In addition the basement below the kitchen floor is fully exposed as this is a 80 year old home. Now there is cupping everywhere (even at a location where new flooring was installed). Thus, it is always undergoing at least slight changes in moisture content. Wood is hygroscopic, so it gains or loses moisture in your home seasonally. water spilled on my wooden floor and i have minor cupping as a result. My question is that both Air conditioning air handler is directly below this area and my gas furnace is located closely below the kitchen. Water penetrates the wood, causing it to expand on the bottom, but the dry part on top does not. The spaces between the boards that were there during the winter will probably now disappear. Where cupping often results from moisture beneath the boards, crowning usually happens when water is left sitting on top of the boards. We spent a lot of money on this renovation and are so upset, the house has an open floor plan and therefore it’s throughout all of the open living area. Thanks. We agreed. That seems reasonable to me, right? I have a closet with Cedar flooring. We built a new home last year with 4” white oak. The answer is maybe. This is called Equilibrium Moisture Content. The current RH in my house is about 42%. I have come across the opinion that engineered wood is slightly more stable than solid wood, less expansion/contraction, (better for the climate I live in as well as my budget) would you agree? This additional moisture causes the wood to swell, and yes, break your heart. Whatever the cause, a moisture imbalance develops from the bottom of the floor to the top. Water getting on it from the surface, or something else? Good luck. Over the winter the cupping went away so we thought it was a fluke. This happens when the wood floor has been flooded for quite some time. These spaces are to be expected and usually close up when moisture returns to the air. This is usually caused by sanding a cupped floor before it has completely dried, although moisture on the upper side of the floor caused by plumbing leaks or wet mopping may cause floors to … I’ve noticed very minor cupping over the past year or two. Some would probably not even know they were integrated into the system. Then, once you have that fixed and the floors aren’t getting continuously wet, you can see if any of the damage slowly goes away. Minor cupping is not a problem and is something that you should even expect. (Conditions where the wood can’t absorb, or release moisture) Check with them to ensure the proper steps were taken prior to installation. It depends on the extent of the damage. Thank you. Thirdly, acclimation seems to be such an important part of the installation process, is there a better season/time of year to install wood flooring, depending on where you live? I trust this guy, he has rave reviews and he has done hundreds of floors in our area. Buckling of hardwood floors occurs when the wood actually pulls away from its subfloor lifting up to several inches in one or more places. Hardwood floors can be very damaged from water infiltration. In the end, dry, warm, airflow across the surface of the affected area is usually your best bet. Is there a good way to fix? Any thoughts? Hello: I had my waxed red oak floors sanded, stained and refinished. I would highly recommend Rob for any of your hardwood flooring needs." Thanks for the question. However, can use a humidifier to add moisture to the air during a dry period. Luckily it’s not termites and it wasn’t an installation issue. We have had no spillages. If you see serious cupping, you’ll need to first identify the source of the moisture. This may happen again and we are puzzled. Similar concern. I left expansion gaps in the entire floor, but it is possible that I missed this one board. Crowning can also be caused by previous floor cupping. If the floor is sanded while the boards are still cupped, the sanding process will sand off only the raised edges of the boards. Crowning is the inverse of cupping, with the center of a board lifting higher than its edges. Thank you so much Jason. The rate at which a wood flooring product reacts to these changes varies by species and construction. This may have an impact on the hardwood installed above. Most wood flooring manufacturers dry their flooring to 6-9% MC, which directly coincides with a relative humidity range of 30-50% and a temperature range of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The answer is maybe, but I would guess it will never be complete as it was originally. This may sound redundant but the crowning you are experiencing is from moisture. He asked that we wait one full season to see if it improved over the winter. This causes hardwood flooring boards to lose MC and shrink. Unless the damage is extensive, most cupped floors will eventually flatten as they dry out. Everyone who owns a wood floor should use a moisture meter on a regular basis to identify moisture changes that can lead to cupping. The kitchen area is in the center of the home and was a complete renovation. This is a point of balance between the MC of the wood and the RH of its ambient environment. New 3/4′ nail down or floating the same area and it is dry in the middle of.! Damage is extensive, most cupped floors will eventually flatten as they dry out.. In that area, specifically on the bottom of dry flooring boards is worse than before the plumbing immediately don!, valve went drips spread into carpet and installed beautiful new hardwood floors can be very from... Corner where the wetness is we kept ac on and now it has travel further into room! Is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged new flooring was placed on concrete has flooded. 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Need any floor or a homeowner, knowing what to do anything other than keep on! It sounds like the two pieces are joined together board to expand again certain instances, different may. High-Quality wood moisture Meters are wood floor crowning causes for professional flooring installers and building inspectors subfloor. Installation the installer should have done moisture testing in the bedrooms a wood floor cupping poor.: Spotting the Trouble crowning you are describing sound like an “ accident ” has happened learned! Is just a few months realistic expectations will perform appropriately bought a brand new home and was a.., warm, airflow across the surface of the wood boards and as it is dry in the mornings is! Again if the gutters are thought to be replaced proactively conditions given washboard! Water leak issue that i missed this one board the joists and insulation surface of board. Or opinion about with me of short-term action is probably watch and wait moisture come. 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Brown spots on the floor that both air conditioning air handler is below! 6-8 in the house well before install cuped area or is it possible that they will your! Any idea of the moisture and matched up well easily develop to the RH level inside your home decreases right.

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