Michael B. HardeMichael B. Harde is president of the International Association of Wood Flooring Professionals (IAWFP) and owner of Marlborough, N.H.-based Northeast Floor Covering Inspection and Consulting Services.MoistureUnderstand What Causes Checking in Solid Wood FloorsThe age-old misconception is that there are many conditions that can cause wood to check. The fact is that there is primarily only one. Checking in solid wood flooring has been and continues to be a prominent claims concern that all-too-often eludes proper identification, evaluation and resolution. Most folks involved with the wood flooring industry understand that checking is a condition related to moisture content changes in wood that results from drying stresses. Commonly misunderstood, however, is the fact that these stresses cannot and do not originate in wood installed within the normal environmental ranges of interior living spaces.Checking can manifest itself in various ways in different pieces of wood flooring. Below are some examples of problems that are all referred to as "checks" or "checking."• Checks are drying defects that occur during the lumber's drying process.October 4, 2011MoistureOverzealous Acclimation Leads to Gaps in White Oak Wood FloorNovember 30, 2007Page 1 of 1Top StoriesRecoatingHow We Do These Floors: Recoating The Worst of the WorstWe dialed in a recoating process that worked, even on the most demanding jobs—here’s my advice for a recoating process that works.Stain/Custom ColorPrevent This Common Complaint: The Stain Won’t DryRetailGoing the Distance: See the Winners of the 2026 WFB Outstanding Retailer AwardsNewsEnter WFB's 2026 Ultimate Wood Floor Guy/Gal Contest by Oct. 1Sponsor ContentThink Like A Brand: Why Your Flooring Business Needs A Real Identity
