6/22/2023 0 Comments Crowned key dead cells![]() ![]() Many installers use one quarter inch gaps for expansion at the walls the 1/4" recommendation can sometimes cause problems for both hardwood and laminate floors. Often times we see improper expansion gaps in hardwood floors. On glued floors, use of incorrect or insufficient mastics to an inadequate mastic transfer, a subfloor separation or a subfloor contamination can cause buckling. ![]() Other causes on nailed floors might be insufficient nailing, incorrect nails or incorrect subfloor construction. In addition to incorrect installation (e.g., inadequate expansion gaps), the most common reason that buckling occurs is excessive moisture or after a floor has been flooded for a period of time. We opined that the recent winter storms did not cause the floors to buckle. We also determined that no vapor barrier was installed between the concrete floor and wooden floor and that the expansion gaps were insufficient for the size of the hardwood flooring, causing it buckle in several areas. Here, our C&O investigation discovered significant moisture issues in the basement, mold growth throughout the basement and past water impacts. Not doing so will cause shrinkage, swelling (buckling) or other unpleasant surprises.Ĭupping occurs when the edges of a board are higher than its center. Many hardwood manufacturers suggest keeping the relative humidity of the home in the range of 40-55% after the installation to maintain the floor's original appearance. Acclimation of hardwood floors to the jobsite, proper testing and control, before, during, and after the installation plays a very important role in the behavior of the hardwood floor. Higher relative humidity (RH) usually causes the expansion of wood, because the wood absorbs the increased water moisture vapors from the air lower RH usually causes wood to shrink as it releases the excessive water moisture vapors back into the air. Wood will lose or gain moisture until it is in balance with this surrounding environment. Incorrect expansion gaps and lack of vapor barrier are also very common reasons of hardwood floor buckling. They are all caused by moisture changes in the wooden floor and the subfloor, assuming the floor was properly installed. Cupping, buckling, and crowning are three common problems encountered in wood flooring damage claims. The insureds claimed that water from the winter storms caused the damages to the wooden floors. This past winter we had a lot of assignments dealing with damaged hardwood floors. C&O INVESTIGATIONS: BUCKLED, CROWNED OR CUPPED HARDWOOD FLOOR CLAIMSīy Metropolitan Engineering, Consulting & Forensics ![]()
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