Will cupped hardwood flatten out?

For a solid floor as flooring acclimates to the space the initial cupping will subside and gapping will be the issue of the finished floor. In this case allowing the flooring to complete a heating season will likely fix the cupping as the elevated moisture will be removed by the heating and the flooring will flatten.

What causes floor cupping?

Wood flooring installed at a lower moisture content than the in-use conditions allow. This gain in moisture may result in the installed boards swelling and cupping. Wood flooring installed in an environment drier than the in-use conditions.

What causes ripples in hardwood floors?

Wood is hygroscopic, meaning that it absorbs and releases moisture. When one side of the floor is exposed to excessive moisture, that side will expand, causing the whole board to warp away from that side. The sides of the boards curl up, resulting in the characteristic “U” shape of a cupped floor.

What causes hardwood floors to bulge?

Leaking appliances or moisture from a concrete subfloor can buckle your wood floors. When it gets wet and moisturized, the wood needs to accommodate the moisture. Thus, causing the hardwood planks to swell. It would need to move upward and expand, which leads to buckling of the wood floor.

How do you stop hardwood floors from cupping?

To help protect your hardwood floors against cupping, follow these 5 tips:

  1. Only install acclimated wood floors.
  2. Fasten floor boards properly.
  3. Install a whole-home humidifier.
  4. Never damp mop a wood floor.
  5. Run vents as much as possible.

What does hardwood floor cupping look like?

The simplest way to think of wood floor cupping is to imagine the edges of each plank sticking up higher than the centers. It ends up looking a little like an accordion. 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 looks like.

Can you fix cupping hardwood floors?

To truly fix it, you must get to the source of the water damage. Once you’ve addressed that, you can try to get your wood floors back to their original beautiful state. For minor cupping, the fix might be as simple as returning the room to its normal humidity levels with a dehumidifier.

Is it normal for hardwood floors to cup?

Cupping is one of the unfortunately common issues that can plague hardwood floors. It can happen to most types of wood, and it’s often the first observable sign your floor is being affected by moisture.

How do you fix cupping?

For minor cupping, the fix might be as simple as returning the room to its normal humidity levels with a dehumidifier. For more significant damage, however, you can invest in a professional drying treatment that will return your floorboards to their normal shape.