Hardwood Floor Cupping Causes

This expansion can be in the form of cupping the center of the board is lower than the edges or crowning the center of the board is higher than the edges.

Hardwood floor cupping causes.

Buckling occurs when the wood flooring actually pulls up from the subfloor lifting several inches in one or more places. In fact in some cases exact opposite situations create wood floor cupping in a solid versus an engineered. Increase the relative humidity in the room with cupped floors to 20 percent to prevent cupping from the air being too dry. The general effect is easy to demonstrate by putting a small strip of paper onto a small drop of water.

A poor flooring installation can also result in the cupping of a hardwood floor. Cupping develops gradually often due to inadequate acclimation of the wood before installation. Whether your hardwood floor is made of solid or engineered wood it is bound to react to moisture so ensure you take the precautionary measures to prevent cupping. When moisture interacts with a hardwood floor the side of the boards closest to the moisture expands.

Floor buckling is the most extreme reaction to moisture in a hardwood floor. It is not hard to see the effect in. Leaks from plumbing or appliances can also cause wood floors to cup. I have a new 6 month old on site installation of 3 4 inch hardwood flooring that is cupping.

The stress in the boards can also cause wrinkles or ruptures in the finish. Installation causes of wood floor cupping. Cupping occurs in solid wood flooring as a result of an elevated mc in the bottom of the flooring compared with the mc of the face. I called the company who installed the floor and they said the moisture level was too high.

Cupping in solid wood floors. The paper will curl up away from the water. Some of the causes of installation related cupping are. Let s face it even though hardwood floors have a long shelf life it doesn t save them from problems that occur due to climatic conditions humidity and excessive wear and tear.

Moisture affects solid wood floors and engineered wood floors in slightly difference ways. Just like people wood floors need normal living conditions to function properly. Moisture is at 4 5. Wood floors will cup if installed in damp basements or if the concrete subfloor beneath did not properly cure before installation.

Underlayment and or subfloor that is too wet at the time of installation will cause wood floor cupping. Wood floor business has a great article that breaks down the difference which you can read by clicking here. Fortunately this is not a common occurrence. Moisture from below can affect the moisture content of hardwood floors.

David land august 13 2018 at 4 29 pm.