What Causes Wood Floors To Warp?

Jan 16, 2025Flooring

Hardwood flooring is a luxurious material that can last up to a century. However, if not properly maintained, it can warp in the presence of excess moisture and harsh weather conditions. If you have such flooring in your home, it’s important to know how to prevent and repair warping.
 
What are warped hardwood floors?
Wood reacts to environmental conditions, such as water, moisture, and poor installation, by expanding and contracting. When wood expands and contracts significantly, it may not be able to return to its natural shape. Wood planks warp when lifted, causing the surface to become uneven and form bumps. In some cases, the planks may even lift off the floor.
 
How to Identify Damaged Planks
It’s important to watch for common signs that your hardwood floor may be damaged and warped. Gaps or cracks between floorboards are good indicators. You should also watch for swollen areas or edges of floorboards that appear lifted. In some cases you may even notice a damaged board separating from the subfloor.
If you notice any of these signs it is important to repair the damage as soon as possible to prevent further warping.
 
Causes of Hardwood Floor Warping
Hardwood can bend or twist and lose its shape due to humidity throughout the home or changes in weather conditions. Keep in mind some of the following causes of hardwood floor warping to prevent them from damaging your floors.
 
• Constant water on floorboards: Water on hardwood flooring is the worst enemy. Although you should clean up spills immediately to prevent damage, a spill is not strong enough to cause hardwood flooring to warp. Instead, you should look for sources of constant moisture, such as drips or leaks. Most damage occurs when floors are constantly exposed to water.
 
• Temperature changes: Wood naturally expands with moisture and heat and contracts with cold. If you live in an area with extreme temperatures, you may notice your hardwood floors sagging in the summer. Try to maintain a healthy relative humidity in your home to prevent damage from hot, humid weather.
 
• Water Leaks: In addition to moisture from beneath your flooring, you should also look at sources of moisture around your hardwood flooring. If you have leaking appliances, condensation, or groundwater intrusion, water can get between appliances, subfloors, and floors and cause warping of floorboards.
 
• Poor Installation: If you notice water damage near a window or door, the cause could be improper installation of these openings. During inclement weather, heavy rain or snow can allow moisture to seep through cracks in your home’s doors and windows. Older homes are generally more susceptible to water entering from the outside due to unwanted gaps.

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