Hardwood floors can elevate the appearance of anyone’s home. This only remains true, however, if your floor boards stay in good condition. Unfortunately, hardwood floors can run into problems from time to time. One of these potential problems is cupping. If you want to prevent hardwood floor cupping from happening, you’ll first need to know the causes so that you know how to prevent the issue. Here are causes of hardwood floor cupping.
Moisture Exposure
Moisture exposure is bad for your hardwood flooring. Whenever one side of a wooden floor board gets more moisture than the other side, it causes the floor board to swell unevenly. This uneven swelling can cause hardwood floor cupping to occur. This moisture can come from plumbing leaks, spills, or just a high level of humidity.
Improper Flooring Installation
Even if your floor boards have been acclimated appropriately, hardwood floor cupping can still occur if the floor boards weren’t installed properly. Sometimes, floor boards are installed too tightly together. This means that, when the floor boards need to expand due to factors like humidity, they will end up warping and cupping instead.
How You Can Address Hardwood Floor Cupping
If you want to prevent hardwood floor cupping in your home, there are a few steps that you can take. As we mentioned earlier, hardwood floor cupping can happen because of moisture exposure to your floor boards. This means that, by drying your floor boards, you can combat this cupping problem since there will be less moisture to warp your flooring. A dehumidifier can help in this regard, or you could open up windows if the weather is nice.
For cupping that’s mild, you can sand and refinish your flooring as well. By doing this, you can smooth out whatever minor signs of floor board warping you have, and then get the floor refinished. A hardwood flooring company should be able to help with any sanding needs you have.
Ready for a Beautiful Hardwood Floor? Trust John K Eareckson & Co.
When you work with John K Eareckson & Co., Flooring, we will ensure your hardwood floors undergo a stress-free acclimation process and that they sparkle for years to come; from a seamless and beautiful installation to years of maintenance, John K Eareckson & Co. Flooring has the expertise to care for your home’s hardwood floors. For a consultation and more information, visit us online or give us a call at 410-788-4200. You can also look for us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.