Wood expands and contracts with seasonal differences in humidity and the older a floor gets the greater the chance that these movements will.
How to fix gaps in old wood floors.
Engineered flooring is made with layers of plywood placed in different directions.
There are many different ways to go about correcting this type of issue but we will dive into the most common.
Putty fillers were once a mainstay of hardwood floor repair.
You can fix floor gaps in a number of different ways.
Water logged wood will first swell then shrink as it dries out.
Different gap repair methods.
This leaves your floor looking even worse and requiring you to dig out the old putty and replace it.
If you cannot fix the problem by installing a humidifier you may need to take more drastic action when it comes to filling wide gaps.
If you haven t chosen flooring yet engineered hardwood is an excellent alternative to solid.
Another exacerbating condition is water damage.
Over time however the putty hardens chips and flakes.
This allows the layers to shift and move without gaps developing between boards.
How to fix old hardwood floors with gaps and cupping.
Ordinarily you can fill the gaps with wood filler putty or with pieces of rope and then finish with stain to match the floor.
If gaps remain or the floor is old it is possible to make the gaps less noticeable and prevent dirt and debris from building up in them by filling them with rope.
Why you should avoid putty fillers.
Filling large gaps in old wood floors.
Wood fillers are also not meant for use with large gaps.
Like many products both kinds of wood floors have pros and cons.