Flooring is one of the most durable materials in a home, but even it can be damaged from time to time. Fortunately, most damages are simple to fix.
A touch-up kit is a great tool for covering light scratches and marks on wood floors. These kits contain stain markers, putty sticks and, in some cases, urethane.
Damaged Wood
Wood will naturally swell and shrink when exposed to moisture, but prolonged exposure can cause damage. The wood may become discolored or stained, it might start to rot and can also attract mold and mildew. The best way to prevent this is by removing the water as soon as possible. If a leak is left unchecked, the structural integrity of your floorboards can be compromised.
The first sign of water damage is discoloration, which often appears as splotches or rings of color on the surface of your wood floor. This is caused by minerals and salts that are left behind as the water evaporates.
Other signs of wood damage include gaps between floorboards that are wider than usual. These are typically caused by improper installation, but can also be the result of flooding or hidden leaks. Water-damaged wood can also appear warped, with the edges raised higher than the center of the board. This is called cupping and can be a result of floods, hidden leaks, high humidity, or temperature changes.
You can repair damaged wood by filling the area with a wood hardener, and sanding it once it’s dry. You can also use a quick-drying wood filler, such as MH Ready Patch. Adding a little coconut oil to the filler can help it to bond with the existing wood.
Squeaky Planks
A squeak in your floor boards is often an indication that something needs to be fixed. The squeak may be caused by a gap in the flooring or from the movement of a joist under the boards. The first step to solving the problem is to determine what is causing the squeak, which can be accomplished by walking across the affected area or having someone else do it for you.
Wood floors are often squeaking in the winter because the dry air of colder weather causes the planks to shrink and rub together when someone walks on them. In many cases, this problem can be eliminated by increasing the humidity in the room.
If the squeak is caused by a gap between the flooring and the floor joist, it’s necessary to pull back the wall-to-wall carpeting or edge-stapled resilient flooring to access the subfloor and locate the joist. Depending on the type of flooring, screws or nails may be used to tighten the subfloor to the joist. Screws of 1-inch length are usually preferred, as they minimize the risk of hitting electrical or plumbing lines.
For hardwood floors that don’t require removing the floor covering, an alternative to shimming is to pipe construction adhesive into long gaps or cracks in the subfloor and joist. This will stop the movement of the joist and will eliminate the squeak.
Buckling Planks
If your hardwood floors are buckling, it’s time to act. Buckling occurs when the center of each wood plank swells, causing the edges to curl upward and resemble a cup. This is almost always a sign of moisture damage, but there are other causes, too. For instance, humidity changes throughout the year cause wood to expand during hot weather and contract when it’s cold. This shift can cause your flooring to buckle over time, especially if you live in a humid climate or region.
If you’re experiencing buckling, you can correct it with a few simple steps. First, remove moldings around the problem area to gain access to the floor underneath. Then, make sure that the flooring’s locking system is intact and that there are no signs of moisture damage. You can then replace the buckling planks and reinstall the moldings, taking care not to disturb the rest of your flooring.
Moisture damage is one of the leading causes of buckling. To prevent it, wipe up any spills immediately. Also, check for water leaks regularly. If you’re unsure where the leaks are coming from, contact a flooring or plumbing expert to determine their source. Finally, ensure that there’s a proper expansion gap between the floor and walls. This leaves room for the wood to expand, preventing it from pushing against the wall and causing the floor to buckle.
Sinking Floors
A sinking floor is a sign of bigger structural problems, and it’s not something homeowners can fix themselves. This issue can be caused by several factors, including water damage, soil movement and insect infestation. A professional will inspect the foundation of a home for signs that it’s sinking.
The main cause of sagging floors is issues with the floor joists, which are wooden beams that support the rest of the house. Water seepage can reach these joists, causing them to rot and shift, which leads to high and low spots in the floor. Insects like termites and powderpost beetles also eat through wood, which can weaken joists.
If the sagging isn’t severe, a professional can use self-leveling underlayment to correct it. In more serious cases, however, a professional will need to sister floor joints or propping up the affected joists.
In addition to repairing floor joists, experts will often recommend using slab piers to stabilize the foundation and lift the house back to its original position. These piers are placed in cored holes underneath the house, and they’re driven down into competent soils to provide a stable base for your home. They’re commonly used to stabilize foundations with sinking basements or crawl spaces, as well as those with sagging floors. Homeowners will need to obtain a permit before beginning work on this type of structural change.