How to Repair Gaps in Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is a beautiful and durable choice for any home, but it can also develop gaps over time. Gaps can occur due to changes in temperature and humidity, water damage, improper installation, or natural wear and tear. Gaps can make your floor look unsightly, collect dirt and dust, and even pose a tripping hazard.

Fortunately, you don’t have to replace your entire floor to fix the gaps. There are several methods you can use to fill the gaps and restore the beauty of your hardwood flooring. In this article, we will explain what causes gaps in hardwood flooring, how to prevent them, and how to repair them using different materials and techniques.

What Causes Gaps in Hardwood Flooring?

Hardwood flooring is made of natural wood, which expands and contracts with seasonal changes in humidity and temperature. This means that your floorboards will shrink slightly in the dry winter months and swell slightly in the humid summer months. This is normal and expected, and most hardwood floors can accommodate these minor fluctuations without any problems.

However, some factors can cause excessive or permanent gaps in your hardwood flooring. These include:

• Extreme or uneven humidity levels. If your home is too dry or too humid, or if there is a significant difference in humidity between different rooms or levels of your home, your hardwood flooring may shrink or swell more than usual. This can create gaps that do not close up naturally when the humidity levels return to normal.
• Water damage. If your hardwood flooring is exposed to water spills, leaks, floods, or high moisture levels for a prolonged period of time, it can absorb water and swell up. This can cause the floorboards to warp, cup, or curl at the edges, creating gaps between them. When the wood dries out, it may shrink back to its original size or remain distorted, leaving permanent gaps.
• Improper installation. If your hardwood flooring was not installed correctly, it may not have enough space to expand and contract with the seasons. For example, if the floorboards were laid too tightly together without leaving any expansion gaps around the perimeter of the room, they may push against each other and create gaps when they shrink. Conversely, if the floorboards were laid too loosely or with uneven spacing, they may leave gaps when they swell.
• Natural wear and tear. Over time, your hardwood flooring may develop gaps due to normal use and aging. For example, if you have heavy furniture or appliances on your floor, they may compress the wood fibers and create gaps when you move them. Or if you have pets or children who scratch or dent your floor, they may create gaps by removing some of the wood material.

How to Prevent Gaps in Hardwood Flooring?

The best way to prevent gaps in your hardwood flooring is to maintain a consistent and moderate level of humidity and temperature in your home throughout the year. Ideally, you should keep the relative humidity between 35% and 55%, and the temperature between 60°F and 80°F.

To achieve this, you can use a humidifier or dehumidifier depending on the season and climate of your area. You can also use fans, air conditioners, heaters, or vents to regulate the air circulation and temperature in your home. Additionally, you can avoid placing humidifiers or dehumidifiers directly on or near your hardwood flooring, as this can create uneven moisture levels.

Another way to prevent gaps in your hardwood flooring is to avoid water damage as much as possible. You can do this by:

• Cleaning up any spills or leaks as soon as possible
• Using mats or rugs in areas that are prone to moisture exposure, such as entryways, kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry rooms
• Sealing any cracks or holes in your walls, ceilings, windows, doors, pipes, or appliances that may allow water to seep into your home
• Refinishing your hardwood flooring periodically to protect it from scratches and stains
• Installing a vapor barrier under your hardwood flooring if you have a concrete subfloor or a crawl space

Finally, you can prevent gaps in your hardwood flooring by ensuring proper installation and maintenance. You can do this by:

• Hiring a professional installer who has experience with hardwood flooring
• Following the manufacturer’s instructions for acclimating, installing, and finishing your hardwood flooring
• Leaving enough expansion gaps around the edges of your room to allow for seasonal movement
• Using appropriate nails or staples to secure your floorboards
• Avoiding dragging heavy furniture or appliances across your floor
• Using felt pads or casters under your furniture legs to prevent denting or scratching
• Sweeping or vacuuming your floor regularly to remove dirt and dust

How to Repair Gaps in Hardwood Flooring?

If you have gaps in your hardwood flooring that are wider than the diameter of a nickel, or that bother you aesthetically or functionally, you may want to repair them. There are several methods you can use to fill the gaps, depending on their size, location, and your preference. Here are some of the most common methods and how to use them:

Wood Strips

Wood strips are thin pieces of wood that are cut to fit the gaps and glued into place. This method works best for large, uniform, and stable gaps that run along the length of the floorboards. Wood strips can blend well with your existing floor if you use the same type of wood and stain.

To use this method, you will need:

• A spare floorboard that matches your existing floor
• A table saw or a hand saw
• A tape measure
• A pencil
• Wood glue
• A mallet or a hammer
• Sandpaper
• Wood stain (optional)

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Measure the width and length of the gaps on your hardwood floor. Mark the dimensions of the gaps on the spare board using a pencil.
2. Cut strips of the appropriate length from the spare board using a table or a hand saw. Be careful and wear protective gloves and eyewear when using a saw.
3. Apply wood glue to each side of the strips and carefully insert them into the gaps. To prevent breakage, gently tap the strips into place using a mallet or a hammer.
4. If any raised areas are on the strips, smooth them out using sandpaper. Additionally, you can apply stains to the strips to ensure they match the color of your floor.

Wood Putty

Wood putty is a paste-like material that is used to fill small cracks and holes in wood. It comes in different colors and can be stained or painted after it dries. Wood putty is easy to apply and can be smoothed out with a putty knife. However, it may not match the wood grain of your floor, and it may shrink or crack over time.

To use this method, you will need:

• A wood putty that matches your floor color and can expand and contract with your floor
• A vacuum cleaner or a broom
• A damp cloth
• A plastic putty knife
• Sandpaper

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Clean the gap off dirt and debris using a vacuum cleaner or a broom. Also, clean the edges of the floorboards on both sides of the gap with a damp cloth.
2. Using a small amount at a time, apply wood putty to the gap with a plastic putty knife. Press the putty firmly into the gap and smooth it out with the knife.
3. Let the putty dry for at least 24 hours before walking on the floor.
4. Sand the excess putty with sandpaper until it is flush with the floor surface.

Rope

Rope is a natural material that can be used to fill wide gaps in hardwood floors, especially if you have wide planks or live in an older house. Rope can create a rustic look for your floor and can be stained or painted to match your floor color. Rope is also soft and flexible, so it won’t damage your floorboards or create more gaps.

To use this method, you will need:

• A natural rope that is slightly thicker than your gaps
• A vacuum cleaner or a broom
• A flathead screwdriver
• Tweezers (optional)
• Wood stain (optional)
• Scissors or a utility knife
• A putty knife
• Wood glue
• Varnish (optional)

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Use a vacuum cleaner or a broom to remove any dirt or dust from the gaps. Use a flathead screwdriver to scrape out any debris that is stuck inside the gaps. If necessary, use tweezers to pull out any stubborn particles.
2. If you want to stain your rope, do it before inserting it into the gaps. Choose a stain that matches your floor color and apply it evenly to the rope with a brush or a rag. Let it dry completely before proceeding.
3. Cut a piece of rope that is slightly longer than the length of the gap. Stretch the rope to make it thin and taut, and position it over the gap.
4. Press the rope into the gap with a putty knife, stopping when the rope is below the surface of the wood. If necessary, trim the excess rope with scissors or a utility knife.
5. To secure the rope, apply a small amount of wood glue over the top of it with a putty knife. Let it dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
6. If you want to give your rope a glossy finish, you can apply a coat of varnish over the glue. Varnish can also protect your rope from moisture and UV damage. Choose a varnish that is compatible with wood and rope, such as shellac or polyurethane. Apply it evenly with a brush and let it dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Wood Dust and Wood Flour Cement

Wood dust and wood flour cement are two materials that can be mixed together to create a filler that matches the wood grain of your floor. Wood dust is the fine particles that are produced when you sand your floor, while wood flour cement is a glue-like substance that binds the wood dust together. This method works best for small to medium gaps that are irregular or curved.

To use this method, you will need:

• A vacuum cleaner or a broom
• A damp cloth
• Sandpaper
• A sander (optional)
• A plastic bag
• Wood flour cement
• A plastic putty knife
• A rag

Here are the steps to follow:

• Clean the gap off dirt and debris using a vacuum cleaner or a broom. Also, clean the edges of the floorboards on both sides of the gap with a damp cloth.
• Sand the floor around the gap to collect some wood dust. You can use sandpaper by hand or a sander for larger areas. Make sure you use the same grit of sandpaper as the one used for your floor finish.
• Collect the wood dust in a plastic bag and seal it tightly. You can also store some extra wood dust for future repairs.
• Mix some wood dust with wood flour cement in a small container until you get a thick paste. The ratio of wood dust to cement depends on the consistency and color you want, but a good starting point is 3 parts wood dust to 1 part cement.
• Apply the paste to the gap with a plastic putty knife and press it firmly into the gap. Smooth it out with the knife and wipe off any excess paste with a rag.
• Let the paste dry for at least 24 hours before walking on the floor.

Conclusion

Changes in humidity, water damage, sloppy installation, and everyday use are just few of the causes of gaps in hardwood floors. These voids can be ugly, as they attract dirt and dust and provide a potential tripping danger on the floor. There are various options for repairing the gaps in your hardwood floors. Water damage, faulty installation, and normal wear and tear are just a few of the causes of gaps in hardwood floors. Warping, cupping, or curling at the borders due to water damage can generate gaps in the floor.

A lack of seasonal expansion and contraction allowance in the installation process, as well as natural wear and tear from heavy furniture or dogs, might result in gaps. Maintaining a constant and moderate level of humidity and temperature is the best strategy to prevent gaps in hardwood floors. Humidifiers, dehumidifiers, fans, air conditioners, heaters, and vents can all help with this; just make sure to keep them at least a few inches away from your hardwood floors. Additionally, you can prevent water damage by refinishing your hardwood flooring on a regular basis, installing a vapour barrier under your hardwood flooring, and ensuring proper installation and maintenance; cleaning up spills and leaks; placing mats or rugs in high-moisture areas; sealing cracks or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, doors, pipes, or appliances; and ensuring proper installation and maintenance. You should probably fix the gaps in your hardwood floors if they are any larger than a nickel.

Size, location, and personal choice all play a role in determining the optimal strategy for filling the gaps. Thin pieces of wood are trimmed to size and put into place to fill up the cracks. This strategy is ideal for wide gaps that are consistent in width and extend the entire length of the floor. An additional plank of flooring, some kind of saw (either a table saw or a hand saw), a measuring tape, a pencil, wood glue, a hammer or mallet, some sandpaper, and some wood stain are all you need to implement this strategy. It is possible to stain or paint wood putty once it has dried.

Rope, a naturally occuring material, can be used to patch large holes in hardwood flooring. You may give your floor a more natural feel by staining or painting it to go with the wood. The following tools and materials are required to implement this strategy: natural rope, vacuum, flathead screwdriver, tweezers, wood stain, scissors, putty knife, wood glue, and varnish. Remove dust and debris from the cracks by vacuuming or sweeping them out. Stain the rope, then allow it to dry.

Use a putty knife to force a piece of rope into the void after cutting it to a length just longer than the void. Let the rope dry after applying wood glue to it. Apply a coat of shellac or polyurethane varnish to the rope and let it dry. It is possible to make a filler that is an exact match for the wood grain of the floor by combining wood dust and wood flour cement. You'll need a broom or vacuum, a moist rag, some sandpaper, a sander, a plastic bag, some wood flour cement, a plastic putty knife, and a rag to implement this strategy. Using a vacuum cleaner or brush, remove any dirt or debris from the gap. Sand the floor surrounding the gap to collect wood dust. Combine the wood dust with wood flour cement to make a paste. Apply the paste to the gap, smooth it out, and wait at least 24 hours before stepping on the floor.

Content Summary

• Hardwood flooring can develop gaps over time.
• Gaps can be caused by changes in temperature and humidity, water damage, improper installation, or wear and tear.
• Gaps make the floor look unsightly, collect dirt and dust, and can pose a tripping hazard.
• You don't need to replace the entire floor to fix gaps.
• Different methods can be used to fill gaps in hardwood flooring.
• Gaps are caused by natural expansion and contraction of wood with seasonal changes.
• Extreme or uneven humidity levels can cause excessive gaps.
• Water damage can lead to gaps and warped floorboards.
• Improper installation without enough space for expansion can cause gaps.
• Normal wear and tear can also result in gaps.
• Maintaining consistent humidity and temperature levels can prevent gaps.
• Using humidifiers or dehumidifiers helps regulate humidity.
• Placing mats or rugs in moisture-prone areas prevents gaps.
• Sealing cracks and holes helps avoid water damage.
• Periodic refinishing protects hardwood flooring from damage.
• Installing a vapor barrier is recommended for concrete subfloors or crawl spaces.
• Proper installation and maintenance prevent gaps.
• Hiring a professional installer with experience is important.
• Following manufacturer's instructions is crucial for installation and finishing.
• Leaving expansion gaps around the room is necessary for seasonal movement.
• Using appropriate nails or staples secures the floorboards.
• Avoid dragging heavy furniture or appliances across the floor.
• Using felt pads or casters under furniture legs prevents damage.
• Regular sweeping or vacuuming keeps the floor clean.
• Gaps wider than a nickel can be repaired.
• Wood strips can be cut and glued into place for large gaps.
• Wood putty is a paste-like material for filling small cracks and holes.
• Rope can be used to fill wide gaps, especially in older houses.
• Wood dust and wood flour cement can create a filler that matches the wood grain.
• Mixing wood dust and wood flour cement is ideal for small to medium irregular gaps.