Generally, wood flooring is expected to expand in wetter climates and shrink in dry climates. How much depends on your particular area and the conditions surrounding the installation.
In Colorado, during the winter months, two things happen. As the temperature drops, the humidity drops. When the temperatures drop homeowners turn on their heating systems and keep doors and windows closed. This heat dries out the home and that, combined with the already low humidity levels, pulls moisture from the wood, causing the wood to shrink and "cracks" to appear between board.
This can be somewhat minimized by having a humidifier attached to the heating system and maintaining a relative humidity of 35 to 45 percent whenever possible during the heating season.
As temperature and humidity changes occur in the summer, cracking should remedy itself. As moisture is replaced back into the air, moisture is also absorbed back into the wood. Expansion occurs and wood floors return to their original state before the winter season.
It is recommended that you do not fill your wood floor during the winter months. When the wood expands in the summer, the wood will either force out the excess fill or boards will warp. Wood must go somewhere as it expands.
Finally, it is important to remember that shrinkage is not a flaw in the wood or an installation related problem. The material is just reacting, naturally, to changes in moisture level. |
