What is this? From this page you can use the Social Web links to save What Causes Cupped Floorboards? | PIERMAN Foundation Repair | Ada, Oklahoma to a social bookmarking site, or the E-mail form to send a link via e-mail.

Social Web

E-mail

E-mail It
October 14, 2022

What Causes Cupped Floorboards? | PIERMAN Foundation Repair | Ada, Oklahoma

Posted in: Industry News

“Cupping” refers to the natural reaction of a wood floor when it is exposed to moisture. After all, real wood, which warps when it absorbs water, is what both engineered and solid hardwood floors are made of. When moisture is present, the side of a wood floor plank closest to the moisture will expand when it is penetrated by the water.

When a board’s borders are higher than its center, it “cups,” giving the board a concave shape. In addition to destroying a room’s aesthetics, cupped floors can cause major structural issues. The expansion and cupping of the wood could cause gaps between the flooring. Once the wood shrinks, this causes additional problems since the damage could make the wood buckle away from the subfloor.

Common Causes Of Cupping Floors

Several causes may be behind your cupped floorboards! To avoid your wood floor becoming cupped, you must remember these variables. Wondering what those are? Simply take a look at the list below:

Your Room’s Subfloor Moisture Can Cause Floor Cupping

Moisture present in the subfloor is another frequent cause of floor cupping. Your wood planks can become moist just by being close to the subfloor.

This frequently happens in homes where the basement or crawl space is more humid than the rest of the house. Your floorboards may also have water damage across the subfloor, frequently caused by leaking pipes or another similar problem. Ensure to thoroughly prepare the subfloor before installing your hardwood flooring because it is an important part of your flooring. Resolving moisture issues before installing your first plank entails carefully cleaning and drying the flooring.

Spills And Leaks Can Create Damage As Well

Yes, you heard it right; spills and leaks can also create damage on your floor! There is a probability that water damage will occur whenever there is a leak or spill. Preventing spills is a regular component of maintaining hardwood floors. 

Clean up any spills immediately, and make sure they are totally dry. Keep a watch on mudrooms and entryways because water may accumulate on rainy days when people enter the house. Unfortunately, not every spill will be visible to you. Particularly risky are the areas close to sinks, dishwashers, and other equipment that utilizes water. Under surfaces near pipes and other plumbing system components can also experience leaks. You may have more serious water damage in your home if you observe cupping on your floors but can’t locate the source.

Humidity Can Cause Mild Cupping 

Your home’s humidity levels probably fluctuate naturally throughout the year, especially if you live somewhere with humid summers and dry winters. High humidity can affect your floor hugely. Wondering how?

In high humidity, the wood floors absorb more moisture which can cause them to expand and cup. Fortunately, humidity-related cupping is frequently milder and may even fade as seasons change. Although it causes mild cupping, it is also one of the reasons that you should know! 

If The Installation Is Not Proper, It Can Cause Floor Cupping

You may experience floor cupping due to improper installation. In other words, the initial installation of your hardwood floors, if done incorrectly, may be the root of some causes of floor cupping. As was previously mentioned, preparing the subfloor is essential for durable, practical hardwood floors. When installing wood flooring over damp subflooring, you risk future moisture-related problems.

Pro tip: the humidity levels in the room will change when you install and utilize air conditioning, and your wood flooring’s moisture content will alter along with it. When the moisture levels in the space stabilize, lay down your flooring!

Things you should remember to avoid floor cupping 

There are a few aspects you should remember to avoid floor cupping in your house:

  • Never try to fix a cupped floor before you’ve found and taken care of all the moisture sources. Before resanding a cupped floor, the moisture content of the solid wood floor must be in balance with the anticipated in-use conditions. The flooring should revert to its normal size and shape when the moisture content reaches its original level, provided that the wood has not been irreparably distorted or destroyed.
  • It may be necessary to replace the afflicted flooring/subflooring material or inject it with an approved glue when excessive moisture makes it difficult for the flooring fastener/adhesive to keep the flooring in place securely or causes movement, loud squeaks, or crackles.
  • Keep the surroundings in compliance with the demands of the flooring maker. When the manufacturer has not instructed otherwise, keep the temperature between 60° and 80°F and the relative humidity between 30% and 50%.

Have you finished reading the common causes that might cause floor cupping and are worried about your home’s floor? Relax, you don’t need to be scared about these dangers when PIERMAN Foundation Repair has excellent services for you! Our team cares for your home as if it were our own. The experts here at PIERMAN will sincerely attempt to remedy your problems and serve you with the best possible solutions and services. 

Give us a call today at (580) 453-0330 for more information about how we can help your home.

 


Return to: What Causes Cupped Floorboards? | PIERMAN Foundation Repair | Ada, Oklahoma