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problem with wide plank flooring

Petey's picture

problem with wide plank flooring (post #207283)

Petey on Tue, 01/01/2013 - 12:38
in

I installed about 800 square feet of 9" wide white pine flooring this past summer, and I am experiencing what I believe to be excessive shrinkage. Some of the planks have shrunk so bad that the tongue is no longer in the groove! I had installed 100 square feet in one of the bedrooms three years ago and there was hardly any shrinkage in that room at all. I am looking for any potential solutions to get the flooring to expand back to the original width or at least somewhat close. Any and all advice would be most appreciated. 

Just another homeowner...

 

 

-A +A

I thought this would be a (post #207283, reply #1 of 8)

by Petey in reply to Petey [original] on Tue, 01/01/2013 - 13:46

I thought this would be a good place to ask this question, a lot of east coasters on this site! Wide plank, especially white pine is not a common choice here in the midwest, I know it is more popular out east.

Just another homeowner...

 

 

Moisture content (MC) is very (post #207283, reply #8 of 8)

by TGNY in reply to Petey [original] on Wed, 01/02/2013 - 07:41

Moisture content (MC) is very critical. The plank flooring should ideally be stickered in the rooms they will be installed in until the MC is equivalent to the existing subfloor. Ideally wood flooring should be installed during spring or fall when ambient humidity levels are lowest. Also a slip sheet such as red rosin paper or ideally 15# felt paper (which is also a vapor barrier) should be laid down between the subfloor and finished flooring. The basement or crawl space should also be dry and possibly dehumidified during the summer if necessary. And finally you might also add humidification (relatively easy if you have a forced air heating system) in the dry winter months to keep the floor from contracting. I have applied all of the above in the past and have had very little movement with wide plank pine flooring in the notheast with very extreme temperature and humidity swings. Good luck.

"I installed about 800 square (post #207283, reply #2 of 8)

by DanH in reply to Petey [original] on Tue, 01/01/2013 - 14:02

"I installed about 800 square feet of 9" wide white pine flooring this past summer"

There's your problem.

It's not going to "expand back", though likely the problem will improve somewhat when it gets warmer again.


Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.  --Herman Melville

I let it acclimate for at (post #207283, reply #3 of 8)

by Petey in reply to DanH [original] on Tue, 01/01/2013 - 14:48

I let it acclimate for at least two weeks prior to installation, the ac being on the whole time, steady 72. It was good untill the heat went on, late November.

Just another homeowner...

 

 

Pete (post #207283, reply #4 of 8)

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calvin in reply to Petey [original] on Tue, 01/01/2013 - 15:20

What was the moisture content of the wood prior to putting it down?

What is under the floor you installed?  both the type of subfloor and basement/crawl?

What is under the floor that didn't move?

What is the humidity of the house currently?

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Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


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The floor is on 3/4" 1x8 (post #207283, reply #5 of 8)

by Petey in reply to
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calvin [original] on Tue, 01/01/2013 - 17:05

The floor is on 3/4" 1x8 which I screwed and made sure it was tight, 2x8 joists, 24' on center. This house was built around 1922 so I went with what was there. Not sure of the moisture content, maybe thats where I made my mistake. Basement is dry, one small section is a crawl but it is dry also. I will check the humidity.

Just another homeowner...

 

 

Humidifier? What climate is (post #207283, reply #6 of 8)

by DanH in reply to Petey [original] on Tue, 01/01/2013 - 18:31

Humidifier?

What climate is this?


Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.  --Herman Melville

Pete (post #207283, reply #7 of 8)

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calvin in reply to Petey [original] on Tue, 01/01/2013 - 18:49

Moisture content is important.  While you don't want to put down something that's too wet, you also don't want to install something that's too far away from the MC of the subfloor either.

Any slip sheet or felt paper between them?

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/