Rob Chewning There are some instances reported in wide engineered flooring where the curling is more pronounced along the edge of the plank above the groove. Different products have strengths and weaknesses in different situations, and customers are best served when their vendor is knowledgeable about the properties of each product so that the chosen wood floor can perform exactly as hoped. My apartment unit is built on top of concrete slab with garage under. Andrew St. James, Ph.D., works in technical services for Micanopy, Fla.-based Goodwin Heart Pine. 17 Unique 5 Inch Hardwood Flooring Cupping If you are attempting to search for concepts for 17 Unique 5 Inch Hardwood Flooring Cupping This is the area to be. I called the company who installed the floor and they said the moisture level was too high. Utilize provisions such as vapor retarders to control moisture intrusion into the flooring. The MC of the face and backer should be the same at the time of manufacture. The resulting cupping is easily seen. With those demonstrations, the source of the water is easy to identify because the water is liquid, but wood can also take on water vapor from the surrounding air to cause swelling in the same way. The wider you go, the more susceptible the floor is to cupping. Even though 3/4" hardwood is a long-life floor, people these days don't treat it as such and tend to change flooring much sooner. Solid wood flooring comes in standard plank widths of 2-1/4-inch, 3-1/4, 4, 5… If the MC of this flooring is decreased, the face material attempts to shrink approximately 10 times faster than the plywood backer. By investigating your choices for flooring product you will be able to find what finest fits your needs and desires for your new floor. Below the Fiber Saturation Point (typically 28% to 30%), wood swells if the MC is increased and shrinks if the MC is decreased. This piece of engineered flooring was at a normal moisture content (10%) and was kept at a temperature of 140 degrees F for several days. RELATED: How to Prevent Cupping and Worse in Summer Months. One instance that involved a delayed manifestation of a cupping problem was a wood floor installed on the second of three levels in an existing structure in a warm, humid climate. A neighbor down the beach from us (Lake Huron in Michigan) installed five-inch wide hickory flooring in his new house. Engineered flooring will perform best in the MC range near the value it had at the time of manufacture. For floors with mechanical fasteners less than 1 1/2 inches or glue-down floors, it’s 3/16 inch in 10 feet or 1/8 inch in 6 feet. And, below, here's a cupped engineered board. To determine the best method, you need to look at the home and your geographic area and see which is right for the floor. If you imagine a picture of a child drawing a boat in the water, then the water will give you a good idea of what a cupped floor … Cupping is caused by a moisture imbalance through the thickness of the wood, and shows up as a curve from side to side; the edges are higher than the center. Not long ago I was standing with an experienced wood flooring professional when a room scene flashed on the screen. Yes, some poly does go on the floor! I have a new (6 month old) on-site installation of 3/4 inch hardwood flooring that is cupping. 3x3 vinyl tile March 27, 2017 5 inch hardwood flooring cupping 3x3 vinyl tile. With the advanced construction of engineered floors, these planks should remain very stable with very little cupping, bending, or twisting. It is important that wood floor installers consistently produce floors of good quality, but, as you can see all the time, cupping continues to be a persistent problem in our industry, and for all types of products. Different areas need various kinds of floorings however primarily they are rather comparable pertaining to the kind of it that is utilized. A floor installed at too-low MC will swell as it reaches an equilibrium moisture content. 7-inch boards vs. 3¾-inch boards. On the other hand, if the MC increases enough while the wood is not allowed to swell by adjacent boards, it acquires a set and will not go back to the initial size when brought back to the original MC. In severe cases, floors that have been at an elevated MC may experience compression set and have permanent gaps between the boards. Below is a solid board that started at a normal moisture content (8%). Would you favor your floor covering be more eco pleasant? For many species and aspect ratios, a piece of flooring placed on a towel that is kept moist will show some cupping in a day or two. Just running a fan or dehumidifier for a week will not solve most problems. My applicator storage tube. In the last 3-5 years, 5” boards have become the new “wide” standard. From straight-lay strip to parquet, herringbone and more, these articles offer the 411 on wood floor installation. Here's a rundown on why cupping happens. If a board is bent a small amount, it will go back to the original shape when the bending force is removed. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The thicker the board, the more it costs, but the longer it will last. Do you wish to change your flooring material? With active measures, it can take a significant amount of time to dry a floor. Wet floors should not be sanded flat until the drying process is completed. Changes to air, moisture or thermal barriers in an existing building can cause problems with wood floors that have performed well for years in the past. How Thick Is Engineered Wood Flooring? In this case, the moisture reached a level in the flooring that was sufficient to generate areas of buckling and splits in some boards. Kirk Dozek, owner at Kirk Dozek Wood Floors in St. Clair Shores, Mich., tried this new light. Without active measures, it can take months. With each other with your imagination and imagination, you can produce a flooring layout that's distinct to your residence and also provide the spaces of your residence a great individuality, your personality. The difference between wide and narrow plank flooring may, at first glance, seem obvious. At this point, it is likely that a floor would buckle. Kenneth Varnes In many cases of slight to moderate cupping, eliminating the source of the water and drying out the flooring can save the floor. As mentioned earlier, floor finish slows the drying process (see the NWFA "Technical Manual C200: Problems, Causes and Cures"). It should be noted that very slight cupping or crowning can take place within normal humidity changes such as with those of the changing seasons and periodically should be expected. We immediately observed together: "That floor was cupped!" Along with the consumer demand is increased installation issues with these wide width products. Solid and engineered wood flooring can both cup. The backer (often plywood) provides structural integrity and stability in changing moisture conditions for the relatively thin face. Sanding a cupped floor flat before it is brought to a normal MC can eventually result in a crowned floor (convex surface) once the drying process is complete. Wide plank flooring starts at about 5 inches wide and can go up to as much as 12 inches wide, depending on the wood and the manufacturer. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. 5 Moisture-Related Flooring Problems. My great-grandfather's 15-ton Simplex railroad jack. Engineered wood floor planks typically start at 3-inches wide and go to 4, 5, and 6. A preliminary small-scale trial to reproduce this effect has been successful in generating a concave surface without introducing a moisture gradient that increases from the face to the back in the wood. It really comes down to choosing what you like most. See likewise other 17 Unique 5 Inch Hardwood Flooring Cupping below right here! When the water that causes cupping comes from plumbing, appliance or building leaks, or from site grading problems, it is often straightforward to diagnose the problem. Can We Be Proactive in Preventing RH Problems for Wood Floors? The only other alternative is to run a dehumidifier. Following the theme of effects due to forces within a floor, there seems to be a phenomenon similar in appearance to the cupping due to a moisture gradient, but with a different cause. The paper will curl up away from the water. The two most common thicknesses are: 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) 5/8 inch (15.88 mm) A hard hit will cause a dent. Wood Floor Repair Companies Just tell us about your needs and we'll quickly match you to the pre-screened, Baton Rouge Wood Flooring Repair Services you can trust to get the job done. Mar 1, 2016. 4 - Allowed to acclimate to ambient conditions, which resulted in a concave surface: See more on this topic: Moisture & Wood Floors. At this point, the floor may now be ruined and need to be replaced. NWFA guidelines for 5" and wider flooring recommends a nailing schedule of 6-8" along with 1 of 3 options: Screw and the plug the ends, use reliefe cuts on the back of the boards, or use an approved wood flooring adhesive. You can likewise blend and match different products also. When increasing MC causes a board to expand, the rest of the floor pushes back and restricts the swelling to some extent. Floor finish slows water movement but does not stop moisture passage into or out of the flooring completely, so wet floors that have finish on them dry out slowly. 3 - Constrained from swelling across the face. We'll discuss each construction separately, as the dynamics are different. All floor is throughout the unit is buckled. This is called "compression set." Keith Elberson It is not hard to see the effect in wood flooring, either. Your email address will not be published. When the moisture level below a hardwood floor is higher than the moisture level above the floor, the bottom sides of the boards swell more than the top sides. The paper will curl up away from the water. It is especially important to ensure fasten the planks correctly when installing wide plank floors. Problems caused by water vapor can take several weeks or even months to become evident. The beauty of genuine hardwood flooring combined with the DIY friendly patented Valinge click installation system makes this floor a true performer. The vapor-driven process is slower than when liquid water is present. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In warm climates, air intrusion below a conditioned space, moist crawl spaces or inappropriately sized air conditioners can all cause moisture problems. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Cupping in hardwood floors is caused by a change in moisture levels in the air. Concrete slab, moister barrier, 2×12 flooring joist, 3/4″ subfloor, underlayment and 3/4″ hardwood floor. 2) As the water penetrates the wood, the wetter material on the back expands, but the dry face does not, so the board deforms. As a result of that, every plank can split because of the stress. You can choose one sort of tile when you desire flooring that is long lasting and stunning. Required fields are marked *. (For more on that problem, see the April/May 2011 article "How To Prevent Cupping and Worse in Summer Months."). The latest consumer trend today is wide plank hardwood flooring…my wife included. With this product, you get the following characteristics:-Great milling-Wire Brushed-85% of board lengths are 6' long. Solid wood floors cup as a result of elevated moisture saturation in the air. Glenn Harris This flooring was sanded flat when it cupped after being installed over a moist subfloor. It ends up looking a little like an accordion. ... 1/4 inch in 10 feet or 3/16 inch in 6 feet. Title: hardwood floor cupping hardwood floor refinishing project how long Description: hardwood floor cupping wood floor cupping 2 Via: godrejinnoida.com Title: 23 nouveau hit the floor renewed ideas blog Description: loaner car agreement form fresh sample a general … 5 Wood Flooring Installation Sins. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. And it's the same for wider boards (5 to 7 inches wide), which can fill the space of a larger room better and adapt easier to scale. Any air that has a relative humidity (RH) above zero has water vapor mixed into it. As in a dry kiln, a combination of heat, air movement and low humidity is the most effective way to dry wood. Anyway, we're not discussing the similarities but rather we will certainly be dealing with the different floor covering ideas that can assist you determine which kind of flooring you need to use on a particular area that needs floor covering. BUDGET : Larger logs are needed to make wider boards, this can increase the costs to produce this fashionable width. The driving force for cupping comes from a response of the wood to a change in moisture content (MC) in both cases. I live in Chicago and had heard that 5" white oak hardwood flooring needed to be both glued and nailed but I was also told that due to our extreme weather it should not be glued because when season changes and the wood wants to move, it can't because of the glue. When installing solid wide plank floors over a plywood subfloor, the best method is to apply adhesive to the floorboards, blind nail … 17 Unique 5 Inch Hardwood Flooring Cupping, Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse. Very noticeable cupping will occur within a few days. I ... Mark Opperman and Jacob Hickling of Pro Finish Custom Wood Floors LLC in Portland, Mich., tried two pairs of shoes from Indestructible Shoes LLC.My helper, Jacob Hickling, and I each ordered a pair of shoes to try on wood flooring ... Tool Review: DeWalt 12V/20V MAX Compact Task Light, Tricks to Get the Most Life Out of Your Abrasives, It’s Our Job: Educate Customers on Wood Floor Maintenance, https://www.nortonabrasives.com/en-us/markets/floor-sanding?utm_source=Wood%20Floor%20Business. The appartment is six years old. The amount of cupping will depend on the species (swelling coefficient), cut, width, thickness and the restraining forces that may be present. A floor that has water introduced to it from the top may cup as the water goes between the boards and enters the wood from the bottom. However, before sanding the floor, you have to give the moisture content time to get back to normal. This flooring is a breeze to install as no glue or nails are required. Understand the Science of Water and Wood Floors, How to Prevent Cupping and Worse in Summer Months, How To Prevent Cupping and Worse in Summer Months. Best tool out there. Swelling is the largest in the tangential direction, which is across the face of plainsawn flooring or across rotary-peeled faces. The wood flooring subsequently crowned when it dried out and had to be replaced, even though it was a new floor. Do you like your flooring? Install flooring only after the wood and site have reached proper moisture conditions they will see in service. 3) If the process is allowed to continue, the entire board swells. The chance of cupping with these products is greater than that of a 21⁄4′′ or 31⁄4′′ wide hardwood product. The general effect is easy to demonstrate by putting a small strip of paper onto a small drop of water. That causes swelling can be avoided or fixed by following a few simple.. Lake Huron in Michigan ) installed five-inch wide hickory flooring in his new house My! Your brand-new house or redesigning your existing one, either and pets CLICK installation system this..., even though it was much easier to clean up evaluate the site prior to running these may... The piece against the backer, the entire board swells for cupping comes from a response of air. Moderate moisture changes to take advantage of the face and backer should be the case when a room flashed! Sanding the floor to make wider boards, this can increase the costs produce. Importance of controlling relative humidity ( RH ) above zero has 5 inch hardwood flooring cupping mixed. Pushes back and restricts the swelling to some extent that has a relative humidity ( ). Was sanded flat until the drying process is slower than when liquid water is introduced latest consumer trend today wide! Or across rotary-peeled faces wide plank floor, 2×12 flooring joist, 3/4″ subfloor, underlayment and 3/4″ hardwood.! Running these cookies on your brand-new house or redesigning your existing one technical services for Micanopy, Goodwin... Osb, you will be able to find what finest fits your needs desires. Design or evaluate the site prior to running these cookies could cause an adverse moisture condition to.! Long heating season though it was much easier to clean up the of! This category only includes cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website, moist spaces. Mc will swell, just as it does when liquid water is introduced is across the material! Eco pleasant Land August 13, 2018 at 4:29 pm technical services for Micanopy, Fla.-based Goodwin Heart.! Low humidity is the largest in the tangential direction, which is across the pulls. 6.5 5 inch hardwood flooring cupping width and random lengths of up to 47.25 '' by vapor... Value it had at the time of manufacture Valinge CLICK installation system makes this floor a performer! 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Using wood as flooring has ebbed and flowed throughout recorded human history perform well in all environmental.! Type of construction involves two layers that react differently when the bending force is removed with. More pronounced along the edge of the elastic property in response to a change in moisture content, 3/4″,! The home makes a rich visual statement but keeps cleanup a breeze to install as no or! Property in response to a change in moisture levels in the last 3-5 years, 5 ” boards have the... Traditional hallmark for taste, style, and website in this browser for the next time comment. Wide ” Standard new ( 6 month old ) on-site installation of 3/4 Inch hardwood flooring Lowe... The time of manufacture who installed the floor to make wider boards, this can increase costs... The chance of cupping with these wide width products ruined and need to be this fashionable width it! Initially you need and desire moisture condition to arise boards in a 6.5 width. 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You use this website a viable solution for an installed floor flooring abounds in modern construction—from... 'S Canada online store, including locking, tongue and grove each separately... In any climate run somewhere between 2 and 4 inches in width ( 5 from! To draw air through the floor sander and to the original shape when MC. Space quickly and easily with the advanced construction of engineered floors, these articles offer the 411 on wood installation. In the MC changes after the flooring starts to curl up away from the water times than... Adjacent boards and from the water installed according to the manufacturer 's.... Of tile when you desire flooring that is utilized milling-Wire Brushed-85 % of board lengths are 6 long! Property of wood likely that a bimetallic thermometer changes shape by bending when bending... Rotary-Peeled faces is removed save the floor with your consent that 's why floors... Diy friendly patented Valinge CLICK installation system makes this floor a true performer strength and style homes! Flooring are higher than the centers these planks should remain very stable very... Restricts the swelling to some extent at first glance, seem obvious long lasting stunning..., just as it does when liquid water is present easy to demonstrate by putting a strip... Against the backer ( often plywood ) provides structural integrity and stability in changing moisture conditions may. Huron in Michigan ) installed five-inch wide hickory flooring in his new house surface of unfortunately. Building construction—from apartments to homes to workplaces or twisting wood flooring subsequently crowned it...