My floor is gapping between the boards.

Gaps can appear between wood floor boards for a number of reasons. Some are normal, and others are cause for concern.

Gaps between floorboards can be unsightly and frustrating.

With few exceptions, all wood floors should be tight at the time of installation. A quality installer should always ensure that boards are nailed or glued together without gapping.

Exceptions where gaps are expected can include:

  • Working with rustic or tavern-grade flooring material.
  • Leaving room for expansion as required by the flooring product and environment.
  • Matching up to previously installed products.

The first thing to understand about gaps that develop after installation is they are always a result of a change in the floor’s moisture content.

This infographic explains why gaps can sometimes appear in your wood floor during or after cold seasons.

Usually, the environment in which the floor is installed is drier than the floor itself. Wood adapts to match its dry environment by losing moisture and shrinking in size. Gaps are the most visually apparent result of this process. There are two kinds of gaps:

Seasonal Gaps

All wood floors can be expected to experience seasonal gaps due to changes in temperature and relative humidity. When conditions get dry, wood tends to shrink. That’s what causes gaps to appear between boards.

The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) Technical Guidelines defines normal, seasonal gaps as: “gaps that appear between individual boards and open and close with changes in humidity.”1

Acclimation to the average living conditions of the home and maintaining your home at those conditions (usually between 35%-55% relative humidity) will keep your wood floors in the optimal environment to minimize shrinking or expanding. A whole home humidifier is a great way to help maintain a consistent environment in your home.

Abnormal Gaps

Gaps that are not normal are defined by the NWFA as “gaps in the floor that remain with seasonal change.”1

Abnormal gaps may be the result of an installation error, not acclimating the floor properly prior to installation, or severely dry conditions that have caused the boards to gap excessively.

Are gaps covered by manufacturer’s warranties?

Seasonal gaps are considered normal and temporary, so they are not covered by a manufacturer’s warranty.

Most abnormal gaps are the result of an installation error, poor job site conditions, poor acclimation, or severely dry environmental conditions. These are all examples of things that a flooring manufacturer cannot control, so they are not covered by warranty.

What Can Be Done To Fix Gapped Floors?

We have several resources that may help you or your customer understand what causes gaps and how they may be fixed or prevented.

Before Filing A Claim Request

We include important STOP labels on the seam side of each box of our prefinished wood flooring. These instructions must be followed to ensure the long-term success of your flooring. Following these instructions will help ensure that your floor’s warranty is not voided.

Labels on our boxes show how to maintain wood flooring.

1 “Problems, Causes, and Cures of Hardwood Floors.” 2nd Edition. National Wood Flooring Association Technical Publication No. C200. 2011. www.nwfa.org

File a Claim

We know that having concerns with a floor can be very frustrating. We are committed to being a helpful resource for you and supporting the products that we sell. If you need to file a claim, you can expect a response within 2 business days and a knowledgeable expert to help diagnose your problem.

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