes that have been flooded.

Most problems from ambient humidity will resolve themselves once the humidity level in the house is maintained at correct levels. If your moisture problems are from water damage, you may see more extensive damage to the integrity of your floor boards and will need an expert to repair or replace the damaged areas.

In Part 3, we will discuss Prevention and Resolution. Until next time...

Moisture Problems - Part 1

It’s not a secret – Wood and Water do not mix. Moisture is The Number One cause of problems for hardwood flooring. There are many reasons for this. However, there are steps that an installer and homeowner can take to prevent a lot of the problems caused by moisture.

Why do moisture problems exist?
Trees grow with roots in the ground and leaves in the air. The roots collect water/moisture and nutrients from the soil and send through fibers up the tree and out to the branches and leaves. So a tree is made up of vertically-aligned fibers but once the tree is cut down, the fibers become horizontal. The wood fibers of a manufactured floor board are also horizontal, running the length of the board. A live tree is full of moisture, keeping it alive. Once the tree is cut down, the wood starts to dry out as the moisture evaporates. This causes the fibers to shrink – in diameter/thickness, not lengthwise. This is the critical point in understanding the effect moisture has on wood. Wood will lose or gain moisture until it is in equilibrium with the humidity and temperature of the air. Also worth noting, protective coatings cannot prevent wood from gaining or losing moisture, they only slow the process.

Results of Moisture Problems
Occurring mainly in the Spring and Summer, the air inside is more humid than during drier months in the Fall and Winter. Wood flooring will absorb the moisture in the air and expand.

In Parts 2 and 3 of Moisture Problems, we'll provide more details about Cupping, Crowning, and Buckling. We'll also discuss some prevention and resolution if you do happen to be a victim of Moisture. Stay tuned!