Hardwood Flooring: Moisture Problems and Warning Signs

Hardwood floors is pretty resilient and long-lasting but there are a number of things you have to be conscious of. Wood is a natural product and can respond to water and moisture from beneath and around the surface. Both engineered timber and solid hardwood floors are equally vulnerable to moisture damage, but it is simple to prevent any issues. Here are the warning signs and ways to reduce moisture damage from happening.

Moisture problems with hardwood flooring

The most important reason for moisture problems with hardwood floors come from beneath the ground. In case you have already installed your timber floor and the planks have begun to distort, warp or discolour, then it's likely that it is being affected by moisture. As wood is a natural product the flooring will absorb some moisture and may become damaged. Unfortunately, moisture damage to hardwood flooring is generally irreparable and your only alternative is to eliminate your hardwood flooring, make sure that your subfloor is totally dry before laying another floor.

How to Reduce moisture Issues with hardwood flooring

The best approach to stop any moisture issues with hardwood floors is to completely assess your subfloor before installing your new wooden floor. The subfloor is your existing flooring in your premises, which is usually concrete, wooden floorboards or chipboard. The subfloor must be totally dry before beginning to match your floor. Sometimes it may seem and feel tender but there might be moisture underneath the surface, which means you must test it correctly. The best and most accurate way to check for moisture is by using a wooden floor moisture meter.

• For a concrete or screed subfloor the Moisture Content (MC) should be under 6% MC.
• If you have wooden floorboards, plywood, chipboard or joists that the Moisture Content (MC) ought to be 16 percent MC or under.

If your subfloor is not sufficiently dry then you definitely shouldn't put your hardwood flooring. You have to allow it to dry naturally and then re-test again with moisture meter before fitting your floor.

To prevent any other problems happening with your hardwood flooring, you should also make sure your subfloor is flat, level and wash before fitting your floor.

You'll also have to leave an expansion gap around the edge of the room. This permits your wooden flooring to expand and contract normally with daily fluctuations in humidity and temperature.