Why Does Hardwood Floors Buckle

Here s a situation i often hear from many that run into probelms with warped or buckled floors.

Why does hardwood floors buckle.

Floor buckling happens most often after a floor has been flooded for an extended period of time. Again wood absorbs moisture so wet mops will do more damage than good when cleaning. Hardwood floors buckle when the humidity levels in the lower levels of the house are too high in the crawlspace or basement explains the basement health association in the article negative effects on hardwood floors. Buckling is when the hardwood floor lifts or separates from the sub floor.

Hardwood floors can also buckle in excessively humid environments. Some simple tips for keeping your floors healthy and clean are essential for any hardwood floor owner. For starters never clean hardwood floors with excessively wet mops or cloths. If there is one enemy hardwood floors have it has got to be moisture and buckling is what you get when hardwood floors have been exposed to moisture for an extended period of time.

Furthermore certain shoes can do severe damage to hardwood floors. Controlling the humidity through fans and ventilation may alleviate the problem but if the buckling causes the boards to warp they will need to be replaced. This often arises after flooding subfloor moisture buildup drainage problems or leaking pipes. If spilled water sits atop the flooring for too long or if moisture seeps into the wood from the subfloor.

Fortunately this is not a common occurrence. Moisture is the downfall of many hardwood floors. Floor buckling is the most extreme reaction to moisture in a hardwood floor. By way of explanation the floor has gained moisture either by the ambient conditions within the home s structure or it has flooded with water.

How to fix a buckled hardwood floor.