How Humidity Affects Hardwood Floors

Ruslan Prisiajnyi
3 min readFeb 13, 2023

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Hardwood floors give any house a touch of elegance and durability. But they can be significantly impacted by humidity.

When humidity is high, hardwood flooring can expand, causing warping and cupping, while when it is low, the boards may shrink, leading to cracks and gaps.

In this blog, we explore the various ways humidity can harm your hardwood floors.

Let’s get started.

How Humidity Can Harm Your Hardwood Floors

Hardwood and humidity do not mix. Here are five ways exposing your hardwood floors to moisture can cause damage.

1. Warping

Do you have creaky floors? Warping in this case refers to a deformity in a hardwood floor that causes it to bend or twist out of its original shape. This can happen if its moisture content is out of balance, which causes it to expand and contract. Extreme humidity can cause the hardwood to absorb moisture, resulting in an uneven distribution of moisture content, which can cause the floor to warp.

Other causes of warping include improper installation, inadequate subfloor preparation, and exposure to moisture or water. A warped floor can affect its stability and appearance, making it uncomfortable to walk on, or damaging the nearby walls and doors. Maintaining the right humidity levels in your home will help you avoid warping, which is a serious problem that can be expensive to fix.

2. Cracking

Experiencing cracked floors? This can happen when humidity is too low, which shrinks the hardwood and unbalances the moisture content of the floor. The flooring’s wood fibres may then start to pull apart, which can result in cracking.

Additionally, if the subfloor is not properly prepared or if the hardwood flooring is subject to sudden changes in temperature, cracks may appear. Cracking in the hardwood floor can affect its stability and appearance, as well as serve as a breeding ground for dirt and dust.

3. Cupping

When a hardwood floor bends or curves, it is said to be cupped because the edges rise higher than the centre. This can happen when there is a high humidity level, which causes the hardwood to absorb moisture and swell.

It is recommended to contact the best flooring installer or supplier in your area for assistance if you are having this problem. Ignoring such problems leads to major issues later, which are also more expensive to fix. Make sure to ask flooring repair companies relevant questions when interviewing them.

4. Crowning

The opposite of cupping is crowning. Crowning is when the center of the boards is higher than the edges, giving the surface a convex appearance. There are several causes for this, such as improper flooring acclimation or installation, or if floors are improperly finished or of poor quality. This is why it is important to choose high-quality hardwood flooring. Alternately, changes in temperature and humidity could cause the wood to expand or contract.

Crowning can lead to a number of issues, such as trip hazards, trouble placing furniture, and an uneven appearance on the floor. Crowning needs to be repaired and the affected boards may need to be replaced in addition to addressing the root of the problem. Sometimes the entire floor needs to be sanded and refinished.

Every homeowner with hardwood floors needs to be aware of the dangers of humidity, as too much or too little can cause serious harm to your beautiful home. Not to mention that high humidity levels can encourage the development of mould and mildew, both of which pose serious health risks. Use a humidifier or dehumidifier as needed to keep your home’s humidity level constant and moderate in order to preserve the durability and aesthetic appeal of your hardwood floors. Get in touch with your nearest wood flooring supplier or installer to help you with your humidity issue today!

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Ruslan Prisiajnyi
Ruslan Prisiajnyi

Written by Ruslan Prisiajnyi

We are an Ontario-based dealer of the best floor coverings and natural stone products from top brands like Appalachian, Wickham, Bruce Hardwood and Superior.

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