How to Fix a Buckled Floor

Most hardwood flooring owners are all-too-aware of the omnipresent threat of buckling their floors face. However, for those not in the know, buckling is defined as a raise in the side of any given hardwood plank, which creates a tent-like structure. This disrupts the style of any given solid prefinished hardwood flooring, not to mention makes it quite uncomfortable to walk on!

What causes buckling, as opposed to other types of prefinished solid hardwood flooring damage? How do you go about fixing a buckled plank? E Hardwoods & Flooring, where you can buy hardwood flooring online, has all the answers and more below.

Prevention is the Best Medicine

Fixing a buckled floor is not easy in any sense of the word. For this reason, we advise you to maintain your floors to prevent buckling from happening in the first place. Caring properly for your hardwood flooring is one of the best ways to stop it from buckling. This involves periodic cleaning with only wood-safe products, but it also involves keeping the humidity levels in your home relatively consistent and watching for water damage.

However, what can you do if your floor has already started to tent?

• Identify the culprit before beginning your repair job |If one board is showing signs of strain, chances are others around it are feeling similarly, and time is of the essence. Do a bit of detective work to discover what led to the buckling. The most common culprit is water damage, which can take many forms, such as excess humidity, flooding, a burst pipe, and more. However, a poor installation job that does not allow the flooring to properly expand when met with fluctuating humidity can also be the cause.
• Try to make a repair if the buckling is subtle | Once you have fixed the buckling source, you can try to make a simple repair if there are few damaged boards, and the buckling is not very noticeable. Try placing a long, flat, heavy object on top of the buckled area and allowing the pressure to push them back into place.
• Consider replacement flooring, if need be |If the above technique doesn’t work, you will need to replace the buckled boards. The rest of your flooring might be out of the woods, but the fact of the matter is that sometimes there is simply no way to save a buckled board.

In Need of Hardwood Flooring Replacement? E Hardwoods & Flooring Has You Covered

We stock countless varieties of hardwoods, vinyl flooring, and everything in between. Check out our online selection here or give us a call should you need assistance.