What Causes Buckling and Cupping in Wood Floors?

Hardwood Floor Repair 317-454-3612

Hardwood Floor Repair 317-454-3612

Let’s get straight to the point. The number one reason why wood floors buckle and cup is due to significant changes in humidity, either inside or underneath a property. If you are unsatisfied with the results of a recent hardwood flooring install, or have noticed some changes in your existing hardwood floors, perhaps this blog can help you understand why. Continue reading to learn how humidity fluctuations can cause hardwood floors to expand, buckle, and cup. You will also find information on how to resolve and prevent these types of flooring damages.

Wood Floor Movement

Solid hardwood floors move continuously as humidity levels fluctuate. They expand in high humidity, and contract in low humidity. For this reason, hardwood floor buckling and cupping is common during prime summer and winter seasons. This is when the climate is either very hot and moist, or very dry and cold. To help monitor your home’s humidity levels, it is recommended to install a hygrometer, also known as the humidity gauge. Relative humidity levels should remain in the 60% range. It is important to keep an eye on both interior humidity levels, as well as, humidity levels beneath your home. These are where humidity fluctuations commonly occur.

Buckling and Cupping

Hardwood Floor Repair 317-454-3612

Hardwood Floor Repair 317-454-3612

When wood flooring is installed, it acclimate itself to the normal humidity levels inside and underneath the home. If the humidity level rises to a percentage much higher than the wood floor was originally acclimated to, it can cause the floorboards to expand and buckle. If the humidity level changes to a much lower percentage than what the flooring was originally acclimated to, it can cause the floorboards to contract and leave spaces between them. But when humidity levels are much higher or lower inside than that of the humidity underneath your home, it can cause cupping. Generally, if floorboards cup down, meaning the center width of the board on top is higher than its edges, it’s an indication that the interior humidity levels are higher than the levels below your home. If they cup up, creating a U-shape, the humidity levels inside your home are lower than that of the crawlspace or basement.

Tips for Prevention

The most important thing you can do to prevent hardwood floor damage is to hire an experienced general contractor for professional hardwood flooring installation. They have the tools, knowledge, and training to properly assess your home’s humidity levels and plan hardwood floor installation accordingly. It is important to also run an adequate air conditioner during hot humid seasons, turn on bathroom vents when taking showers, turn on the stove vent when cooking, routinely inspect the outgoing dryer vent to ensure there are no obstructions, and consider installing a dehumidifier.

Standing water in a crawlspaces and other common cause for changes in humidity. Be sure to have your plumbing checked regularly to ensure there are no water leaks going unnoticed for long periods of time. We should also consider resealing your basement walls and flooring to protect against water damage. And of course, make sure your crawlspace and basement has adequate ventilation.

Indianapolis Hardwood Floor Installation

Indianapolis Remodeling and Painting

Indianapolis Remodeling Contractors 317-454-3612

Call Restoration By L&B, LLC at 317-454-3612 to discuss your floor repair and installation needs in Indianapolis, Indiana. Owner, Lee Elliott, and his team of contractors, provide hardwood floor repair and installation services for both residential and commercial properties. And we guaranteed to be a BEAT any competitor’s price! Call 317-454-3612 to request an estimate for Indianapolis hardwood floor insulation, today.

How to Remove Furr Down Over Kitchen Cabinets

Indianapolis Kitchen Remodeling 317-454-3612

Indianapolis Kitchen Remodeling 317-454-3612

If you are currently knee-deep into a kitchen remodel, or even in the planning stages, then you have probably heard a thing or two about kitchen cabinet furr downs. “Furr down” is simply the enclosed area that sits between the ceiling and the kitchen cabinets. It looks like it is part of the cabinet system or wall, but it is in fact a hollow, enclosed area that serves no purpose in modern interior design. This is why so many homeowners choose to remove furr downs; it gives kitchens a more open and brighter feel. If you are interesting in learning more, continue reading for a brief introduction to removing furr downs over kitchen cabinets.

The Run Down on Furr Downs

It is not always a good idea to remove furr downs. That is because you are never entirely sure what lies behind them. Sometimes you get a blank wall space, and other times you get exposed plumbing, duct work, and electrical wires. To avoid surprises, it is best to contact a licensed general contractor for professional advice and assistance. Otherwise, the only other way of finding out is to open it up.

Furr Down Removal Tips

⚒ Use a utility knife to cut the caulk lines along the areas of trim that bond the joints with the cabinets and ceiling. Softly pry off the trim to expose the seams. Furr downs made of plywood are much easier to pry off. Furr downs that are covered in drywall are more difficult to remove (and messier).

⚒ If there is no exposed plumbing or wiring, you can go ahead and remove the framing that supports the furr down.

⚒ Procure and install matching crown molding in the newly exposed space if the rest of your kitchen has crown molding. Use butt joints for precise cohesion between new and old crown molding.

⚒ Many homeowners with kitchen crown molding also choose to install trim along the top edge of the cabinets.

⚒ If there is no wiring or plumbing, but a vent exposed under the furr down, hire a general contractor to install an enclosed and painted plywood box around it. Then install crown molding above to blend it with the rest of the wall.

⚒ If you have a textured ceiling but there are left over flat spots from the installation process, use a small paint brush and ceiling paint to stifle the flat areas and blend them into the rest of the ceiling.

Indianapolis Home Remodeling Contractors

Indianapolis Remodeling and Painting

Indianapolis Remodeling Contractors 317-454-3612

Call Restoration By L & B, LLC at 317-454-3612 for professional kitchen remodeling in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding areas. Owner and licensed general contractor, Lee Elliot, is happy to provide on-site written estimates, and will answer all of your home remodeling questions with care. We manage a wide range of remodels, renovations, and repairs for all residential and commercial properties. Call 317-454-3612 to get in touch with our trusted Indianapolis home remodeling contractors, today.