Wood Floors and Water

NOTE: By request, we will be expanding this article with much more detail. Bookmark this page and check back within the week. Thanks for your patience.

Cracks and separations between the hundreds of individual boards in your wood floor are a natural occurrence. The wood shrinks and expands depending upon the amount of moisture in the air, no matter the age of the flooring.

For example, during the winter months in colder climates when homes are heated and the air is dry, wood flooring loses some of its moisture and shrinks. A humidifier is recommended. Other ways to add humidity to the air include opening the dishwasher after the rinse cycle, turning off the bathroom fan, or hanging laundry to dry.

In the spring, as air quality in homes becomes higher in moisture, wood flooring expands, and cracks begin to close up.

A polyurethane coating on your hardwood floor protects only the surface of the wood, covering the top of each plank individually. As the boards shrink and separations develop, the fibers within each board are exposed - and water is their number one enemy. Standing water can dull the finish and permanently damage the fiber of the wood, causing boards to warp and discolor.

From Wood Floors and Water to Home