Are Gaps In Hardwood Floors Normal

Failing to keep boards straight when working.

Are gaps in hardwood floors normal.

How floorboard gaps develop. Gapping in engineered hardwood can be due to many factors including but not limited to the material s manufacturing changes in humidity and the type and quality of the installation. Here s our guide on how to fix gaps in hardwood flooring. Hardwood gaps are generally caused by one of a few installation errors.

Adding filler is not a good idea. The shrinkage causes gaps in the flooring especially in older homes. For larger gaps that don t close up call in a professional contractor who can repair floors properly. Abnormal gaps large gaps in wood floors that do not close up in more humid months can be caused by job site conditions handling and storage or manufacturing variables.

Failing to install the first board perfectly straight in a hardwood flooring installation. Again if the floor expands so that gaps disappear during the humid non heating season they should be considered normal. Hardwood takes on and loses moisture as the temperatures and the humidity rises and falls. Over time wood flooring has a tendency to shrink.

Yes it can still have gaps. Slight gaps are normal but if the gap is wide enough to fit the end of a nickel into repairs are necessary. Not only are they an eyesore they can also collect dirt and dust. Gaps in hardwood floors can be a huge visual annoyance.

For normal gaps no repairs are needed. Expansion and contractions causes hardwood floor gaps. Whether your floors are newly installed or you ve had hardwood floors for years you can use humidifiers to reduce the likelihood of gaps. It may take years for gaps to show up in your hardwood floors.

The best times to repair hardwood floors are april and october. But to answer a common question.