5 Signs Your Wood Floor Is Experiencing Moisture Problem

Wood floors are a popular choice for interior design. The material has a natural warmth, beauty, and structural integrity that many have come to love. Unfortunately, wood floors have their downsides too. They can be difficult to maintain and are vulnerable to the elements, particularly moisture.

Excessive moisture is one of the most common hardwood floor problems, and homeowners should be well-aware of this threat. Know the warning signs of moisture damage so you can remedy the problem.

What Causes Excessive Moisture on Wood Floors?

Wood both absorbs moisture from the air and loses moisture to it. While this is a completely natural process, moisture content can go beyond ideal levels, compromising the appearance and durability of the material.

Excessive moisture can be caused by the following:

• Water on or Under Hardwood Floors
  Any moisture on or under hardwood floors spells trouble for your flooring. Leaking appliances, groundwater intrusion, condensation, and moisture from the concrete subfloor can all be sources of moisture. The terrain of the site, where rain runoffs remain near the foundation, may also cause moisture-related problems in the long run. Recent floods and even simple liquid spills that weren’t cleaned up quickly and completely will also jeopardize the integrity of your floors.
• High Humidity
  Humidity and temperature have serious effects on the wood floors. When humidity is high, the floors soak up the air moisture, causing it to swell and expand. Subsequently, when there is low, dry air, the floor loses the moisture, causing it to shrink. Expansion and contraction are normal cycles, but excessive changes can damage the wood floors. If the humidity goes beyond 55%, there is a high chance that moisture will seep into the wood.

Relative humidity ranging between 30% and 50% and indoor temperature between 18 and 24°C are considered the best for human health and your hardwood flooring.

• Improper or No Acclimation
  To stabilize the wood floor, it must first be acclimated to the average temperature and humidity of the area it is to be installed. This process involves storing them in an area with similar conditions to allow them to either absorb or lose moisture until they stabilize. If the floor is improperly or not acclimated at all before installation, it will expand or contract needlessly after installation and can cause problems.
• Poor Installation
  The moisture problem in your floors can be a sign of a bad hardwood floor installation. There are several ways how a poor installation can exacerbate the issue. For example, planks may be installed using wrong fasteners or with inadequate expansion gaps, preventing it from moving as it absorbs moisture.

Likewise, installation mistakes can allow the floor to absorb too much moisture. The subfloor might still too wet when the wood floor was installed over it, or there are no vapour barriers installed in the crawls space or on top of the subfloor to block the moisture from the soil.

How Do I Know If My Hardwood Floor Is Water Damaged?

Moisture damage on wood floors is almost always visible. The problems occur primarily as a result of the wood expanding and contracting. This movement may present an unpleasant change in the appearance of your flooring.

1.Cracks and Separations Between Boards

Cracks and gaps between boards usually have something to do with the humidity. Some of these variations can be seasonal or weather-related. When it is humid, wood floors tend to swell up and close the gaps between boards. If there is enough space between them, the pressure may lead to cracking. Meanwhile, the wood shrinks and opens the gaps when it is dry. Dry wood may also become brittle, resulting in breakages along its grain.

Monitoring the room’s temperature and relative humidity level is highly recommended to minimize these shifts in the wood floor. For example, you can purchase a humidifier to add moisture to the air during the dry winter months.

2.Cupping
When wood planks compress against each other, the edges raise higher than their centre. There are many reasons for hardwood floor cupping, most commonly when there’s more moisture at the bottom than at the top of the board, which dries more quickly.

As soon as the problem occurs, it is important to identify the cause and resolve it immediately. Otherwise, you may have to replace the whole floor. Luckily, for minor cases, fans and dehumidifiers can restore the shape and structure of your planks.

3.Crowning
Crowning is the opposite of cupping, where the centre of the board is higher than the edges. This tends to happen when the plank’s top is exposed to more moisture than the bottom, such as spills. It can also occur when the wood floor is sanded soon after cupping, even before the moisture content returns to its normal level.

4.Buckling

Buckling is when the floor panels are completely lifted up from the subfloor by several inches. This is an extreme reaction to moisture in wooden floors. This happens when exposure to water, like in floods, was left for an extended period of time. This is rarely an issue since homeowners will likely notice minor problems first before it gets to this stage. When buckling occurs, it’s imperative to have the flooring entirely redone.

Buckling wood floors are extremely unsafe. In addition to being tripping hazards, there is a likelihood that stepping on one can cause the individual to fall through the floor.

5.Discolouration
Determining moisture damage by spotting colour changes can be tricky. The dark spots may merely be part of the wood pattern or signs that the material is stricken with mould and mildew. Spotting on the surface level is normally easy to clean up, but deep-seated discolouration may require some intensive rework to prevent further damage.

A Couple of Frequently Asked Questions

• What Causes Condensation on Floors?
  Condensation can be associated with humidity and temperature. When warm humid air comes in contact with a cold surface, the air cools quickly and condenses on the floor surface, causing wetness.
• How Do I Know If My Wood Floor Has Mould?
  Moulds develop in areas where there is an abundant supply of moisture. It is challenging to detect moulds by only looking at the surface. However, they do produce a distinctive smell, a pungent, earthy odour. If you notice this, carefully check areas prone to moisture, such as near the sink, under carpets, basements, and appliances using water.
• How Do You Check for Moisture Under Flooring?
  The moisture content of the wood planks and the subfloor must be checked always before installation. There are now wood moisture metres that can accurately measure moisture levels on wood floors before, during, and after installation. For best results, call a professional to conduct the assessment.
• How Do You Get Moisture out of Hardwood Floors?
  Removing moisture out of the hardwood floors must be done immediately. First, it is important to remove any visible water by mopping or sucking as much water as possible. Then, dry out the area using fans or a dehumidifier.

Whether you’re facing standing water or high humidity, there are several ways to get the moisture out of hardwood floors.

• How to Fix Swollen Wood Floor?
  It is essential that you first determine the cause of the swelling. Some swollen floors can return to their original condition after drying, while others may need remodelling. It is advisable to work with an expert when needing any kind of work.

While moisture may be the number one enemy of wood flooring, it can easily be remedied and taken under control through proactive measures. No matter what type of moisture damage you’re dealing with, it is best to seek the help of a wood flooring professional.

For a stress-free and exceptional flooring experience, get in touch with Capital Hardwood Flooring. We offer high-quality flooring products and services in the Greater Toronto Area. Call out hotline (416) 536-2200 for more information.