Ever notice tiny spaces growing between the boards of your hardwood flooring when you look down at them? Isn’t it annoying? The appearance and feel of your room might be negatively impacted by floorboard separation, whether it’s a small fracture that seems to gather every dust particle in the house or a gap that wasn’t there the previous season.
What’s the matter then? Is there a more severe issue at hand, or is it just the weather? Additionally, can you fix it without destroying half of your floor? Let’s begin. We’ll discuss how to avoid gaps, why they occur, and when hardwood floor refinishing may be the best course of action for protecting and restoring your flooring.
What Causes Gaps on Hardwood Floors?
One major factor is typically the cause of gaps in hardwood floors: dampness. Because it expands in humid conditions and contracts in dry ones, wood is not a static material. Therefore, while your flooring may feel comfortable in the summer, those gaps become noticeable when winter approaches and the air becomes drier.
Of course, there are other reasons why your flooring could be separating besides humidity. Additional factors consist of:
- Poor Installation: If the floorboards were not adequately acclimated before to installation, they may shrink more than anticipated.
- Old, Dry Wood: As hardwood ages, it naturally loses moisture, which causes gaps that become more noticeable.
- Subfloor Movement: Over time, a shifting subfloor may cause floorboards to come loose.
- Lack of maintenance can exacerbate gaps by drying out wood due to improper cleaning methods or a failure to maintain humidity.
Certain gaps are only temporary and will eventually close as the seasons shift. Others? Not quite. Determining what’s creating your gaps can help you choose if a complete hardwood flooring refinishing service or a simple remedy is necessary to restore the smooth appearance of your flooring.
How to Avoid Hardwood Floor Gaps
Don’t want the minor gaps you’ve seen to get worse? Or would you prefer that your flooring remain in excellent condition? The good news is that you can avoid gaps before they become a major problem by doing a few things.
1. Manage the humidity inside
The best defense against the expansion and shrinkage of hardwood floors is to maintain consistent indoor humidity levels. Where’s the sweet spot? between 35 and 55 percent humidity. Keeping your floors balanced can be achieved by using a humidifier in the winter and a dehumidifier in the summer.
2. Before installing, allow flooring to acclimate.
If you are putting in new hardwood flooring, take your time. Wood requires time to acclimate to your home’s humidity and temperature before hardwood floor installation. To avoid future shrinking, leave the planks in the area for a minimum of one week.
3. Consistent Upkeep and Cleaning
Using strong chemicals or excessive water when mopping might cause wood to dry out and shrink more quickly. Don’t wet your flooring too much; use wood-safe cleansers.
4. Refinish When Required
Hardwood floors may become more susceptible to moisture leakage as a result of the gradual loss of their protective coating. Refinishing hardwood floors can help seal them and reduce moisture fluctuations if they are beginning to appear worn out and dry.
Taking Care of Hardwood Floor Gaps
Your hardwood floor has some gaps. What happens next? There is a solution for any type of flooring gap, regardless of how big it is or how tiny it is. The severity determines the best course of action.
When to Leave It Alone
There’s probably nothing you need to do if your gaps occur and disappear with the seasons. In fact, filling in seasonal gaps may lead to issues as the wood expands once more. Instead, concentrate on maintaining consistent indoor humidity levels to reduce the shrinkage cycle.
For Minor Defects: Putty or Wood Filler
Wood filler can be a simple, quick remedy for floor gaps that aren’t seasonal and aren’t becoming worse. This is how you do it:
- Clear the gap of any dirt or dust.
- The hue of the wood filler should match the color of your floor.
- Use a putty knife to apply the filler, being careful to press it into the space.
- Allow it to dry before lightly sanding and applying a stain or finish touch-up.
This is effective for filling up little gaps, but if your entire floor is covered in them, hardwood flooring refinishing may be a better option.
Greater Gaps: Slivers of Wood or the Rope Trick
Try using jute rope (yes, really!) or tiny wood slivers if the gaps are too big for infill.
Thin wood strips should be cut, glued into the spaces, and then sanded smooth for a smooth finish.
Jute rope: Staining jute rope and tucking it into the cracks can give your antique, rustic floor a vintage, organic appearance.
When Should Your Floors Be Refinished?
In cases when gaps are extensive or the floorboards themselves are beginning to dry out and break, refinishing hardwood floors may be the best course of action. To close gaps and shield your floor from additional harm, sand down the surface and apply a fresh protective coating.
The price of hardwood floor refinishing varies based on the size of your area, the state of the floor, and the finish choice. Getting a few quotations from local experts will help you locate the greatest value if you’re searching for hardwood floor refinishing prices.
Knowing When to Replace Rather than Repair
Occasionally, gaps are only the beginning. It may not be sufficient to fill up the gaps if your floors have significant warping, deep fractures, or extensive water damage. In these situations, it may be necessary to replace portions of the floor or, in the worst situations, install a new one entirely.
Hardwood floor refinishing may revive and revitalize worn-out floors while maintaining their structural integrity. However, it can be wiser to replace boards if they are rotting, fractured, or beyond repair.
Whether refinishing hardwood floors is a good option or if it’s time to think about new flooring entirely can be determined by a flooring specialist.
Some Final Words on Closing Gaps in Hardwood Flooring
Although gaps in hardwood floors can be annoying, they don’t have to stay there forever. There is always a method to revive your hardwood floors, whether it’s a straightforward humidity fix, a little wood filler, or a full hardwood flooring refinishing job. Consulting a professional might assist if you’re unsure where to begin.