Common Flooring Problems and What’s Causing Them

Wood floors are gaining popularity once more. Many remodelers often pull back the carpet in a home to find beautiful wood flooring underneath and wonder why in the world the previous owners would cover it up.

Flooring Issues

Whether you’ve just discovered old wood flooring or plan on installing new, it’s important to be aware of the types of damage and issues that can affect wood flooring.

Here are some common flooring problems and what’s causing them:

Everyday Wear and Tear

Wood flooring has a protective finish on it that helps it withstand everyday use. But this finish isn’t indestructible and it will start to wear off over time. As it fades, your flooring will start to show signs of wear and tear, like scratches, dings, and dents. There might also be worn spots in high-traffic areas. You can prevent heavy damage by using furniture pads and not wearing shoes indoors.

Pet Stains

If there are water spills or pet accidents that fly under your radar for too long, they will leave a permanent mark. Pet stains tend to soak through the finish and into the wood fibers. Stains in the finish must be sanded out, and stains that are especially bad might even require board replacement.

Sun Fading

Due to photosensitivity, some wood flooring may fade and change color in the sun over time. If you have a high-quality finish, this process will be delayed, but you have a better chance of avoiding it by installing blinds.

Peeling Finish

If your finish starts to peel in areas of your floor, that’s a sign that it wasn’t applied correctly, and you’ll have to sand the floor down and start from the beginning. A peeling finish usually means that dirt or chemicals (like stain residue) weren’t removed before the stain was applied.

Wide Gaps

A small amount of separation between boards is fine, but if you have noticeably wide gaps between boards, that indicates improper installation. Wood expands during humid weather and contracts when it’s dry, so gaps will appear larger during certain seasons of the year. If your boards were excessively damp during installation, the gaps between them will be wider once they dry, causing an issue with aesthetics.

Cupped Edges

Cupping is a type of water damage—cupped boards have edges that are raised higher than the center. If wood flooring is installed over a wet subfloor, this can happen, but high humidity can also be the culprit. Sometimes, floors will flatten out on their own as moisture evaporates, but sometimes sanding is required.

Keeping Your Floors Beautiful

At One Man & A Toolbox, we believe that your flooring is one of the most important aspects of your home, and it should be as beautiful and as structurally sound as possible. Get in touch with us today for help in solving any of your flooring issues