Are Gaps In Hardwood Floors Normal

Whether your floors are newly installed or you ve had hardwood floors for years you can use humidifiers to reduce the likelihood of gaps.

Are gaps in hardwood floors normal.

For larger gaps that don t close up call in a professional contractor who can repair floors properly. For normal gaps no repairs are needed. Adding filler is not a good idea. Not only are they an eyesore they can also collect dirt and dust.

It may take years for gaps to show up in your hardwood floors. Engineered hardwood flooring is designed to minimize gaps due to expansion and contraction of the wood. 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. 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. How floorboard gaps develop. Improperly acclimating the hardwoods prior to installation. Failing to install the first board perfectly straight in a hardwood flooring installation.

Hardwood gaps are generally caused by one of a few installation errors. The best times to repair hardwood floors are april and october. Expansion and contractions causes hardwood floor gaps. Gaps in hardwood floors can be a huge visual annoyance.

Failing to keep boards straight when working. It will get pushed out as the wood expands with moisture. But to answer a common question. 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.