Want to know about Signs of Hardwood Floor Problems? Hardwood floors provide elegant & durable flooring for any office or commercial layout.
They keep the space looking fresh and sleek since dust, dirt and other allergens don’t cling to hardwood flooring as much as carpet.
Plus, they can hold up against the office traffic & stand the test of time. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t prone to repair issues.
Like any wood fixture, hardwood flooring expands & contracts and can be susceptible to excessive moisture.
Here are some warning signs of hardwood floor problems you should look for in your office, retirement home, retail shop, restaurant or any commercial space.
Cupping
Cupping happens when the middle sections of the hardwood floor boards seem to be sinking in, making the edges look higher than the centre.
It can occur after major spill accidents, flooding on your office floor or soon after flooring installation.
Relative humidity can be a culprit, too. As relative humidity rises, the wood absorbs moisture from the air and expands. If it falls, the wood loses moisture.
It’s a natural process, but excessive moisture content changes can cause the boards to crush together repeatedly, causing the edges to deform.
If the cupping happens after the installation, it’s probably caused by a moisture imbalance due to the wood thickness.
The board’s bottom was likely wetter than the top surface.
Installers might have moved on to the next step since the top was already dried. However without knowing that the bottom part needed more time to dry.
Crowning
Crowning occurs when hardwood floor boards’ middle sections are higher than their edges. Often, the cause of this problem is moisture exposure or imbalance.
If the flooring is flooded or left in humid conditions for a long time. Excessive moisture can saturate the flooring and cause crowning on the boards.
Another possible cause of crowning is if the hardwood floor was previously cupping. However, it was sanded before the moisture content returned to its normal state.
That shows why hiring professional flooring services for hardwood flooring matters. If the boards were initially cupping, they should’ve been given time to dry before sanding.
Otherwise, the sanding process and the moisture content in the floor would cause the raised edges to flatten while lifting the centre parts.
Since there was moisture left beneath, it can turn into another issue over time—crowning.
Buckling
Buckling is the most extreme effect of moisture content in hardwood flooring. It occurs when the boards pull up from the subfloors by several inches, causing a wave-like appearance.
It isn’t common since it only happens after a hardwood floor has been flooded for an extended period.
So if your office or commercial space is on the ground floor in a flood-prone building, it’s at risk of floor buckling.
Fortunately, you can address floor buckling with a spot repair or hardwood floor replacement if you caught it early.
Once you’ve removed the standing water from the floor, you can remove several boards, including those that bucked up, to let the air circulate across and below the floor.
When it dried to a more stable moisture level, you could repair or replace it effectively.
Early Warning Signs
The ones discussed above are the obvious signs of hardwood flooring issues. But you can also catch the problem early by heeding these some early warning signs:
- Persistent water droplets on the surface: If you or your employees notice persistent water droplets on the surface of the flooring without an apparent source, it could be a sign of excess moisture on the board.
- Musty odours: Moisture promotes mould & bacteria growth in wood. So if your team reports that they’ve been smelling strong, musty odours, check the flooring.
- Discolouration: Excess moisture can cause most hardwood floors to be slightly discoloured. If you notice that one or some of the wood boards have a mismatched or discoloured finish, take it as a sign of moisture intrusion.
- Pest infestation: Have you noticed pests like termites in your commercial space lately? Such pests thrive in wood with excess moisture. So if the infestation is sudden, that could indicate moisture problems in your office’s hardwood flooring.
Get in Touch with Us
Want to know more about the signs you’ve noticed on your office floors or want to book a commercial flooring service? Get in touch with us. With a team of flooring experts, we’re here to help your facility. Give us a call for a quick initial consultation. And keep your home safe.