I want to thank the guys who recommended buying a Grizzly flooring stapler. Sure enough, the first one I received was absolutely filthy inside. Upon further inspection an o-ring was split so they had to replace the tool. The next one was a totally different tool. It actually looked new inside and out! Been working great too. The question I have for anyone out there is about hardwood contraction. My Dr. asked me if there was anything to be done to save his hardwood floors. I haven’t seen them, but it sounds like the wood was never allowed to acclimate and now is starting to open up quite a bit. The house is 10 years old. I know this isn’t alot of info, but he asked me as he was running off to see another patient. Any info would be great, thanks!
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This time of the year is so dry all wood floors are shrinking. My floor pre-finished and sat in the room for 4 weeks before install has shrank and has some gaps but I'm sure they will closeup when the rain starts and the moisture climbs.
The weatherman on my local TV station said yesterday that the humidly was only 15 to 20%. How dry for long where you are? I'd ask the Dr. for more info / history on that floor.
Best to you and yours, Chris.
Some say I know too much? Can you ever?
This is normal. If you don't want cracks, get wood grain linoleum!
I have birch floors 10 years old. They definitely go through an annual cycle. During the heating season indoor humidity is low and the floor shrinks. In summer it expands, closing the gaps (mostly).
I would recommend running a humidifier. It is recommended to keep humidity at 40-50%RH. Drier and your nose, throat, skin etc. are dried out. Higher humidity tends to promote mould, mildew etc. The recommended humidity will definitely reduce the shrinking of the floor, even start to close the cracks.
To monitor humidity you need a hydrometer. Digital hydrometers are avaiable quite reasonably, about $30 I think.
Controlling humidity will help with an existing floor. Of course it will take weeks or months for the floor to absorb moisture.
For a new floor, consider narrower boards. Wider the boards the wider the cracks.
Yeah, ask him how bad it is in summer. If "not bad" then a humidifier may be in order.
But he shouldn't arbitrarily try for 40+% humidity. Depends on the outside temp and the construction of the home.