In many areas there are gaps from 1 32 to 1 16th of an inch between the boards.
Wood floor planks separating.
Engineered hardwood flooring is designed to minimize gaps due to expansion and contraction of the wood.
For more on how wood flooring responds to moisture read under the microscope for more from author craig dewitt read.
In some locations the space is wider than a credit card.
Yes it can still have gaps.
They weren t there in the summer solid 3 4 hardwoods will expand and contract with seasonal changes in moisture.
I have mainly discussed plank separation for solid wood and engineered floors that have been directly bonded to the sub floor.
Apart from moisture and temperature fluctuations wood floor boards can separate and develop gaps if the flooring hasn t been properly acclimatised prior to installation or if an insufficient expansion gap has been left around the room.
Gapping in engineered hardwood can be due to many factors including but not limited to the material s manufacturing changes in humidity and the type and quality of the installation.
I am assuming the floors will have to be refinished after the filler is applied and has dried.
I have a new home with oak hardwood floors.
Properties of a floating floor a floating laminate floor is not glued nailed stapled or otherwise secured to the subflooring.
With a floating floor the rules of expansion due to air moisture still apply.
Acclimatising your wood flooring is an essential part of your pre installation procedure.
I have 2 inch wide red oak flooring throughout my house which was built in 1984.
If laminate flooring is separating it can be due to a few things and often fixed rather easily.
Instead it is put together almost like a puzzle with planks snugly fitted together.
The comfort zone about how the air in buildings affects wood floors and the troubleshooting column look out below about crawlspace moisture wreaking havoc on a solid wood floor.
If the problem is more serious then it s probably because of an excessive amount of moisture from flooding or a plumbing leak.
Floating floor plank separation.
Months may pass.
Is there a filler i can use.
Hardwood floor gaps cracks.
Almost every wood floor will show some separation between boards particularly in the winter months when homes are heated and the air is dry.
The floor was put down in august and started to separate in december.
Is this normal or was the installation defective.
Often it s a floor owner concerned with new hardwood floors separating or gapping.
Often gapping is a result of flooring that was installed during periods of higher humidity.
Often floating engineered wood.
We can hear nails pop.
However plank separation can also occur with floating floors.
In a nutshell it.
But to answer a common question.
