I installed an oak hardwood floor in November 2007. The wood came from the GC, and it was what was left over from the install of his home some years before. I do not know where it had been stored. It acclimated for about 2 weeks in the new location. The strips are 4 inches wide tongue and groove. Over the last few months, the joints have opened to an undesireable width. I realize that this is winter and the house is heated and wood shrinks, not this much. From the professional floor installers/finishers, what is your advice? Wait until summer to see what remains of the separation? Then, fill the voids with colored wood putty and recoat? I have searched in the Breaktime archives and do not find any specific fixes I can use. Thanks in advance for your help.
George
Replies
nchiguy
Wait untill a long hot humid period this summer and see if the "cracks" close up. If they do that is your answer.. normal expansion of that wood. IF they don't filling the Cracks with anything will result in a mess..Only proper solution is you'll have to pull up the boards and renail closer together..
How wide are the gaps?
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
the gaps can range up to 3/16 inch wide.
Did you acclimate the wood in a heated area? (should be warm to accommodate for shrinking during heating season)
Was it bundled or loose when acclimating? (should be loose, individual pieces)
I realize that this is winter and the house is heated and wood shrinks, not this much.
apparently you are wrong, it does shrink that much........the wider the boards the more shrinkage.
How was it installed ? pneumatic or manual floor nailer? pneumatic will tend to allow for a larger gap since it is not driving the boards as "tight" as when using a manual floor nailer.
The size of the gaps are cumulative, in other words, tighter fit, better spread during drying, and done in a heated area, would go a long way toward reducing the gaps to a smaller, less noticeable gap.
The fix? remove and re-lay
Geoff
run a humidifier...make sure that you keep the cracks as clean as you possible can...one of the things that happens, is, when the boards start to swell with humidity, if there is any grit or whatever in the cracks, it will damage the edges of the boards as they come back into contact with each other, and then you really don't have any otheralternative but to redo the floor...DAMHIKT