Wood Floors Rising Up

Here s how that happens.

Wood floors rising up.

Floor buckling happens most often after a floor has been flooded for an extended period of time. When the wood can t expand anymore because it is blocked by something solid such as a wall the floor rises and pulls up from the subfloor to relieve the pressure. Both problems are usually because of water damage but although that s the most common cause it s not the only one. If the flooring is linoleum.

If solid wood floors are fitted without an expansion gap problems which can sometimes be severe are likely to arise. If the hump in the floor feels spongy or gives underfoot when you walk on it the most likely cause of the problem is underlayment that has come loose from the subfloor. During warm humid weather wood expands during dry weather it contracts. Like cupping wood floor crowning happens because the boards are exposed to a moisture imbalance over an extended period of time.

In winter when homes are heated and the air is dry wood flooring gives up some of its moisture and therefore shrinks. Buckling occurs when the wood flooring actually pulls up from the subfloor lifting several inches in one or more places. Buckled bent or heaved floors will never correct themselves. This typically involves a plank or series of planks and the causes can include expansion after installation moisture or flooding or problems with your subfloor among others.

Solid wood flooring takes in moisture when there is a high level of humidity in the air and then the flooring lets that moisture go when the humidity in the atmosphere reduces again. When humidity is high the wood expands. When temperatures rise and or humidity levels rise your wood will expand and if there has been an insufficient expansion gap left around the perimeter of your room the risk is that the wood will pop up as it expands because there s nowhere for it to go. Crowning can also be caused by previous floor cupping.

Floor buckling is the most extreme reaction to moisture in a hardwood floor. The root causes of buckling and peaking to fix buckled or peaked wood floors it s essential to understand what causes the wood to warp. Often wood floors that are bulged can dry out and return to their reasonable condition on their own especially laminated floors or parquets which have not been exposed to moisture too long. Placing a space heater or a fan near the wet spot can speed the process.

Towel up all the water you can and allow to dry. Fortunately this is not a common occurrence.