1 32 Gapping In Wood Flooring Is Excessive

Not only are they an eyesore they can also collect dirt and dust.

1 32 gapping in wood flooring is excessive.

It is normal for these cracks to appear in the winter months and fade away in the summer months. Several factors can lead to its cause. Large gaps in wood floors that do not close up during the summer months could be a result of excessive moisture check the crawl space below being located too close to a heating vent incorrect nail spacing or structural settlement issues. Lighter flooring will show gaps more dramatically than darker.

If hairline gaps aren t acceptable even 1 inch quartersawn oak strip flooring may not work. The size and the severity of the gap depend on a number of factors. Humidity wreaks havoc on hardwood floors. Humidifiers can help some as can choosing the right wood flooring for the right situation but only to a certain extent.

Hardwood gaps are generally caused by one of a few installation errors. If floors have rafting the large gaps will not be due to excessive shrinkage of individual boards. If each plank contracts just 1 32 and you multiply that by 100 planks you get the idea. Wood flooring 2 1 4 wide shrinks appreciatively less than wider 6 flooring due to its mass of more wood.

Failing to keep boards straight when working. Failing to install the first board perfectly straight in a hardwood flooring installation. Months later usually during the heating season gaps start to show up. If your client wants 7 inch hickory plank flooring with minimal winter gapping major changes to the house may be necessary.

Measure the boards next to gaps. Generally speaking wider flooring can have wider gaps. For normal gaps no repairs are needed. C large gaps are the result of cumulative shrinkage.

Wood cuts like plain sawn quarter and rift sawn will shrink swell in relation to the growth rings pic 4. Gaps in wood floors are normal and occur when the wood loses its moisture content. For instance even a change as small as 1 32 per 2 board multiplied across an eight foot room equals 1 of gapping or swelling. Gaps in hardwood floors can be a huge visual annoyance.

The 25 gaps i counted over the first 300 350 sq feet were 1 16th the second 150 200 feet leading up to where they stopped had over 5 gaps that were 1 8 or slightly bigger to were you could put a nickel between the planks without even touching either side. Properly made and installed flooring is expected to have seasonal cracks between the boards of the flooring. Improperly acclimating the hardwoods prior to installation. Now imagine a row of 100 planks that are floated and clicked together a run of flooring if each plank contracts by 1 32 and no tiny gaps form between the planks the contraction effect then radiates out exponentially to the edges of the installation.

Gaps between boards are one of the most common complaints from people with hardwood floors. So anything bigger than 1 32 is not within tolerance or acceptable then.