Repairing warped wood floors
Excess moisture in the room, improper installation, or excessively heavy furniture… The causes of warped wood floors are numerous. When a wood floor warps, the planks expand, move, swell, and eventually lift. It is possible, to some extent, to repair warped wood flooring; the method used will depend on the source of the problem.
Repairing a warped wood floor due to excess moisture
The air humidity level for installing a wood floor should be between 40 and 60%. If the air humidity is too high, install a dehumidifier to allow the wood floor to return to its original shape. If the wood floor is severely warped, this may not be sufficient; damaged planks will need to be removed and replaced. For a solid wood floor, even if it partially returns to its original state, it may sometimes require light sanding to eliminate remaining deformation marks.
Note: Conversely, if the ambient air is too dry, the wood flooring will shrink, creating gaps between the planks or beneath the skirting boards. In this case, we recommend placing a humidifier in the room.
Repairing a warped wood floor due to insufficient expansion space
If you did not leave at least an 8 mm expansion space around the perimeter during installation, the wood floor will not have enough room to expand. As it expands, it will bump against the wall and lift. You will need to remove the skirting boards and then trim the planks using an oscillating saw or a wood knife to create a new expansion joint.
Watch our video for adjusting the expansion space:
