A wood moisture meter is essential for this job. Pinless moisture meters for wood can measure the MC below the wood surface without doing any damage to the wood flooring. When MC management makes all the difference, using an Orion wood moisture meter is an invaluable way to effectively resolve the warning signs on wood floors. All types of flooring are susceptible to failure if moisture conditions are not properly monitored and maintained.
When the subfloor is concrete, a moisture problem may begin long before the flooring is installed. If the slab has not been properly dried, moisture problems are almost guaranteed with wood flooring applications. Accurate moisture testing is critical for any concrete slab. The scientifically proven most accurate test for moisture in a concrete slab is the RH test using in situ probes. The most important thing to remember about caring for your wood floor is to keep moisture away from it.
Dust and sweep your floors daily. Vacuum and mop with a spray hardwood floor cleaner weekly. Wood floor buckling can sometimes be solved simply by adding weight to the floor until the extra moisture dries out and the planks level out.
Once the floor is dry, assess the wood floor water damage to see if you need to replace any planks. Some moisture dynamics can occur beneath a flooring substrate with equally devastating possible consequences for wood flooring applications. Determining MC is an essential part of quality control within the flooring installation process. Test for moisture at several locations in the room- a minimum of 20 per 1, square feet- and average the results.
If the slab has not been properly dried , moisture problems are almost guaranteed with wood flooring applications. Leaking appliances, groundwater intrusion through a perforated vapor barrier, condensation, and even moisture from a concrete subfloor that had not completely dried can introduce moisture to your flooring equation. The best cure is to accurately measure and assess the moisture in the subfloors previous to wood flooring installation and also measure the MC of the wood flooring before, during, and after the flooring installation.
A wood moisture meter helps wood flooring lovers to navigate naturally-occurring seasonal MC changes on a regular basis. Wagner Meters manufacture moisture meters for wood that can measure hardwoods, softwoods, and exotic wood species, and also manufactures specialty meters for wood finish applications. Wagner Meters also manufactures RH in situ probes for testing concrete slab subfloors.
When MC management makes all the difference, using a Wagner Meters wood moisture meter is an invaluable way to effectively resolve the warning signs on wood floors. This is when the edges of a board are higher than its center, due to moisture which causes the wood to expand.
Last updated on November 10th, My Account 0 items These are some of the most common causes: Water on or under the floor High humidity Improper or no acclimation Poor installation Water on or Under the Floor Any moisture that comes from below a subfloor or gets between the subfloor and the flooring can cause problems over time.
High Humidity If you live in an area with humid weather, the floor can absorb moisture from the air during humid months. Poor Installation There are several ways a poor installation can cause flooring problems.
Cracks and Separations between Boards When homes are heated in the winter, RH levels can plummet, boards can shrink, and spaces appear between the boards as the wood loses MC. Cupping Cupping is when the edges of a board are higher than its center due to moisture, which causes the wood to expand.
Buckling Floor buckling is the most extreme reaction to moisture in a hardwood floor. The buckling of wooden floors is also usual in high humid environments. Especially in small and windowless parts of your house, like the bathroom and kitchen. Your wooden floor can absorb moisture from the air, and this will cause the wood to expand and to buckle.
Fans and ventilation can reduce buckling, though. Acclimation should be done first before installing the hardwood floors. If not, the wood may expand or contract after the installation and will lead to the deformation of the wood. Acclimation is a process where the wood planks stay within the rooms where it will be installed.
This process has to be done for at least two weeks so that the wood can adjust to the temperature and humidity of the area. Taking care of your precious hardwood flooring is a plus and can prevent your wooden floor from buckling.
However, if the installation is faulty, it will cause severe wood problems in the long run. To address this, you should only hire professionals like Vintage and Specialty Woods to ensure that your wooden floor gets installed correctly. We are the most complete and thorough timber company you will find for your project. Our team of timber specialists ensures that you get the best quality and craftmanship for your high-end and complicated projects that require intricate work.
Our gallery of past projects and satisfied clients speak for the quality of work that we do. As mentioned, weather and moisture are the most culprits of buckling wood floors.
If the buckling is minimal, you can try drying the damaged area and see if it returns to its normal shape. You can also try putting a little pressure or a heavy object on top of the buckled wood to settle it back to its place. Replacing and fixing buckled wood floor can be a lot of work. In spite of being processed into a flooring material, wood is living and is hygroscopic in nature, which means it reacts to the changes in the moisture content in the environment.
Wood expands when it comes in contact with moisture and when the moisture is unable to spread laterally, it leads to floor buckling. So, the first step is to identify the source of moisture and tackle it before you repair the buckled floor.
If it is a case of minor buckling, the affected portions can be dried and fixed. In extreme cases, you will need to get a professional to replace the damaged wooden planks. However, while water is a main cause of buckling, if you search and find no obvious water issue there are a few other culprits. Another common reason for buckling is humidity. Yes, changing humidity levels can also impact your hardwood floors. While humidity levels are very low during winter, they rise in the summer months.
Similar changes in the humidity levels are seen throughout the day which impacts hardwood floors. High humidity levels are characterized by excess moisture content which causes the hardwood floor to swell, creating pressure between the planks.
Prolonged periods of high humidity result in buckling. How do you achieve that? Use humidifiers and air conditioners in your home to keep the levels in check.
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