Engineered oak wooden floor bulging

[sandifoot]

I have engineered oak wooden flooring throughout the through living and dining room approx 25ft. Last night on one side of the room it is bulging for the full length. looks like a hump of about 5 boards widths. We had this problem 2 years ago and the guy we got in said it was due to no expansion gap being left so he cut around the flooring to give a gap and then relaid the board flat. All has been well until last night when we have had the same problem in exactly the same area. There is no way water can be getting in as far as we can see.

Any suggestions on what might be causing the problem before we get someone in. I don't want the issue to come back in another 2 years due to doing a short term fix. We also don't have the money to redo the floor completely.

 

[AronSearle]

It is expansion.

Can you not pull up the floorboard against the wall, and slim it down, allowing the expansion and fixing the issue?

As the edge will be hidden by skirting, it doesnt have to be completely straight, if all you have is a hand saw.

 

[sandifoot]

It is expansion.

Can you not pull up the floorboard against the wall, and slim it down, allowing the expansion and fixing the issue?

As the edge will be hidden by skirting, it doesnt have to be completely straight, if all you have is a hand saw.

thanks for prompt reply but that is what was done last time so I was wondering why it might have happened again. Do you think that over the last 2 years the wood has expanded to fill the gap which was shaved off originally, or perhaps not enough was taken off last time even though the boards were laid flat again.

 

[big-all]

is it laid up to the skirting or under it ??

 

[AronSearle]

Probably not enough taken off.

Assuming you are correct, and there is no damp issue.

It may be happening in the same area, simply because that is the weak spot in the flooring, for whatever reason, so it buckles there.

 

[catlad]

how old is your house? is it possible that when you made your room into one the floor has gone over an old fireplace.

 

[Jameswren]

Try taking some off the other side of the room too - if the whole thing is expanding it can't expand against the adjacent wall, so creases where there is a chance to move.