solid wood flooring gaps appearing

andy21275 · 6 Jun 2010

hi all, just looked at a job for a customer today and in part of their real wood flooring there are gaps appearing, some at least 6 - 8mm. I know real wood floor does expand / shrink and you will get some slight gaps between boards but no this big surely. What can be the problem, i know there is no nails in the boards as they wall pre finished boards, also in some places they seem to have lifted up abit. I have fitted loads of laminate flooring but none real wood. I was thinking either no expansion gaps left at the sides or no damp proof membrane underneath.

If i take the boards back up what are the chances of re - laying them properly

Any comments would be much appreciated

cheers
andy

big-all · 7 Jun 2010

you have large gaps so dampness is ruled out
you have maximum shrinkage so assume they where laid with high mousture content [about 16+ percent]approching wet !!
how wide are the boards!!

tall_tone · 7 Jun 2010

For a board to shrink it must be drier now than when it was laid.
Normally wood floor expand in the summer due to higher humidity, they dry out in the winter with all the central heating and underfloor heating.
Is the floor somewhere exposed to lots of sunlight? Conservatory or south facing room with big windows?

The other option is Big All's answer. Poorly dried boards now with their first opportunity to dry out.

TT

lymmranger · 7 Jun 2010

Or option 3 :-

wood is cheap chinese rubbish from one of the sheds fitted by Jessie James on his day off???

EddieM · 7 Jun 2010

You can get some pretty big movement in solid wood floors. My one in the conservatory sometimes develops a gap of about 5mm in summer, which magically vanishes in winter.

Petest67 · 7 Jun 2010

Species of wood makes a difference as well.
Is the floor secret nailed and if so to what (if chipboard then that won't hold the nails properly and the will work loose).
Could have been left to acclimatise while the wet trades were in and its absorbed the moisture, then its dried and shrunk after its been installed.
What wood is it? (oak, beech, bamboo, etc)

mac391 · 7 Jun 2010

If you don't know what you are doing then leave it to someone who does !! This is a DIY forum isn't it?

andy21275 · 8 Jun 2010

hi all, thanks for your replies..

The boards are approx 100mm wide, not nailed to anything, concrete underneath them, dont think it has been self leveled either. It is in a hallway which is not exposed to alot of light, and not a south facing front door. The floor wasnt glued either in the tongue and grooves slots, just placed together, until i get skirting boards up i dont know even if a expansion gap has been left.

cheers all

big-all · 8 Jun 2010

well there you are the gap sizes are irrelivent becase footfall movement can move the boards
lift fit proper underlay and relay with 16mm expansion gap all the way round

andy21275 · 8 Jun 2010

thanks big all

What type of underlay do you recommend, and what glue should i use in the tongue and groove?
thanks again

diynot

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solid wood flooring gaps appearing

EddieM

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